Before the 2011 season, the San Francisco 49ers experienced an eight-year downturn. In the absence of a leading quarterback, the offensive team never improved much, but the defensive team has always been their salvation and cannot be regarded as their salvation. Top, but always ranked in the middle of the league, hovering between 15th and 22nd. In the 2009 season, it even ranked fourth in the league.
Patrick Willis, Justin Smith, Navarro Bowman, Dashon Goldson, etc. are the cornerstones of the team's defense, and they are still shining in the team; but the cornerback position has always been relative. It is weak and often becomes a breakthrough for other teams to break down the defense.
The same is true this season.
Five cornerbacks including Chris Gulliver, Carroll Rogers, Tarell Brown, Tramaine Brock, and Perrish-Cox are competing for the starting spot. Position, but generally speaking, it is still in a state of rotation most of the time, and no player can have an absolute advantage.
Among them, Carroll Rogers was selected to the Pro Bowl last season and performed well; his status has declined this season, and his overall performance has stabilized but lacks highlights.
But just now, Chris Gulliver, who had changed his defensive position from the right to the left, took up his position in advance and appeared accurately in the passing path of Matt Ryan and Roddy White. , a flying interception, a wonderful performance that is simply jaw-dropping, completely different from the dullness and sluggishness of the entire season.
What exactly is going on?
Ryan's feeling was getting weirder and weirder, as if Gulliver had predicted his passing movement half a beat ahead of time. Half a shot, this seems to be nothing at all, but in the game, it is crucial to be able to seize the opportunity in the confrontation between offense and defense. So how did it happen?
Was his passing action exposed? Or did my defensive reading go wrong?
Ryan had a vague feeling, but he couldn't push away the clouds in front of his eyes - "I just live in this mountain and don't know the true face of Lushan Mountain." Subconsciously, Ryan turned around and looked in the direction of the away team's tactical room. , with a trace of confusion and confusion in his eyes, he needs the third-party opinions of bystanders to look at the entire situation from a high position, otherwise he will only sink deeper and deeper into the passive quicksand, and ultimately be unable to extricate himself.
…
Chris Gulliver gently stood on his tiptoes and leaped over. The rotation axis and flight arc of the football were extremely clear. He just needed to concentrate, and then he could catch the football before Roddy could complete it. Copying it into my arms, the solid touch and violent impact caused a direct burst of adrenaline, filling every cell, as if all the pores in the body were opened.
This is the lightest interception of his career!
Gulliver's whole body fell rapidly under the pull of gravity, but he was not nervous at all. Not only was he not nervous, but he also became excited. With the help of inertia, he immediately rolled to the right after touching the ground - away from him. In Rody's direction, he rolled around and regained space.
Gulliver still firmly controlled the football with his right hand, and used his free left hand to get up on his hands and feet. Although the posture was not very beautiful, there was no time to worry now, and he quickly sprinted forward in an attempt to launch a counterattack.
Unfortunately, because his center of gravity had been lost, Gulliver's speed could not be increased. He had just stood up. Roddy White and two other offensive team members came to their senses and sprinted up. The three of them attacked him from different angles. Gulliver fell down and limited the damage on this interception.
The entire Candlestick Stadium is boiling!
It's completely boiling!
Although they have never doubted it, although they have never worried about it, the belief of victory is always boiling in their blood vessels. However, the score is behind, and the fans at the scene are inevitably nervous. They are waiting, waiting for the team to launch. The moment to counterattack and achieve a lead.
Now, they have finally waited!
After the start of the second half, there was an overwhelming attack that ended with a touchdown; then there was a head-on collision with the defense that ended with an interception. From the offensive end to the defensive end, the San Francisco 49ers are taking over the game, and their time has come! The situation on the field is finally about to reverse!
"We are! Nine!"
"We are! Warriors!"
"We are! Nine!"
"We are! Warriors!"
The roaring shouts and roars in the audience were deafening, and the red ocean boiled and rolled violently. The red air waves filled the sky and covered the ground in a mighty way, stirring up turbulent waves, as if the whole world was caught in a red craze.
Gulliver's emotions were finally released, and he beat his chest one after another, accompanied by shouts one after another, "Ah! Ah! Ah!" Not just for an interception, but more In order to recover in this game, this is crucial for the playoffs.
All the friends from the defense team rushed over, patted Gulliver's helmet, and cheered and celebrated. The morale of the team reached a climax!
Matt Ryan came off the field depressed, and Lu Ke came on calmly. The two quarterbacks each led their own offensive team to complete a position change in possession of the ball.
