"Competition Missions:
Complete your first pass in the scrimmage; Requirement: None; Reward: 1 basic skill point.Score your first touchdown in the scrimmage; Requirement: None; Reward: 1 basic skill point.Win the scrimmage: Requirement: None; Reward: 1 basic skill point."
As Lu Ke expected, daily training missions focused on honing fundamental skills, while rapid accumulation of basic skill points was achieved through competition and special missions. Although he still didn't know what special missions were, the competition missions confirmed his guess. This single scrimmage contained a total of three basic skill points—the same number he had earned from his daily training over the past ten days.
However, competition missions wouldn't be as easy to complete. After all, football isn't a one-man sport.
Putting the competition missions aside for the moment, Lu Ke brought up his character stats. After a quick look, he added the new basic skill point to short pass accuracy, raising that stat to 64. He knew his stats couldn't change overnight, so he needed to focus on improving the most crucial quarterback skill: passing.
His long pass accuracy was already over 80 points, which was more than enough for a practice squad player, and even considered outstanding for a substitute. So, after some thought, Lu Ke added the point to short pass accuracy, the skill he urgently needed to improve.
"Beep!" The whistle blew. Lu Ke looked up and saw the practice squad's defensive players cheering. He also saw the third-string offense looking dejected, with Kevin in the middle looking particularly annoyed and grinding his teeth.
After being out of the game for a while, Kevin seemed to have forgotten how to pass the ball. Three offensive downs ended in failure, and they hadn't been able to advance ten yards. If they tried for a fourth down and still couldn't gain ten yards, the ball would be turned over to the opponent. The opponent would then start their offensive drive from where the ball was—about 20 yards from their own end zone.
This was practically giving the opponent an easy shot. Even if they didn't score a touchdown, they could at least get a field goal, putting the practice squad ahead 3-0.
The third-string team couldn't accept that.
So, they gave up their fourth-down attempt and sent out the special teams unit to punt.
A punt is when the offensive team's punter kicks the ball away. The opposing special teams unit waits on the other side of the field to receive the kick. The returner who catches the ball can try to advance it further; this is called a kick return. The punting team's special teams unit must tackle the returner because the spot where he is tackled will be the starting position for the opponent's offensive drive.
The best punt is one that pins the opponent's offense on their own one-yard line, making it incredibly difficult for them to get a good start, even with a change of possession. The worst punt is one that allows the opponent's returner to run all the way to the end zone for a touchdown.
This is similar to a goalkeeper's long kick in soccer. In the best-case scenario, the keeper's kick lands in the opponent's penalty box, preventing an immediate counterattack. In the worst-case scenario, the keeper kicks the ball directly to the opponent's star player, who then dribbles it all the way back to score.
During a punt, a common outcome is when the punter's kick goes out of bounds, out of the end zone, or into the end zone. All of these result in the same thing: the opponent's offensive team will start their drive on their own 20-yard line.
Kevin walked off the field dejectedly as both teams' special teams came on for the punt. This time, the third-stringers didn't make a mistake and gave the practice squad's returner no chance, kicking the ball out of the end zone. Now, it was Lu Ke's turn.
Kevin's muttered curses could be heard from the sideline, but Lu Ke ignored them. He led his teammates onto the field, jogging to their own 20-yard line. Everything felt both so unfamiliar and so familiar, as if he were back in high school—but that was three full years ago.
The fleeting moment of nostalgia passed quickly. Lu Ke gathered his teammates in a huddle. "They've never taken us seriously. We're the practice squad, just the practice squad. We don't even qualify as substitutes. But what they've forgotten is that every day, we go through the same training, we have the same drills, and we put in just as much sweat and blood as they do. What they can do, we can do! I want to win this scrimmage. Who's with me?"
Lu Ke was the first to extend his right hand. He looked up at his teammates. His shocking words left everyone a little stunned at first, but then their eyes began to light up.
