Chapter 224 222: Hard Counterattack
"The San Francisco 49ers' team doctor gave the all-clear sign. The number fourteen rookie quarterback is okay and will remain on the field to lead the offense. Nevertheless, quarterbacks Alex Smith and Scott Torsin have started warming up on the sidelines, ready to enter the game at a moment's notice."
The situation on the field finally stabilized. In the broadcast booth, Kirk and Teddy's commentary refocused on the game.
After Teddy finished explaining the situation, Kirk elaborated, "This has been a year plagued by misfortune for the 49ers. They've rallied together, with their backs against the wall, desperate to return to their peak.
But several quarterbacks have suffered various injuries one after another. Under the leadership of an undrafted rookie, they've surprisingly started the season with two consecutive wins and finally managed to stabilize the situation. If Lu Ke gets injured again now, it would be terrible news."
Teddy nodded in agreement. "Although we've already emphasized this, it's just a fact that after a quarterback is repeatedly sacked, his confidence will inevitably take a hit, and his subsequent passes will be affected. This is especially true for rookie quarterbacks who lack the experience to handle crises and sudden changes. Their situation becomes even more difficult.
In today's game, Lu Ke has been sacked four times, with a risk of injury on two of those occasions. It's hard to predict what kind of impact this will have on the rest of the game. Before this, Lu Ke had shown a veteran-like poise and maturity that belies his rookie status, but now, he's facing an even sterner challenge."
"This upcoming red zone possession is invaluable for the 49ers. It's not just about a touchdown; it's also about Lu Ke's mental state." Kirk added, responding to Teddy's analysis and pulling the viewers back to the game.
On the field, Geno Atkins's muscles tensed up bit by bit. He subtly adjusted his stance, preparing to charge again. The recent incident hadn't distracted him. 'The greatest respect for an opponent is to give your all, a contest of strength against strength. Only the strongest will claim victory!'
He was ready to get another sack.
The Fierce Tiger Team's defensive formation was still set for a blitz. The front was a 4-3 formation, while the second line was in a 2-2. They hadn't adjusted their tactics, convinced it would be a run play; after consecutive sacks and an injury scare, passing had become difficult.
If they kept up the pressure, Lu Ke might even throw the ball away to avoid a direct hit. A running play was the safer, more prudent choice, and the 49ers sending in Kendall Hunter to replace Marcus Lynch was a clear signal.
Atkins's mission was still to blitz and sack, to further pressure the 49ers' Offense Line and quarterback, and then completely destroy their offense. '4.5 sacks in a single game? Maybe even 5.5? A new Alliance record?' Atkins thought that would make for a nice headline.
"Hike!"
Amidst the anxious cheers of the home crowd, Atkins caught Lu Ke's snap count. He charged forward like a wild beast, but unexpectedly, Rupati and Hachar seemed to have already sniffed out the play. Both of them actively met his charge, their powerful collision brutally blocking Atkins's breakthrough, even knocking him off balance and causing him to stumble back slightly.
But Atkins was not alone.
On the Fierce Tiger Team's defense, besides the four men on the Defense Line, the three linebackers behind them were also blitzing, their eyes locked on Hunter, who was preparing for a power run. This player wasn't fast, but he ran like a bulldozer with devastating momentum, often winning head-on collisions.
To defend against Hunter, a Defensive End and an outside linebacker both charged toward him. But the next moment, Atkins thought, 'Not good!'
All Atkins could see was a great wall closing in on him. The Fierce Tiger Team's blitz had somehow failed. Before a question could even form in his mind, he saw a football fly over his head. In that split second of distraction, Atkins was completely knocked over by players from the Offense Line, sprawling helplessly onto the turf.
'What happened?'
...
Lu Ke had set up in a power run formation.
The five members of the Offense Line stood in front, with Lu Ke right behind the center, Jonathan Goodwin. To his right was a single Wide Receiver, Kyle Williams, and diagonally behind him was Kendall Hunter, ready for the run. To his left, three receivers were in a triangle formation: Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr. were on the line, with Logan Newman positioned a step behind them.
Although it was clearly a power run formation, the left side was the definitive strong side. The combination of two Wide Receivers and a Tight End presented a powerful offensive threat, forcing the Fierce Tiger Team, even in their heavy blitz, to adjust their alignment. They had to shift slightly toward the ends of the Offense Line, widening the gap in the middle and weakening their central defense.
