Ten offensive downs, ten passes, nine completions, over two hundred passing yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
What do these stats mean? They mean that even in a regular game, this quarterback's performance would be considered perfect, with nothing to criticize.
Of course, first of all, a regular game would have more than ten offensive downs. It might not even be a quarter's worth of plays. Second, the atmosphere and competition in a regular game are definitely more intense, and the scout team was more or less still in a practice mindset, not a game mindset.
Third, the three big-yardage long passes are not something he could do in a regular game. The opposing cornerbacks only need to find one good opportunity to completely put a stop to the quarterback. And finally, this rookie quarterback went undrafted largely because there was not enough game footage to evaluate his average skill level. Even the short practice sessions at the rookie training camp were not enough. So, was today's performance enough?
In just ten offensive downs, the number 11's offense was successful and powerful, but overall, it was too aggressive. Some of his pass choices were too risky, like he was dancing on a tightrope. This time, he succeeded. But in a regular game, if he failed, the consequences would be much more severe.
Jim Harbaugh was very satisfied with the stats and results of these ten offensive downs, but for the reasons mentioned above, this wasn't the part he was most satisfied with.
When faced with a pass rush, the number 11 didn't give up easily. He kept looking for an open receiver and trying to complete a pass. This kind of perseverance is truly rare. This was the first point.
The most representative quarterback of this type in the league is Aaron Rodgers. He can always find a passing lane in the middle of a chaotic pocket, especially with the terrible offensive line of the Green Bay Packers, which has more holes than a sieve. Yet, he is always able to lead his team forward. It's no wonder people always say, "Aaron Rodgers is carrying the entire team on his shoulders."
The second point was the number 11's ability to read the defense. In the ten offensive downs, he was tackled once, hit twice, and threw under pressure twice. Except for the time he was tackled, his judgment on the defense was basically correct, which caused his completion rate to skyrocket.
In a regular game, a 90% completion rate is almost impossible. But in these ten offensive downs, the number 11's ability to read the defense and design plays was invaluable. This was the second point.
Of course, the number 11's weaknesses were still obvious. First, his footwork and ability to avoid tackles were still not up to par. Second, his ability to handle physical contact still had a lot of room for improvement. The intensity of today's hits was only at a practice level. It was hard to imagine what would happen in a game. His passing accuracy and ability to read the defense would definitely decline, but by how much was an unknown.
This is the serious test that all rookie quarterbacks face.
Even so, in addition to the two things he was satisfied with, Jim also found the biggest takeaway from today: What does a perfect score on the Wonderlic test mean?
In NFL history, only one player has ever gotten a perfect score on the Wonderlic test. Lu Ke was the second, and the only quarterback to do so. No one knows how important a perfect Wonderlic score is for a quarterback, but at least from the rookie training camp and today's tryout, this number 11 was clearly a quarterback who used his brain to play, and the results were very good.
Back at the rookie training camp, when the number 11 was the first quarterback to score a touchdown in the practice game, people were just surprised and didn't think much of it. But today, Jim witnessed the number 11 repeat this feat and even get better at it, which made him think.
How fast can a player with a perfect Wonderlic score learn a playbook? What about their speed of understanding and applying it? And most importantly, in a crucial moment in a game, what kind of choice would a quarterback with a perfect Wonderlic score make? Like the 65-yard pass he chose on his last down?
To be honest, there are countless talented players in sports. It's not just football; it's every sport. Talent is the least valuable thing. Because talented people are often too proud and too confident. They often waste their talent and end up accomplishing nothing. It's very difficult to find a talented person who is also hardworking and persistent.
Among the players who truly become a pillar of the league, maybe one out of ten is a rare genius, and maybe another one is a regular genius who works exceptionally hard. The other seven are talented but work incredibly hard. And the last one might be a player with average talent who works hard his whole life and becomes a workhorse player. He might not go down in history, but he is a crucial part of the game.
As for those who have talent but refuse to work hard, sports is a brutal arena where only the strong survive. The cruel reality plays out every day.
So, which type of player was this number 11 quarterback? Or, which type would he become? His strengths and weaknesses were so clear, even more so than at the rookie training camp. Choosing him would be a gamble. But should he take that gamble?
