Seven seconds, two plays, 12 yards.
Efficient and fast, sharp and precise, this is the most impressive offensive tactic of the San Francisco 49ers this season. It is like mercury pouring out, hearty and pleasing to the eye; more importantly, it is difficult to guard against. Once the rhythm is lost, you will fall into the quagmire. In it, I can't extricate myself.
When the game returned to the field in the third quarter, Lu Ke began to lay the groundwork. The Pittsburgh Steelers were always vigilant and vigilant. Now, Lu Ke finally found the gap and launched the attack with full firepower. The Steelers defense was at a rare disadvantage.
This is not good news for Steelers fans.
After the short passing area was penetrated, the continuous pressure of the two outside linebackers slowed down slightly, and they had to shift their attention to take care of the short passing area, especially near the sideline. Losing yardage, it doesn't matter, but not being able to consume the game clock, which is also fatal, they must do everything they can to prevent the 49ers from controlling the game clock.
But then, after kicking off again, Lu Ke unexpectedly handed the football to Marcus Lynch.
When everyone's attention was on the receiver, Lynch successfully opened a gap and got rid of the tackle of inside linebacker Ford and continued to advance. When the two players surrounded and completed the tackle, Lin Qi had advanced ten yards and easily got the first down again.
"The San Francisco 49ers request a timeout."
The first time Marcus fell to the ground, Lu Ke asked for a timeout. This was a tactical ball run. Advancing the number of yards was not the focus, but further disrupting the rhythm of the Steelers defensive team.
In such a crisis situation, there is no way to make such a choice.
If it were any other defensive team, they would have already fallen into the rhythm of the 49ers. If not collapsed, at least they would have started to become chaotic; but the Steelers defensive team has always had a tenacity and perseverance, coupled with the personal With outstanding abilities, it becomes even more difficult to break through the defense line.
Lu Ke must proceed step by step and steadily, and must not rush. Although time is the most pressing key factor now, Lu Ke still keeps telling himself: sharpening the knife will not miss the woodcutter. This is true for two consecutive short passes, and the same is true for a running ball, step by step, just like a master of chess.
On our own twenty-nine-yard line, we have ten yards in first gear.
"attack!"
Almost at the same time as the kickoff, the alarm bell in Lu Ke's mind had already sounded. In the defensive reading just now, the Steelers defensive team successfully deceived him——
Of the two safety guards, one moved his center of gravity toward the left front, while the other deliberately stood still and remained still. The same was true for the two cornerbacks, one shifted the center slightly forward, and the other also stood still and did not move. But overall, their center of gravity is actually leaning back. It can be vaguely seen that their bodies are ready to retreat and defend.
In the flash of lightning, Lu Ke judged that this was a time to open up the defense, and he would definitely be able to find a gap in the short passing area.
After the actual kickoff, the two security guards and the two cornerbacks stepped back at the same time. It looked exactly like Lu Ke's prediction, but it was too neat and unified, and something was wrong - could it be that the mid-pass area and The short passing area was completely abandoned like this? Obviously not!
Lu Ke immediately realized that his prediction was wrong.
Sure enough, the next moment, all four players paused, borrowed the power of retreat, and sprinted in reverse, while sprinting towards the starting position of the kick-off. This also means...
Raid!
The first and second lines of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense broke out instantly and started at the same time, like layers of steel curtains, paved layer by layer, bursting out with a powerful momentum that shook the earth.
Three defensive linemen and one inside linebacker rushed forward in an instant, blocking the offensive lineman without making any further movements; the other inside linebacker followed the running back's footsteps and was waiting for an opportunity to move; the two outside linebackers rushed out directly. The offensive linemen's pockets are double-teamed from both sides.
This tactic looks really familiar, it is exactly the same strong pressure formation that the Steelers used repeatedly in the first half.
But this time, Lu Ke took the initiative.
When his hands came into contact with the football, it was just an alarm bell. Like the intuition of a beast, before his brain could react, Lu Ke had already taken a quick step back, one step, two steps, three steps, quickly widening the distance, and then for the third time His first reaction was to look at the two outside linebackers. After seeing through his opponent's intention to sack the quarterback, Lu Ke calmed down like never before.
Xiao Suibu adjusted on the spot, suddenly exerted force, and moved sideways to the left.
Standing on the blind side on the left hand side was Woodley. He was sprinting vertically, and then he saw Lu Ke move laterally. The shift and twist of the center of gravity immediately made the whole body awkward, and the grappling action also lost its original technical framework. , actually watched Lu Ke slip away from his fingertips——
What's even more depressing is that Lu Ke's movement with the ball is definitely not brilliant, and is even slightly clumsy. If the opportunity hadn't been lost at that moment, this sack would have been a sure thing!
