"Now, it's time to witness another skill of the quarterback." Before the offense started, Kirk further explained to the audience, "Control the time of the game, control the rhythm of the game, and firmly control the victory. In the hands. It's a basic, simple skill that not every quarterback can master."
The game is about to end, with three minutes and sixteen seconds left, the score is "10:24", the San Francisco 49ers are in the lead, and they need two possessions to catch up. This also means that the 49ers have the initiative.
In such a situation, the task of the offensive team is not to continue to score touchdowns or continue to score, but to consume the game time. Generally speaking, the team's coaching staff will use a lot of running tactics. Each running ball can consume six to ten seconds, and the quarterback can completely consume the entire forty-second countdown before the offense. Kick off the ball at the last moment and then run the ball to further consume time.
Back and forth, there is no need for too many tactics at all. Even if they strike out, they can consume about a hundred seconds.
However, if a certain run of the ball results in a large number of yards; or a certain sudden pass, after completing the yards, gets the first down again, this means that the offensive team can repeat the same tricks and continue to waste time. .
The more time is consumed, the smaller the window left for the opponent.
More importantly, the risk of passing the ball is too great, and it may be intercepted or even counterattacked; while the risk of running the ball is smaller. The running back concentrates on protecting the ball and does not rush the ball greedily, so it is almost impossible. There is no danger of dropping the ball. In addition, the quarterback directly hands the football to the running back, and there is no possibility of being sacked in a surprise attack.
In short, this is the safest and most correct choice in all aspects.
Unless there is a small probability event, the running back drops the ball, the opponent gets the ball, and completes the return touchdown; or the quarterback and running back make a mistake in cooperation, without spending too much time, and simply strike out with such a small amount. Probabilistic events have really happened on the football field, and there are more of them than imagined.
So, as Kirk said, what needs to be witnessed now is another skill of the quarterback: game control. It's not about controlling the offense, but controlling the rhythm of the entire offensive group and effectively consuming time.
After Lu Ke returned to the field, after the offensive team completed their formation, Lu Ke did not rush to kick off, but followed his habit and read the defense.
In his mind, he kept thinking about Jim's instructions just now, "Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball." What Lu Ke needs to complete is to kick off the ball and then hand the football to the running back, not Marcus Lynch, but It's Kendall Hunter, and Hunter will do the rest, just like a tank clearing a road, moving forward mightily, and that's it.
There are no tactics to speak of, and no techniques to speak of. Jim kept repeating it and warned him three times, because he knew that rookie quarterbacks often have a strong desire to show off, and after all they can't help but want to show off, but as a result they often make mistakes, causing irreparable consequences.
But at this time, Lu Ke had a different idea, "Coach, the Tigers have put up a strong defense against the run. Hunter can't run two yards at all, and may even lose yards."
The familiar voice came from the headphones, not from Jim Hubble, but from Brian Hampton sitting in the tactical analysis room above the court.
The tactical analysis room, the English name is "ar-ro", which literally translates to "war room", is filled with the smell of gunpowder smoke. There are two tactical analysis rooms above each court, like locker rooms, for the home team and the away team respectively.
This is the on-site command fortress of each team. Data analysts, team managers, player management managers, etc., will all gather together. If the team owners are in a good mood, they may also leave their VIP boxes before Come to the tactical analysis room and boost morale.
For each tactical arrangement, the coaches next to the court will communicate directly with the tactical analysis room and then issue instructions. Generally speaking, the head coach is the one who makes the final decisions; occasionally, the powerful team manager seizes the command and directly issues tactical instructions during the game.
Among the San Francisco 49ers, Trent Baalke is the one who knows how to measure. He did not interfere with the team's tactical work and entrusted it to Jim Harbaugh. Therefore, the person who takes the initiative in the tactical analysis room is Brian. -Hampton, he is the team's tactical director, responsible for summarizing the data of all data analysts, combining it with the team's tactical manual, and giving real-time feedback during the game.
In the tactical arrangement, Brian, Jim and Lu Ke are on the same line and communicate directly; if the offensive coach, defensive coach, quarterback coach, linebacker coach, etc. need to communicate , they will use the walkie-talkies in their hands, switch channels, and then interrupt.
"Lu Ke, follow the plan, follow the plan!" Brian repeated the instruction, as if he had no intention of listening to Lu Ke's suggestions.
