Chapter 204 202: Déjà Vu
Why do people always call new players "rookies"? And why is it that at the quarterback position, rookie quarterbacks always face more skepticism and challenges?
Is it because rookie quarterbacks lack ability? Clearly not. After being honed and trained in the NCAA, many rookie quarterbacks' skills have actually reached the Alliance's average level, and some are even a cut above. But after they enter the Professional Alliance, their performance is still often lackluster, and there are reasons for this.
On one hand, it's a lack of experience. The intensity and ferocity of the NFL are far greater than in the NCAA. For a quarterback, insufficient experience in critical moments often leads to panic, tension, and confusion, which in turn means making mistakes. In the game of football, mistakes and turnovers are often fatal.
On the other hand, there are the tactical differences. The strategies in the NFL Alliance are endlessly complex; a simple screen pass alone can have countless variations. The details of a single play can involve multiple positions like the running back, Wide Receiver, and Offense Line. At the same time, the quarterback has to read the Defense Team's linebackers, cornerbacks, and defensive line. The complexity can easily become overwhelming.
To take a recent example, after Cam Newton joined the Carolina Panthers, the thick playbook became his biggest headache. He was even harshly reprimanded by the coaching staff several times for failing to understand it. Misunderstandings and errors with the playbook can lead to a host of different problems: miscommunication between the coaches and the quarterback, poor communication between the quarterback and the Offense Line, and miscoordination between the quarterback and his receivers.
The Fonderick test is definitely not just a formality.
However, Cam wasn't the only quarterback in the Alliance to struggle with the playbook. In fact, in the Alliance, it's not just rookie quarterbacks—even many veteran quarterbacks are still muddle-headed two or three seasons after joining the Alliance, prone to choking at critical moments.
Furthermore, it's not uncommon for rookie quarterbacks to quietly wash out of the Alliance after just one or two seasons because they could never fully master the playbook and understand the team's strategic schemes. The most famous example is Ryan Leaf.
The infamous Ryan Leaf was once considered Peyton Manning's equal on the NCAA stage. In terms of skill, experience, performance, charisma, and physical attributes, the two were nearly identical. Even their Fonderick test scores were only one point apart.
In the 1998 draft, the Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Lightning held the first and second overall picks. At the time, it was widely considered one of the least suspenseful drafts. One team would pick a quarterback, the other team would take whoever was left. Simple as that.
After the Rookie Training Camp, the Little Horse Team found themselves facing the enviable dilemma of "who should we pick, Leif or Manning?" Right up until the draft, experts, veteran scouts, and team coaches debated endlessly, unable to choose between the two quarterbacks. Of course, they were also convinced that no matter who they picked, it couldn't be the wrong choice.
In the end, the Little Horse Team chose Manning, and the Lightning Team chose Leif.
After joining their respective teams, both rookie quarterbacks became starters. But that's where the disaster began. Leif was never able to fully grasp the playbook. His on-field performance was abysmal, and he couldn't keep up with the rhythm of the Professional Alliance. His attitude was an even bigger nightmare—he played entirely with the same approach he had in college and even gave up on the field during a game.
Ultimately, Leif's rookie season quarterback rating was only a thirty-nine, almost setting an all-time low for a rookie player. In the three seasons he later spent with the Lightning Team, he never managed to master the playbook, nor was he able to adapt to the rhythm of the professional league. After the 2000 season, the Lightning Team cut Leif.
Subsequently, Leif tried out for several other teams, spending time on their practice squads. Even so, his skills still couldn't meet the requirements of the Professional Alliance. After hitting dead ends everywhere, he was forced to retire. Later, he ended up in prison for problems with drugs and alcohol abuse.
Ryan Leaf is widely considered the number one bust in the history of the Alliance draft.
Playbooks, Alliance intensity, game rhythm... these are all a rookie quarterback's weaknesses. That's why teams organize multiple training camps during the offseason, including specialized camps for quarterbacks and the receiving corps, all to ensure the playbook is thoroughly mastered. Similarly, the practice of having a rookie quarterback learn from behind a veteran for a few seasons serves the same purpose.
In soccer or basketball games, rookie players can often inject new energy into a team, and many coaches even favor young players. But in football, the intricate and complex tactics put rookies at a disadvantage.
Generally speaking, when given the choice, most teams will choose a veteran quarterback.
