Cursing, mocking, and sharp, scorching glares were everywhere.
Standing on their own 20-yard line, Lu Ke could clearly feel the restless and provocative energy surging from all sides. However, he wasn't intimidated; instead, he was getting excited. Compared to the stagnant waters of last week, at least Candlestick Park was full of life today, which made him believe: He was not fighting alone.
Standing behind Jonathan Goodwin, Lu Ke was meticulously reading the Dallas Cowboys' defense.
Suddenly, a "ding" sounded in his mind, and Lu Ke frowned. At such a critical moment, was there a special system alert?
He brought up the system and quickly scanned it. It was a special mission!
This was the first time Lu Ke had encountered a mission, let alone a special one, during a game, which was truly unexpected. But now, the second half had already started, and the offense's play clock was ticking down. He didn't have time to look at the details of the special mission and only managed a quick glance at the requirements:
"Mission requirements: Improve passing completion rate to 65%; control passing accuracy, with one interception or fewer."
With just a quick glance, Lu Ke immediately understood. Although he didn't have time to look at the mission description, rewards, and penalties, he knew this was a special mission based on his performance in the first half.
Lu Ke's passes had to be more precise and cautious, and his judgment had to be more accurate. Passing completion rate was one aspect, and controlling the number of interceptions was another.
In fact, this was a branch of the game's mission, but it appeared during the game and adjusted the mission requirements based on the actual situation to urge Lu Ke to perform better. Thus, it was classified as a special mission.
Clearly, the system had changed slightly again. But Lu Ke really didn't have time to dwell on it. He would have to wait until after the game to figure out the specifics. For now, he had to refocus and start reading the defense.
The Dallas Cowboys' defensive formation hadn't changed at all. In fact, it was slightly more spread out and less compact. It seemed like the coverage area was more comprehensive, with almost no gaps left. However, Lu Ke still keenly noticed a subtle difference—
His hidden ability, prediction, was at work.
Lu Ke could feel that the entire defense had widened the mid-range area. The short and deep passing zones were being compressed further, as if they were setting a trap: The mid-range, the area with the most openings, seemed too tempting to be real. Did this mean they were truly focusing their defensive efforts on the short and deep passes?
Real or fake, fake or real, the Dallas Cowboys' defensive formation appeared unchanged, but they hadn't been singing celebratory songs during halftime either.
"Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the game. We are live with the 2011 regular season, Week 2 game, between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers. The score at halftime was '0:17', with the home team in a difficult position. The home team is about to start the second half on offense."
Teddy quickly summarized the situation and then transitioned to the live action. "In the first half, the San Francisco 49ers' offense struggled. At the start of the second half, they've come out with a special offensive formation. This is a vintage I-formation, with the quarterback behind the center, a tight end and a wide receiver behind him, and a running back at the very end. This kind of offensive formation is very rare these days. Kirk, what do you make of this?"
It was more of a "T" formation than an "I" formation. The five offensive linemen were lined up horizontally, with a wide receiver on each end. At the "T" intersection, Lu Ke was at the front with a string of players behind him. The entire formation looked simple yet fancy.
"To be honest, I'm not quite sure," Kirk shook his head, not hiding his confusion. "But one thing is certain: the 49ers are looking for a change, a breakthrough. This offensive formation looks like a strong run play, but the running back's direction is unpredictable. There's also the possibility of a pass, using the physical advantage of the tight end and the running back behind him to complete a powerful breakthrough after the pass."
Kirk quickly analyzed the situation from a tactical perspective. Seeing that Lu Ke was ready to snap the ball, he added, "As a quarterback, Lu Ke's tactical awareness and improvisation are undoubtedly a major highlight. Let's see if he can turn the tide in the second half!"
"Set!"
Lu Ke's offensive command was delivered amidst the storm. Jonathan snapped the football, and the next second, Lu Ke's hands felt the leather of the football. He slightly tightened his grip and quickly took a step back. The three players behind him bolted out in different directions like rockets.
The Cowboys' defensive front was immediately dazzled. The wide receiver and tight end all sprinted toward Lu Ke's right side, making it the strong side for the 49ers: three receiving players were now concentrated there.