"What I mean is that if we choose a short pass and take it by surprise, we can take advantage of the players' movement and consume more time while ensuring the success rate of the pass. This is far better than Hunter running the ball and encountering a wall directly. It is more reasonable to intercept and then end the attack." Lu Ke expressed his opinion again.
This time, Brian looked down at the venue:
The Tigers piled up seven players on the front line, like an iron wall, tightly blocking all running routes; while the four second-line players retreated slightly, standing six or seven yards away to defend potential passes. ball possible. Overall, they almost gave up the strategy of surprise attack, and the entire defensive focus shifted.
Everyone knows the 49ers are going to run the ball.
Brian sighed softly.
According to common sense, everyone knows the 49ers' next plan, but all teams will still choose to run the ball and consume the game time. It is simple and crude, but it is effective, and there is no fear of the opponent seeing through it.
However, there are now three minutes and sixteen seconds left in the game. The 49ers not only need to consume time, but also need to get a first offense, so as to further compress the Tigers' window.
"Jim, it's up to you." There was a 50-50 chance that Brian wasn't the one giving the order, Jim was.
Jim stood on the sidelines with a headset on his head, pacing back and forth. He paused for a moment, his eyes fell on Lu Ke, and he looked at him seriously, "Lu Ke, do what you want." In his heart, Jim He is a gambler, always has been.
Lu Ke did not answer, but took a step forward and began to change tactics; however, the 49ers players did not move, and neither did the Bengals players. Everyone seemed to be sure that this tactical change was a smoke bomb. .
After retreating again, Lu Ke stood in the pistol formation, and Hunter stood to his right, four yards away.
Without a fancy feint, Lu Ke directly announced the kickoff. After catching the football with both hands, he quickly stepped back and took a step towards the right. However, after only taking two steps, he caught the right ball with his peripheral vision. A Tigers player on the side.
It was an outside linebacker. He unexpectedly launched a surprise attack. Taking advantage of the short-handed 49ers' offensive line, five players faced seven players. He bypassed the players as fast as lightning and broke into the 49ers' pocket diagonally. middle.
"Hunter!" Lu Ke shouted loudly. Next, regardless of whether Hunter noticed it or not, he quickly changed his running direction and moved quickly to the left. This time wasted back and forth, and then Lu Ke did not stop again. He hesitated, raised his hand and passed the football. Even if there is a slight delay, this is still only a quick shot of about two seconds to two seconds and a half.
The football jumped high, crossed the defensive barrier, and then landed accurately in the gap between the defensive front line and the defensive second line. It was about a five-yard pass. Among the defensive players, A 49ers player came out like this, jumped up slightly, and completed the ball.
"Pass! This is actually a pass!" In the studio, Kirk couldn't help but express surprise, "No. 88, Logan Newman, easily picked up the football and then started to push forward strongly. The Bengals defense was completely caught off guard and couldn't keep up with the speed. Newman completed a 13-yard advance and was intercepted. Beautiful!"
"Both teams have made small adjustments to their tactics." Teddy noticed the Bengals' outside linebacker Manny Lawson and circled him on the screen. "The Tigers were in the most tense moments. , adopted a one-man raid strategy, and the effect was very good; but Lu Ke keenly sensed the crisis, quickly evaded, and then quickly completed the pass. Wow, this short confrontation in a small area is still exciting!"
"The 49ers started to organize the offense again, and it was a quick kickoff?" Before Kirk and Teddy could finish their explanation, exclamations came immediately. Kirk quickly explained, "In the midst of the lightning, Lu Ke gently He jumped up and completed another five-yard short pass. This time, it was Michael Crabtree who received the football. He used his body advantage to powerfully complete a nine-yard advance, only one yard away from getting the first offense again. .”
"Ho ho ho." Kirk couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Two consecutive unexpected fast breaks took less than thirty seconds, but the San Francisco 49ers had successfully advanced 22 yards. Everyone thought They're going to be passive and take away the game time, and then they continue to push forward? Now, the Tigers' defense is completely confused."
"This really surprised everyone, did you hear it? The exclamations in the commentary box couldn't stop." Teddy also laughed, "Kirk, guess, the next offense, the 49ers will Do you choose to pass the ball or choose to run the ball?"
"Getting the first down again with only one yard? Well, I guess... Lu Ke ran the ball by himself." At the tense moment, Kirk made a little joke, the subtext was: No one could have predicted the 49ers. The next offensive choice, "This is getting more and more difficult for the Tigers. Now they need to make a judgment whether this is a time-consuming running ball or a continuous offensive pass!"