But, there is no if.
Woodley twisted his body forcefully, started twice and sacked twice. However, before the action could be completed, Lu Ke had already passed the ball. A bullet pass was released quickly, and with a "swish" it crossed the McMahon line between the offensive and defensive fronts, and disappeared from Woodley's sight.
The target of the pass is clearly Vernon Davis.
During the kick-off, Vernon, who had been looking for an opening in the short passing area, noticed the change in his opponent's defensive tactics before he had time to take a step forward and move out of the way, so he immediately cut inside and headed towards the center. He moved his steps in the area and turned around. He saw the football coming from him and firmly completed the ball on his chest.
This is a short five-yard pass from the left near the center area.
After Vernon completed the ball, almost immediately, two safeties and a cornerback formed a circle. Vernon immediately realized that he could not form a breakthrough and was probably just wasting time, so he chose to take the initiative to fall to the ground, confirm that he had completed the ball, and then threw the football to the referee.
Turning around, Vernon cast his gaze towards Lu Ke, "Do you need to pause?"
This was a quick shot in a desperate situation that failed to take care of the game time, but now it was too late, they must continue to push forward; there are still two timeouts in hand, which must be used at more critical moments later.
So, Lu Ke shook his head, and the offensive players quickly stepped forward to complete the formation.
Second gear five yards.
After a quick kickoff, Lu Ke swept the entire field. This time the Steelers defense gave up on raiding and instead accumulated a large number of troops in pass defense, not just two safeties and two cornerbacks. Two outside linebackers and one inside linebacker also began to retreat, making the entire court defensively airtight.
Of course, Lu Ke thought that there would be no problem with the offensive line's pocket protection.
Because the Steelers only send three defensive linemen and one inside linebacker to attack the pocket -- and maybe even just three defensive linemen, the inside linebacker should still be waiting for opportunities to target the running back. This means that the offensive line will have a numerical advantage.
But the next moment, a large shadow appeared in front of Lu Ke's eyes.
Not the left side, not the right side, but right in front, like a mountain of tai, pressing down on the top, it threw Lu Ke to the ground with great force. He had nowhere to escape and was unable to resist. It was like a hurricane overwhelming the mast, "Crack" With a crisp sound, he fell to the ground neatly.
The disparity in power balance is really difficult to describe in words.
After his body felt the coldness of the ground, Lu Ke realized that it was not the two outside linebackers who completed the Steelers' first sack of the game, but Peak Casey Hampton.
Under the crisis situation, the Steelers defensive team also resorted to the bottom of the box, deliberately removing the frontline assault personnel, and instead focused on pass defense. After the serious imbalance of power ratio, the offensive line relaxed their vigilance slightly, and Han Han However, Purton completed an instant burst of crushing and finally successfully sacked the quarterback.
As the top player in the league, one versus two or even one versus three, this is Hampton's power. He made the Pro Bowl five times in his nine-year career, and it was a rare peak - which is even more rare because he needs to compete with defensive tackles for a Pro Bowl spot.
In this game, Hampton, who had always remained motionless, was suddenly attacked. Jonathan Goodwin and Anthony Davis were unable to withstand the sudden attack. They fell to both sides like wind blowing wheat waves, helplessly watching. Watch as Hampton tackles their quarterback right away.
As the San Francisco 49ers' offense continued to perform strongly, the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense also responded strongly. At the last moment of the game, the sparkling showdown between the two sides was truly amazing! This is the Monday Night Game!
Goodwin pulled Lu Ke to stand up, and then saw Lu Ke smile and joked, "It seems that we have pushed the Steelers to the extreme, and even come up with playoff tactics. Now , should we also use our special skills?"
Goodwin laughed dumbly, "That's up to you. Are you okay?" Even Goodwin couldn't handle Hampton's tonnage, let alone Lu Ke?
"It's okay." Lu Ke waved his hand.
Goodwin and Davis had actually removed most of their strength. In the end, Lu Ke did not escape the sack, mainly because of the accident and the absolute difference in weight. The real impact is actually not fierce. The bigger question now is, how should the Steelers break through the many tricks on their defense?
Third gear and eight yards.
After being sacked just now, they lost three yards, and now the San Francisco 49ers are also in the dilemma of converting long yards in the third gear; but the third gear is not a problem. Even if the third gear fails, they will firmly choose the fourth gear. The point is, how should they continue to move forward now?