After completing the pass on his last down, Lu Ke secretly clenched his fist, then thanked all his temporary teammates one by one before leaving the field. The temporary teammates remained on the field, waiting for the next quarterback to come on.
From a distance, he could see Scott's face, full of surprise and excitement. He mouthed, "Unbelievable! Unbelievable!" and then gave Lu Ke a big hug. He said in a low voice, "Jesus Christ, why didn't I realize you were this good back at the Rose Bowl?"
Seeing Scott's genuine praise and lack of jealousy, Lu Ke laughed and pointed out an important fact. "We're competitors."
But Scott waved his hand. "I don't have a chance against you. Even I would choose you." Noticing Lu Ke's surprised look, Scott smiled. "I know my own ability. It's probably the right choice for me to leave the sport, but I'm just not ready to give up yet. Even as a backup, I want to leave a mark in this league. So, I have a dream, but I'm not obsessed."
The Scott in front of him reminded Lu Ke of John Ward. One chose to persist, and the other chose to leave, but they both shared a love for football.
"Number 11... uh, Lu Ke?" a voice called out. Lu Ke and Scott exchanged glances, turned around, and saw Jim.
It was Jim who had called out, but he was deep in thought and didn't respond further. Then Kip, who was standing next to him, waved with a big smile, signaling Lu Ke to hurry over.
Lu Ke quickly ran over. Kip had a satisfied smile on his face and patted Lu Ke's chest hard. "That was a good performance." It was more than good; it was amazing. But Kip wasn't surprised at all. When he watched Lu Ke train, he knew that this kid was definitely underrated.
Lu Ke smiled and nodded. After the draft, these past few months of struggle and hardship could be summed up as "a few months have passed," but every day of training was not something he could be lazy with. It was a step-by-step process. Only he knew how hard it was.
"How's your body?" Jim interrupted their short conversation, asking directly.
Lu Ke was a little taken aback. "I'm fine."
But Jim didn't believe him. He shook his head. "Don't pretend you're fine. I need to know your physical condition and how you handle contact. Even if you lie now, we can arrange a physical exam right away, and the results will be the same." The lack of physical strength was Lu Ke's biggest and most fatal weakness.
Lu Ke quickly understood. "Trust me, everything is normal."
Even though Lu Ke's physical fitness still couldn't compare to that of the crazy defensive players or a strong running quarterback like Cam Newton, he wasn't that fragile.
Compared to the hit he just took, Lu Ke's right biceps were feeling more lactic acid. During the ten offensive downs, Lu Ke was constantly tensed up and had been slightly overexerting himself, and his pass choices were too aggressive, so his arm was feeling a bit of a strain. But that was all.
This was a life-or-death practice game, so Lu Ke was constantly taking risks. In a real game, he wouldn't be so desperate to overexert himself.
He still couldn't be considered a top-tier quarterback, but he was working toward that goal. Lu Ke firmly believed that he was on the right path.
Jim looked Lu Ke up and down, a hint of doubt in his eyes, but he didn't say anything more. He just nodded his chin. "That's good, then. Now, jog three laps and then practice twenty short passes on the side." With that, Jim didn't look at Lu Ke again and turned to the other quarterbacks. "Who's next?"
This time, the quarterbacks were much more proactive, with at least five people volunteering.
However, Lu Ke ignored them and started jogging without stopping.
He wasn't injured, just sore from overexerting himself. What's more, in competitive sports, you play through minor injuries. Every athlete has some small injuries, and enduring the pain to play is part of the game. For Lu Ke, this was not a problem.
While jogging, Lu Ke saw Matt Hasselbeck take the field and start leading the offense. Lu Ke refocused, concentrating on his run. For him, this was a valuable time to rest.
The tryout continued, but the situation had changed slightly. After the first day, eight quarterbacks were sent home, and only four remained. The tryouts on the second and third days returned to normal.
Small practice games were held every day. On the afternoon of the third day, the four remaining quarterbacks also had a full practice game. The four quarterbacks were divided into two teams to compete against each other, testing their ability to lead a team to victory. The four quarterbacks were:
Matt Hasselbeck, Carson Palmer, Scott Tolzien, and Lu Ke.
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