Chapter 417: In-Game Formation Change

Lu Ke stood up, gasping for breath. His right shoulder and arm were scraped raw, covered in a large patch of greenish-black turf bits. A burning pain spread through the entire right side of his body.

The New York Giants’ Defense Team had clearly upped their speed and intensity, suddenly erupting with explosive energy. They adopted a reckless, all-or-nothing approach, abandoning their backfield and midfield coverage. The entire defense blitzed hard, completely cutting off all short-pass routes and, in a flash, breaking through the Offense Line to get the sack.

The sheer tempo and momentum completely overwhelmed the San Francisco 49ers’ offense.

Lu Ke still lacked enough game experience to handle such a sudden, unannounced change of pace. A moment’s hesitation made him miss the perfect opportunity, and before he could even use his Special Skills, he was sacked hard from the right.

On the previous drive, Lu Ke had faked them out at least twice, tricking the Giant Team’s Defense Team and successfully scoring a Touchdown. Now, on this drive, the tables were turned, a solemn reminder to Lu Ke not to get carried away. The Giant Team was definitely no pushover.

As a result, the San Francisco 49ers were not only pushed back into their own half, standing on their own forty-one-yard line, but also faced a third-and-seventeen predicament. Their smooth-sailing momentum had just been dealt a head-on blow.

Previously, thanks to a botched punt by the opponent and Marcus’s excellent return, they had gained an excellent starting field position. Now, they were on the edge of a cliff, about to give up the advantage they had just gained and “welcome” Little Manning back onto the field. It seemed the shift in momentum could happen in the blink of an eye.

“Bambi, are you okay?” Jonathan Goodwin walked over, patting Lu Ke on the shoulder and asking with concern.

“I’m fine.” Lu Ke let out a heavy breath, pushed Goodwin’s right hand away, and spoke stiffly. His gaze was locked on Jason Pierre, the one who had just sacked him, and a dangerous light rekindled in his eyes. His spirit, far from being crushed, surged once more.

‘Fierce competition? A clash of titans?’

‘He would never back down. Since they raised their game, he would just have to raise his. Fight to the bitter end. When adversaries meet on a narrow path, the braver one wins. And when two brave men meet? The stronger one wins!’

Lu Ke pulled his gaze back and noticed Goodwin’s expression. He clapped his center on the shoulder to show he was fine, then gathered all the offensive players. “The drive isn’t over.”

Lu Ke spoke simply, sensing the slight tension in his teammates. Third-and-seventeen wasn’t just any old play; its difficulty was comparable to kicking a fifty-five-yard field goal. Their tactical options were truly limited.

The reason third-and-long is so difficult is that if the offense wants to get a first down, passing is generally the only option. Medium and long passes are the most likely plays. Even if they try a surprise run, the Defense Team can immediately collapse and move forward to make the stop, cutting off any chance of getting the first down. The Defense Team’s focus immediately becomes clear.

Generally speaking, third-and-seven or more is considered a long-yardage situation. What’s more, the San Francisco 49ers were now facing third-and-seventeen, which was even more difficult, leaving Lu Ke with even narrower options.

Lu Ke clenched his fists. “I said, the drive is not over!” The words were simple, clear, and powerful.

In his college career, the very first time Lu Ke stepped on the field as a quarterback, he was faced with a third-and-long. No one thought Lu Ke could convert it, not even the team’s coaching staff had any hope. They just wanted Lu Ke to get on the field, make some simple progress, and get a better punting position.

But what happened? Lu Ke not only converted the third down, he scored a Touchdown and led the team to a comeback victory. Everyone says Little Manning is clutch, but that calm performance under pressure was one of Lu Ke’s few innate talents.

“Don’t think about how many yards we need. Just advance. That’s our only goal.” Lu Ke said, raising his voice. He could feel that Logan and Marcus were resolute, and the other teammates had also calmed down, but their confidence was still a bit lacking. “Feel the energy from the crowd! This is our house. No one gets to run wild in our backyard!”

“AH! AH! AH!”

The unified and deafening cheers and shouts poured down relentlessly. The atmosphere in Candlestick Park hadn’t taken a hit at all, as if the team was facing third-and-one instead of third-and-seventeen. That confidence, conveyed unmistakably through the roars, was like the beat of a war drum, again and again, reigniting the home team’s morale.

