Chapter 219 217: Drawing First Blood
"Red zone offense, first-and-six. The 49ers are in the Shotgun Formation again, which you don't see used all that often in the red zone. However, Lu Ke has always been a rookie with brilliant tactical scheming. It's not impossible that they'll use the Shotgun Formation to run the ball. The important thing is how they plan to break through the Fierce Tiger Team's defense."
"To the 49ers' left, two powerful receiving threats, Newman and Crabtree, are split wide. Williams and Ginn are on the right, with Lynch positioned behind Williams. With this Shotgun Formation, the 49ers have so many tactical combinations it's impossible to predict the intended receiver. The snap!"
"Newman! Newman is storming into the left side of the End Zone, showing great speed and power! Crabtree cuts inside, running a route toward the middle, but—OH! OH! OH! IT'S GINN! IT'S TED GINN JR.! GINN! Good heavens, Ginn unexpectedly runs a straight route to the outside, piercing the End Zone like a spear, and beautifully shakes off safety Taylor Mays to make the catch!"
"Touchdown! It's a Touchdown! The San Francisco 49ers have scored a Touchdown! In this away game, the 49ers are the first to get on the board, securing the first Touchdown of today's game! What a truly magnificent play!"
Kirk's torrent of commentary was a throwback to his radio days, full of passion and raw emotion. Teddy, too, was getting swept up in the excitement; football always had a way of making the blood boil.
"Brilliant! The Fierce Tiger Team's defense played brilliantly, but the 49ers' offense was even better!" Teddy snapped his fingers twice. "The Fierce Tiger Team's aggressive blitzing has been very effective today, but Lu Ke immediately made the corresponding adjustments. On the last two plays, he used quick, short passes to tear apart the defense before the blitz could even develop, moving the chains twice in a row."
"Let's look at his time to throw—whoa, 1.73 seconds! Lightning fast! The Fierce Tiger Team's Defense Team had no chance!" Teddy exclaimed in spite of himself. "A four-yard short pass, then a six-yard short pass. Ted Ginn Jr. made two crucial catches that really broke things open. It's just unbelievable! Wait, is it just me, or does it seem like Lu Ke's ability to adapt during a game is getting stronger?"
"No, I don't think it's your imagination," Kirk chuckled in agreement. "We were just marveling at it, but... is this really Lu Ke's first away game? Are you sure it isn't his hundredth?"
During the first half of the Week 2 regular season game, the Dallas Cowboys' sound strategy had effectively contained Lu Ke's passing. It was clear his ability to make in-game adjustments was still lacking, as he didn't find his footing until the second half. But this week, on the very first drive, Lu Ke had already figured out a solution for himself in a direct confrontation. His rate of growth was simply astonishing.
"Bloody Bambi! Bloody Bambi!" The moment the Touchdown was confirmed, Ginn was the first one to charge over to Lu Ke, eyes wide and mouth agape, screaming like a madman, "God, Bloody Bambi!" It wasn't just Ginn; the other players all started roaring along with him.
Now they finally understood what Logan meant by "Bloody Bambi": never, ever provoke Lu Ke on the football field. Or you will face the consequences.
In the stands, the San Francisco 49ers fans erupted. Cliff leaped to his feet, vigorously waving the flag in his hands, while Jeff, beside him, began to scream at the top of his lungs, "Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!" For a moment, it felt like they were back at a college game, back in the Rose Bowl.
It was Lu Ke again, in another high-stakes matchup, gritting his teeth and carving out a bloody path. In the high-intensity battle between the offense and the Defense Team, Lu Ke once again showed his incredible mental fortitude. Almost single-handedly, with a dazzling and fluid offense built on complex and intricate tactics, he ripped open the defensive blockade and led his team to a score.
A Touchdown. Another Touchdown. The first Touchdown of today's game, and it came from Lu Ke!
This wasn't just a Touchdown; it was a display of grit and courage. Chris leaped into the air. How many years had it been? How many years since the San Francisco 49ers' offense had felt this tough, had shown this kind of attitude? But now, watching that undrafted rookie of Chinese Descent, he felt the surging power of passion once more.
The moment Ted Ginn Jr. secured the ball, seemingly without effort, Chris completely lost himself and started roaring, "Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown!" Touchdowns they once couldn't buy were now coming one after another, so easily, so forcefully!
As he kept shouting, Chris realized tears were streaming down his face. It was because of the Touchdown, because of Lu Ke, but even more, it was because after eight consecutive years of missing the playoffs, after lying dormant for a full fifteen years, the San Francisco 49ers finally felt a vibrant spark of life again.
So what if he was an undrafted rookie? So what if he was a Chinese-American quarterback? So what if his physical abilities weren't top-tier? In Lu Ke, Chris once again smelled the long-absent scent of hope.