The reason Lu Ke was able to become the team's starting quarterback wasn't because he won the coaches' approval, but because the regular season was imminent and the coaching staff had no other choice. Now, Alex Smith has returned to the team, giving the coaching staff a choice again. So, how should they decide?
Is Alex a top-tier quarterback? Over the last few years, at least, he hasn't shown that kind of elite potential. He's a slightly above-average quarterback. His strengths are his short-pass accuracy and infrequent mistakes. His weakness is the lack of a deep ball—his attempt rate for them is the lowest in the entire Alliance. That's why the San Francisco 49ers have always lacked the aggressive edge needed to win the tough games.
During the offseason, Alex first left the team, but then Jim made the call and re-signed Alex.
The reason was simple. One-third of the San Francisco 49ers' players were brand new. They needed to gel and get organized. A quarterback with a low error rate and a steady style would be a positive factor for the team. At the same time, they also hoped Alex could be a mentor to Colin Kaepernick and help the rookie quarterback develop. Perhaps after a transitional season, the 49ers could complete the succession at the quarterback position.
Logically speaking, choosing Alex was the obvious choice. But after two weeks of games, the situation seems to have undergone a subtle change.
"Personally, I think, um, we should still go with Alex. Lu Ke's performance has amazed a lot of people, that's a fact. He certainly has many strengths. But I think he's still a bit too aggressive. Especially a few of those passes in the second game, including 'the catch.' Those passes are like dancing on a tightrope; they can't succeed every time. One mistake could cost us the whole game. So, uh... Alex?"
"I actually don't think that's an issue we need to worry about. I think the most valuable thing is the game-reading ability Lu Ke has shown on the field. He still has some shortcomings in his skills, but he can use his intelligence to compensate. The paths to our two victories were different, but the underlying pattern was somewhat similar. I think that's the kind of spirit our team needs."
"So, how do we address his inconsistency? Rookie quarterbacks are always a roller coaster, and Lu Ke is no exception. We saw it in both games—for an entire quarter, he completely lost his rhythm and was totally shut down. As the season progresses, more people will start to study Lu Ke. His shortcomings will become more glaring, and our games will get tougher."
"The downside of a rookie quarterback is inconsistency, but the upside is that their use of strategy and their interpretation of the game are different. I, for one, think that's acceptable. Alex's safe and steady passes might not cause turnovers, but they might not bring us victories, either. We're a brand-new team. We need some daring."
"But what about Lu Ke's relationship with the other players? I'm not exactly sure what's going on. Is it his rookie status? Is it because they're bigger supporters of Alex? Is it Lu Ke's lack of charisma? Or is it because of Lu Ke's Chinese Descent? Come on, fellas, we can't pretend there isn't an elephant in the room. If Lu Ke remains the starting quarterback, the locker room situation is something we can't ignore."
The last one to speak was Kip. He finally bit the bullet and said it.
Football is a team sport. They need the entire team to be united.
Kip had originally thought that since this was San Francisco, undoubtedly one of the most culturally integrated cities in all of North America, it would be different. It's one of the top three cities in the US for its Asian, and specifically its population of Chinese Descent. In the entire Alliance, no team should have been a better fit for a Chinese-American quarterback than the 49ers.
Just imagine, in one of the more conservative regions in the country's heartland, a Chinese-American quarterback might have been greeted with beer bottles, rotten tomatoes, and stinking trash.
But in reality, the situation was far from optimistic. Kip couldn't be sure if Lu Ke's Chinese Descent had stirred up controversy, or if it was the catalyst for the locker room friction, but they had to acknowledge the problem and confront it. Otherwise, things would only get worse and worse.
Kip's words silenced everyone in the room. They exchanged glances, but no one spoke. Instead, all eyes turned to Jim.
The scene felt familiar. Back when the tryouts ended, the coaching staff had gathered to discuss who to keep. But things seemed different this time. Back then, the voices of opposition held sway, with everyone arguing their points until they were red in the face. Today, however, opinions were evenly split, and everyone was expressing their views calmly—
You could tell that even they themselves were a bit unsure now. Whether it was choosing Alex or choosing Lu Ke, there was a slight hesitation. The two victories had been spectacular, but they weren't enough to completely turn the tide.
Back then, Jim Hubble had been the one to make the final call. Today, the decision once again rested in Jim Hubble's hands. However, they now also faced another problem: the locker room conflict. How would Jim handle it?