"Hike!"
After the snap, Lu Ke took two quick steps back. In his peripheral vision, he could see the movement of the Fierce Tiger Team's defensive players, exactly as predicted: on the left, Rupati and Hachar surged forward to block Atkins, while two other defenders were forced to cover the three receivers on that side. On the right, two players were trying to stop the steamroller-like Hunter.
Of the seven players in the Fierce Tiger Team's 4-3 defensive front, six were now occupied, leaving only one man in the middle trying to break through. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers' Offense Line had three players holding their ground. Even after sending one to help Hunter, they still had a two-on-one advantage.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
With the mismatch in their alignments, the 49ers completely neutralized the Fierce Tiger Team's blitz. The solid pocket gave Lu Ke plenty of time and space.
Then, Lu Ke raised his right arm and executed the throwing motion he had practiced a thousand, ten thousand times on the training field. With a slight flick of his forearm, the football traced a small arc as he sent it toward the weakest point in the middle.
...
"Snap! The Fierce Tiger Team shows heavy blitz! The San Francisco 49ers are in a power run formation! Lu Ke drops back, but—it's not a run, it's play-action! A tactical trap by the 49ers! The heavy blitz is completely stopped! The 49ers receivers are running dizzying routes!
On the right, Williams runs forward then cuts left, crossing the End Zone! On the left, Ginn runs forward then cuts right, also crossing the End Zone! The two players' crisscrossing routes completely disrupt the Fierce Tiger Team's secondary!
At the same time, Newman is sprinting straight ahead—he's open! Crabtree is running toward the left sideline of the End Zone—he's open too! God! The Fierce Tiger Team's entire End Zone is in complete chaos; there are open men everywhere! Every spot in the End Zone is a potential target! Jesus Christ!"
Amidst Kirk's rapid-fire commentary, Teddy couldn't get a word in, but he didn't care. All his attention was focused on the field, his eyes wide, not even daring to blink, afraid that in that brief moment of a blink or a breath, he might miss something absolutely spectacular.
Ted Ginn Jr. was sprinting, a Defensive End closely tracking his steps in man-to-man coverage. But Ginn was completely unaffected. He sprinted forward, made a ninety-degree turn, and continued his sprint. The Defensive End followed close behind, but his steps gradually began to fall behind as the Wide Receiver's speed advantage was on full display.
As they crossed paths, Ginn and Williams switched places, and the coverage zones of the two defenders behind them overlapped. THUD. Ginn could hear the dull thud of a collision, but he didn't lose focus for a second. He continued to sprint forward like the wind, and another cornerback came into his line of sight: the Fierce Tiger Team's right cornerback, Nate Clements.
Clements was standing in Ginn's path, lying in wait. As soon as Lu Ke threw the ball, he could cut in to either intercept it or break up the play, coiled and ready to strike.
But then Clements froze for a moment. Ginn didn't slow down; he was still accelerating. Clements was forced to start backpedaling quickly, but his backward steps were no match for Ginn's forward momentum. Before he could even take a full breath, Ginn had already blown past Clements and was behind him.
'The pass is here!'
Clements twisted around awkwardly, trying to look over his shoulder to break up the pass, but he couldn't turn in time. He only managed to catch sight of Ginn's hands reaching high for the football. 'Damn it!'
Ginn held his breath, his speed at its absolute maximum, but it still wasn't enough; the pass was just a bit overthrown. He stretched his arms to their limit, reaching higher and higher, as if plucking a star from the night sky. His fingertips brushed against the spiraling football, altering its trajectory.
Contact! Ginn stumbled forward, needing to control his feet, to slow down. But his eyes never left the ball. He watched the falling football intently, lunged forward with both hands, and his large palms caught it. He gripped it tightly, refusing to let go, pulling it into his chest as if embracing the most precious treasure in the world.
'Control my feet, control my feet!'
Ginn stumbled forward, all his focus shifting from his hands to his feet. Left foot, right foot—he confirmed both feet were down inside the End Zone. His muscles tensed to their limit, and he paused for half a second before a huge shove from behind sent him flying.
He slammed hard onto the grass, sending a spray of turf into the air. Then, the clear, bright sound of a whistle reached his ears. "TWEET! Touchdown!"