In such a situation, no matter how tight the defense was, it was hard to defend against. If even one of the three players found an open spot, the pass could be completed.
The Cowboys' defense wasn't flustered. They left a cornerback and a linebacker to cover the area and assigned two linebackers to one-on-one coverage, completely shutting down any passing possibilities. Even if a pass was successful, they could immediately stop the play.
Three of the four linebackers spread out to the Cowboys' left side. This meant the right side was vulnerable.
DeMarcus Ware was the only player who hadn't moved. The left side of the defense was important, but more importantly, the running back hadn't moved yet, so he couldn't leave his post easily. Also, the quarterback hadn't thrown the ball yet and was still dropping back.
Ware's eyes were fixed on the running back and the quarterback. Then he saw both of them start to move at the same time.
As expected, they both started moving toward the 49ers' left side, which was the Cowboys' right side. Ware's feet followed them, his eyes like a hawk's, fixed on the quarterback's every move. But why hadn't he handed off the ball yet? This wasn't a run play; it was a pass?
In a flash of lightning, Ware made his judgment.
But the next second, Ware was momentarily stunned. The quarterback had run out of the pocket! The San Francisco 49ers' quarterback had voluntarily run out of the pocket!
For a traditional pocket quarterback, what did running out of the pocket mean? It meant losing the protection of the offensive line and exposing oneself completely to the defensive players. Even a mobile quarterback like Cam Newton would not have an advantage against a strong, bull-like defensive player. What about other quarterbacks who weren't as strong?
It was like a turtle leaving its shell and standing naked outside. How could a soaring eagle miss such an opportunity?
Ware didn't know what was wrong with the 49ers' quarterback, but he smelled an opportunity, a chance to sack the quarterback. The offensive and confrontational instincts of a defensive player awoke, and he took off like a leopard, drooling, and charged at his prey, showing his sharp claws.
Not only Ware, but the cornerback on that side, Orlando Scandrick, also rushed in. The hero who made the interception in the first half was now in peak form. His eyes were locked on the quarterback. He keenly sensed a golden opportunity, like a beautiful, unclothed woman appearing before him.
All he had to do was: pounce!
From the corner of his eye, Lu Ke could see two players rushing toward him. Scandrick was on the left, and Ware was on the right. The pressure immediately pressed against his skin. His footwork wasn't fast enough, not fast enough at all.
Pocket footwork and scrambling footwork were two completely different techniques, and the latter was one of Lu Ke's biggest weaknesses right now.
Although Lu Ke's scrambling ability was currently at 71, his dodging ability was only 63, not to mention his pushing, faking, and juking skills. At this moment, there was no time for wishful thinking. Seeing the two players rushing at him, he calmly and collectedly shouted in his mind, "Absolute Footwork!"
His special skill, used for the first time in an official game, was revealed!
First second.
In his line of sight, he could see Ware's glistening forehead, his expression ferocious and menacing as he pounced like a tiger descending a mountain.
At this moment, Marcus Lynch, who had been right next to Lu Ke, charged forward and slammed his shoulder into Ware's body, disrupting his balance and trying to stop the sack.
But, astonishingly, Ware's body swayed, his center of gravity almost lost, and his body was nearly parallel to the ground, but he still relentlessly charged toward Lu Ke. Even if he couldn't make the tackle, he had to use his momentum and presence to pressure Lu Ke, hoping to force a hurried throw.
But Lu Ke's footsteps were like those of an elegant ballerina, soft and light, nimble and fluid. He perfectly traced an arc, easily dodging Ware's determined tackle, then he suddenly stopped and turned sharply, continuing to move to the other side.
Second second.
On his left, he could see Scandrick's face up close. Lu Ke could even feel the scorching breath exhaling from him. Scandrick's hands were already coming down hard from above. In the next moment, it seemed they would be firmly gripping Lu Ke.
But in the nick of time, Lu Ke's body crouched down. Using his left foot as the pivot, he pushed off the ground, and his entire body, light and flexible, shot out in the opposite direction, leaving behind an afterimage.
Scandrick's left hand brushed against Lu Ke's shoulder but didn't make a solid connection, sliding off. He lost his balance due to his excessive effort and fell to the ground due to gravity.
Then...third second!
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