Lu Ke noticed the subtle shift in his teammates’ eyes. Without another word, he crisply and decisively began to call the play.

‘A long pass!’

They didn’t have many options; a long pass was the best tactic, and it was also Lu Ke’s specialty. The New York Giants would surely be prepared and wouldn’t let their guard down. But Lu Ke wouldn’t be reckless, either—he hadn’t forgotten his mission for the first half. This long pass would be a true test of wills, a direct confrontation.

Standing in the pocket, Lu Ke’s eyes quickly scanned the field once, then slowly scanned it again, taking in the entire defensive formation.

The New York Giants’ Defense Team had completely changed their formation: on the first line, they only left three Defense Line players to rush the quarterback. Even these three defensive players had their stances a bit more upright. This meant that the pass rush was just a feint; their real task was to guard against a potential run.

On the second level, behind the three-man Defense Line, there was only one linebacker, roaming about four or five yards back. He formed a second barrier against short passes over the middle and any runs that broke through.

The remaining seven players were all dropped back into coverage, completely blanketing the medium and Long Pass Areas. The medium-pass area had a full four players, completely covering the passing lanes around the seventeen-yard mark. The Long Pass Area had three players arranged in a triangle, with two positioned slightly forward where the medium and long zones met, while the third hung back, waiting to react.

This was the defensive look you had to face on third-and-long. The Defense Team could prepare for everything in advance, nipping all possibilities in the bud. By being one step ahead, they could prune away the quarterback’s tactical options, leaving him in a desperate situation.

With two scans, Lu Ke took in the entire backfield defense and began making rapid calculations in his head. It was a zone defense. He sorted through and analyzed the abilities and qualities of the defensive players in each zone—all that pre-game preparation of watching endless game film often paid off in unexpected ways at critical moments.

Lu Ke calmly ran through his thoughts one more time. Without any hesitation, he decisively walked forward and began to change the play. A dizzying string of audibles began to fly out, echoing through the tense atmosphere of Candlestick Park. As Lu Ke shouted the calls, the receivers started to shift positions.

Michael Crabtree and Marcus Lynch, who were originally on the left, both moved to the right, joining Logan Newman and Kyle Williams. In an instant, the right side became incredibly crowded, packed with three Wide Receivers and a running back.

In the slot receiver position outside the Offense Line, Logan’s tall frame looked incredibly out of place. That spot was usually for a smaller, more nimble slot receiver. Logan standing there looked clumsy, more like another offensive lineman than a receiver.

However, two yards behind Logan, Marcus Lynch was lined up, looking poised to find a gap.

Williams, who was originally lined up parallel to Logan about four yards away, now took several big steps outward, almost to the sideline. It couldn’t help but remind people of the Week 4 regular season game, when Williams had advanced down that same sideline with a pose straight out of Power Rangers.

Finally, Crabtree stood between Logan and Williams, but his feet were set back a couple of steps, creating a recess. His eyes darted left and right, and his body swayed, as if to some imperceptible rhythm. No one should forget that it was Crabtree who made “that catch” against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 of the regular season.

Now, in contrast, the left side looked incredibly thin, with only the little speedster Ted Ginn Jr., a stark contrast to the heavy, crowded right wing.

As for Lu Ke himself, he was in a Shotgun Formation, a full seven yards away from the center, maximizing his space to read the defense.

Unquestionably, this was a strange, unpredictable formation.

In response, the New York Giants had no choice but to hold their ground. They didn’t change their defensive alignment, but the linebackers and defensive backs all shaded slightly toward the 49ers’ overloaded right side, compressing their zone coverage.

Lu Ke bent down again, surveying the Giant Team’s defense. He glanced at the play clock out of the corner of his eye—ten seconds. He stood up a second time and barked a couple more calls, as if changing the play again, but this time the 49ers players didn’t move, paying him no mind.

He bent down again. As the play clock ticked into its final five seconds, “Four, three, two…”

“Hike!”

Lu Ke’s call for the snap came just as the play clock hit its final moments. From the Shotgun Formation, Lu Ke began his drop back, shuffling to the right. One step, two steps… one second, two seconds…

Rushing only three men, the New York Giants posed no threat to the San Francisco 49ers’ Offense Line. The pocket was rock-solid.

Time was ticking away. Lu Ke raised his right hand twice as if to pass, but both were pump fakes. The third time, just as everyone thought it was another fake, Lu Ke threw the ball.