The practice squad was like an invisible presence. They were part of the team, but they never received the recognition they deserved. No one even acknowledged they were an essential part of the team. They were always ignored, discriminated against, and looked down upon. They couldn't even tell their families, "I'm on the team," because they would never appear on the field, the bench, or even the roster.
John was the first to put his hand on top of Lu Ke's. Running back Derek Bryant was second, then a third, and a fourth. In a moment, all eleven hands were stacked together.
Lu Ke broke into a wide smile. "Let's go get some touchdowns, guys!" This simple sentence made everyone laugh and raise their hands in a loud cheer.
During a game, the offensive, defensive, and special teams each have eleven players. The standard offensive setup is one quarterback, one running back, two wide receivers, one tight end, and five offensive linemen (OL). The last position changes based on the play: it could be another wide receiver or tight end for a passing play, or an extra running back to block for a run.
Of the five offensive linemen, the center is in the middle and is responsible for snapping the ball to the quarterback. On either side of the center are the left guard, right guard, left tackle, and right tackle.
In the 2009 movie "The Blind Side," based on a true story, the protagonist Michael Oher started as a left tackle. This side is often called the quarterback's "blind spot." For a right-handed quarterback, the left side is their blind spot. They can see and avoid defenders coming from the right, but not from the left, which makes the left guard and left tackle's role crucial. They must do everything they can to protect the quarterback.
Generally, the left tackle protecting a right-handed quarterback is the strongest person on the offensive line and has a unique skill set. For a left-handed quarterback, it would be the right tackle.
However, these positions didn't have much practical meaning for the practice squad. It could be summarized simply as: offense, protecting the offense, advancing the offense, and scoring touchdowns.
Lu Ke looked around at his teammates, ready to set the play. Their weakness was a lack of chemistry. He had never worked with his offensive line, wide receivers, or tight end as a quarterback before. His eyes finally landed on John. He was Lu Ke's only reliable option. "I bet they think our first play will be a run."
It wasn't just their opponents. Just by looking at his teammates' faces, he could tell that no one believed in his passing skills or his ability to connect with receivers.
Lu Ke didn't explain. "But we're going to pass, and it's going to be a long pass." The play was already forming in his mind. "Guys, we'll shift to the left. Derek, you'll rush up and pretend to get the ball. I'll fake a handoff to you, and you start running forward. At the same time, John, get ready to receive. Everyone else, pretend it's a run play and do everything you can to clear a path for Derek. Don't worry about me."
The play was a play-action pass, a very common offensive tactic where the quarterback fakes a handoff to the running back but then passes the ball instead. The key is deception, the quarterback's accuracy, and the receiver's ability to catch the ball.
Everyone's mouths hung open in shock. Not only were they going to pass, but a long pass? And a play-action pass at that? This was incredibly bold.
Derek shrugged. "I guess we don't have any other options. So, let's do it!" The others also nodded, chuckling as they said, "As long as your first pass isn't intercepted, why not?"
With four downs in each drive, they could use the first down to test things out and build some chemistry, as long as Lu Ke's pass wasn't intercepted.
Everyone dispersed, but Lu Ke called out to John. "Hey, man, run. Use all your strength and run toward their 30-yard line."
Their 30-yard line? They were starting at their own 20-yard line, which meant Lu Ke was going to throw a 50-yard pass.
John was stunned, his eyes wide. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, but Lu Ke nodded. "I'm serious. Remember, get to the 40-yard line, and then use the route we're most comfortable with. After you get past the defensive line, run along the right side of the field. I'll be watching for you." Lu Ke patted John on the shoulder. "Buddy, I'll get it to you. Trust me."
John slowly shook his head, then turned and ran off.
Lu Ke turned back to Derek. "Now, I think we need to practice this play-action pass. The fake can't look too fake. We might not be Oscar-level actors, but I think we can give it a shot. Who knows, maybe we have some talent?"
Derek was a cheerful Black kid in his second year, a year younger than Lu Ke. He laughed brightly. "I'll show you some award-winning acting!"
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