The Atlanta Falcons had just arrived near midfield. After completing the interception, Gulliver continued to attack for five yards, so now Lu Ke was standing on the 41-yard line in the opponent's half.
This is bound to be a head-to-head confrontation. Lu Ke hopes to lead the San Francisco 49ers to complete the lead and further defeat their opponents; while the Atlanta Falcons also hope to quickly get rid of the sluggish state, re-engage their offensive team, and continue to maintain the visiting team's success. Leading edge.
Both sides will not relax easily!
Although we are now standing on the 41-yard line, the intensity of the confrontation between the offense and defense will never be inferior to that in the red zone.
Sure enough, the entire defensive position of the Atlanta Falcons was fully pressed, and they were in a desperate state——
From defensive front to linebacker to safety, all positions are forward. On the first line, four defensive ends and one outside linebacker; on the second line, two linebackers; on the third line, two cornerbacks and one outside linebacker. A safety; fourth line, a safety -- only about three yards between the lines.
The biggest change in the entire defensive formation is not the addition of outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas, which enhances the intensity of attacking the quarterback; but the dislocation of the safety guard and cornerback, which enhances the intensity of the matchup.
In addition to the only safety Thomas Deward who was alone behind the pressure, there were two cornerbacks, one safety and two linebackers, a total of five defensive players; two tight ends, two wide receivers and one A running back, a total of five offensive players, "five VS five", each formed a matchup one by one.
It can be understood that the two security guards Deward and Moore originally had relatively free positions. They did not guard against each other, but instead defended in a zone. But now Moore, who is a strong guard, and tight end forward Logan form a confrontation. , and the two cornerbacks face off against the two receivers, which also frees up the linebackers. They don't need to stare at the tight end, but can be more mobile.
Now, the functions of the three linebackers are filled with many changes.
Outside linebacker Stephen Nicholas, inside linebacker Akeem Dent, and outside linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. Among them, Nicholas is tied with the defensive front, and Akeem and Weatherspoon stand three yards behind in the middle zone. .
If Nicholas and Vernon form a matchup, then Akeem can match up with the running back Gall who has just debuted in the rotation, and Weatherspoon can choose to raid the quarterback or drop back to assist in short passing area defense; if Akeem Matching up with Vernon, Weatherspoon and Nicholas can choose to blitz the quarterback while guarding Gall from the left and right sides.
In addition, they can also choose to attack at the same time, or choose short pass defense at the same time.
To put it simply, through the counter-marking of a safety guard, the role of a linebacker is released, which improves the pressure and mobility of the defensive front; at the same time, all five receiving players are Under one-on-one marking, ensure maximum pressure on the offensive team.
This is not the fourth quarter of the game, but the chilling atmosphere on the court can already feel the tension and suffocation of life and death.
"attack!"
The moment Lu Ke announced the kickoff, the Atlanta Falcons defensive team's position immediately exploded like a goddess scattering flowers. They did not choose to raid the quarterback. The two linebackers Akeem and Weatherspoon both chose. Falling back, completely covering the entire short passing area, blocking all potential passing routes, especially the fatal long passing route!
Then, you can see all the offensive and defensive players scattered across the field——
On the right wing, tight end Logan formed a confrontation with safety guard Moore, but Logan did not rush forward blindly. Before the two men were about to collide head-on, he chose to stop and run back, and separated about three yards from Moore. receiving space. But as long as Logan completely catches the ball, Moore can immediately complete the tackle.
On the right wing, wide receiver Jean and cornerback Dunta formed a confrontation. After the kickoff, they rushed forward with their heads buried in their heads. Although Dunta opened the distance in advance and took the advantage, Jean's absolute speed advantage still easily took over. Gaining the upper hand and rushing out fifteen yards, Jean had already begun to overtake Dunta and was still widening the distance.
On the left wing, wide receiver Moss formed a confrontation with cornerback McClain. He and Logan ran the same route. They rushed forward quickly and then stopped and ran back. Their steps did not go beyond five yards. If Lu Ke chose to rush If you pass the ball quickly, Moss and Logan can complete the pass immediately. This is the best option to improve the offensive rhythm.
On the left wing, tight end Vernon and outside linebacker Nicholas formed a confrontation. Nicholas gave up on attacking the quarterback and became entangled with Vernon. Vernon relentlessly hit Nicholas' shoulder, and Nicholas tried to grab Vernon's shoulder. His shoulders failed to get stuck in position. In less than half a second, Vernon broke through.
Who is the target of the pass?
Wait, it’s Marcus!