Turning his head, Chris saw Jeff screaming wildly. He raised his own arm high and joined the roaring, "Bambi!" Such a simple nickname, yet it held an unimaginable energy.
It wasn't just Jeff, and it wasn't just Chris; they weren't alone. The number of away fans who had traveled for the game was honestly a little pathetic—a scattered, meager group of only five thousand. But at this moment, that small band of fans erupted with terrifying energy. Their cheers united into a single voice, crashing down like an overwhelming wave.
Of course, it couldn't compare to the spectacle of the Rose Bowl. In the face of thirty-five thousand home fans, their numbers were a drop in the ocean. And yet, it was this very energy that seemed to part the heavy clouds hanging over Paul Brown Stadium, allowing the light of hope for an away victory to quietly begin shining down.
"Bambi!" Logan ran up and slapped Lu Ke on the shoulder, gesturing toward the fans. A smile finally broke across his face. "You deserve this."
After two home games, Lu Ke never expected that it would be at an away game where he would truly feel the support of the San Francisco 49ers fans for the first time. In his line of sight, that flag fluttered wildly, painting a vast and magnificent swath of red under the golden sun. It was a breathtakingly beautiful sight, and his spirits began to soar.
This was the first step.
Pulling his gaze back, Lu Ke let out a soft breath. He took off his helmet and wiped at the scent of blood under his nose. His eyes cut through the crowd and landed on Atkins. Their gazes locked—unyielding, refusing to back down, a clash of the strong. They both knew that today's game was far from over, and their duel had only just begun.
Fight speed with speed. That had been Lu Ke's tactic on the last two offensive plays, one he had executed with unwavering resolve. Even before the snap, he had already designated his target: Ted Ginn Jr.
For one, Ginn was fast and agile. For another, he was a less obvious target than the other receivers, giving them the element of surprise.
All the other players' routes were decoys, meant to draw coverage and block. Ginn's only job was to sprint, get to his designated spot, and wait for Lu Ke to deliver the ball right on the money for the catch. That was it. It sounded simple, and in a way, it was. But executing it was incredibly complex.
The Fierce Tiger Team's blitzing strategy had been highly effective today, but Lu Ke had also identified their weaknesses. First, with the defense over-committing to the pass rush, their secondary was left vulnerable. Second, their pass defense was relatively weak; the zone coverage and man-to-man skills of their two cornerbacks and two safeties were not particularly outstanding.
He would use a strategy of quick, short passes. He took advantage of the fact that the opponent hadn't changed their defensive formation, using complex running routes to pull the defensive front out of position. Then, with pinpoint short passes, he could complete throws into tight windows. A quick release also allowed him to negate the Defense Team's powerful blitz, leaving Atkins with no opportunity to make a play.
On the previous play, Lu Ke had changed the call at the line precisely because he noticed the opposing defense hadn't altered their formation, allowing him to make the proper adjustment. All those complex signals had actually conveyed a single, simple message: the original target was Michael Crabtree, but now it was Ted Ginn Jr.
That tactical switch, made in just a few seconds, paved the way for the Touchdown. However, even Lu Ke hadn't anticipated scoring so quickly; the Fierce Tiger Team's Defense Team clearly couldn't keep up with the tempo.
'It just goes to show, players need to be tempered by real games.' Armchair strategizing could never lead to real progress; only by being truly battle-hardened could a player become formidable. Lu Ke was actually starting to enjoy this away game.
But one thing was certain: the Fierce Tiger Team's defensive coaching staff was bound to make adjustments. The chess match had only just begun. The faint scent of blood still lingered on his fingertips. Lu Ke withdrew his gaze, ignoring Atkins and instead waving his teammates off the field, leaving it to the special teams unit.
Subsequently, the San Francisco 49ers' special teams unit made no mistake, easily kicking the extra point. The score became 0-7, with the home team's score listed first.
"In this rookie showdown today, both rookie quarterbacks have shown themselves to be in fine form. Overall, though, Lu Ke has successfully drawn first blood. Especially in the face of intense pressure from two sacks and one hurried throw, Lu Ke has shown a maturity and sharpness that belies his rookie status, even leading his team to the first Touchdown. I have to give the edge to Lu Ke!"
Teddy was lavish with his praise, and Kirk, sitting beside him, didn't object. He did, however, turn his attention to the other team's quarterback.
"On the other side, playing at home, Andy Dalton seems to be feeling the pressure. He's played well, but he faltered when it mattered most. The pressure is only going to mount from here, so we'll see how Dalton handles it. This Sunday game has been far more exciting than expected. These two rookie quarterbacks are definitely ones to watch."
As Kirk and Teddy continued their commentary, the Fierce Tiger Team's offense took the field once more.