In the tight, narrow space, nearly twenty players were crowded together. It was as if every inch of the field was full. The overflowing commotion made the air twist, and all the defenses and all the runs became misplaced. It seemed as if there were openings everywhere, but they disappeared in a flash.
In the crowd, Williams and Lynch both raised their right hands. One ran toward the right sideline of the end zone, and the other lingered at the front of the right side of the end zone. Both of them signaled that they had an opening and were ready to catch the ball, but nearby defensive players were right on their heels.
Then, Crabtree made a cut to the right, rushing into the crowded left side of the field without warning. With a small arc, like a boomerang, he ran into the end zone and then ran out of the end zone, heading toward Lu Ke. He slightly lowered his center of gravity and got ready to catch the ball. This move immediately attracted the attention of the front-line defensive players.
But the chaos was not over yet.
In the midst of the chaos, Newman and Ginn both ran in a fluid, parabolic arc. From right to left, after running straight, they slightly turned their feet and moved horizontally to the left. Newman ran quickly near the end zone's back line, while Ginn ran quickly near the front of the end zone.
Newman's speed was a little slower. He ran past one defensive player, but there was another one right on his tail. He deliberately slowed down, causing the opponent to run past him. Then he stopped abruptly, stood in the middle area, and raised his right hand high, signaling that he had an opening and was ready to catch the ball.
Ginn's speed was a little faster. With a defensive player covering him tightly, he forcibly overtook him and rushed into the open area on the left. Because of Crabtree's inside cut, the entire left side was completely empty. Ginn used his left hand to block the defensive player's chest, creating a small amount of space. Then he raised his right hand, signaling that he had an opening.
In the chaos, every player was a potential receiver, and every player was also caught in the defense. Everything happened in just two seconds. At this moment, Lu Ke raised his hand and passed the ball!
High, high up, the football drew an arc in the air. After reaching its peak, the speed of its descent suddenly accelerated, quickly growing larger in their line of sight. It seemed to be burdened by gravity and fell heavily in the blink of an eye.
Ted Ginn's steps were accelerating, and he continued to accelerate. His left hand was fully straightened, pushing against the defensive player's chest. His running route was a thirty-degree diagonal straight line. He was charging forward and moving diagonally at the same time. After reaching his maximum speed, he slightly pulled his left hand away, creating a little space.
But the defensive player still didn't give up. His upper body leaned forward, pressing down on Ginn's left hand. He stretched out his hands with all his might and used the downward force of his body to disrupt Ginn's running rhythm.
His feet began to stumble and stagger. Ginn raised his knees high, with bigger strides and a faster pace. Like an elegant cheetah, his body became lighter and lighter. He stared intently at the football and reached out with his right hand.
Lightly and nimbly, the football landed on his wrist.
It wasn't a heavy visual effect, but a just-right control of force. He could clearly feel the delicate control of Lu Ke's pass. Ginn's palm followed the direction of the momentum and slapped the football toward his head. There was a dull sound as it hit his eardrum, but Ginn didn't feel any pressure. The strength of his right hand was at its maximum as he held the football tightly against the side of his helmet.
Accelerating, and accelerating again, Ginn's run was so powerful and fierce that he violently shook off the player covering him tightly. He could feel the player behind him starting to lose his balance. His left hand pulled down, and then a gust of wind came from behind. The defensive player fell heavily to the ground like a ton of bricks, creating a surging wave of air.
"What a catch! What a catch!"
All the commentators in the booth exploded. Their gasps of surprise came one after another. Their desperate shouts expressed the amazement in their hearts. They simply couldn't believe their eyes. Once again, Ginn used his helmet to make a catch. The dangerous control of the catch was something that even a textbook wouldn't dare to write.
"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!" Kirk's exclamation sounded again. "Ginn made the catch! The number nineteen of the San Francisco 49ers actually made the catch! In the dense defense, the 49ers' offense used a deceptive passing strategy to completely shift the Lions' defensive focus. Then, in a one-on-one showdown, Ginn overpowered safety Chris Harris and successfully made the catch!"
"It was a thirteen-yard pass. In a desperate situation, Ginn made a one-handed catch and then used his helmet to control the football! Beautiful, absolutely beautiful! This is a touchdown! Ladies and gentlemen, this is a touchdown! In an offensive drive that lasted nearly six minutes, the San Francisco 49ers used a fluid and sharp offense to tear open the opponent's defense. After an unstoppable charge into the red zone, they scored the first points of the game with a brilliant pass and catch! The score is now 0-6, with an extra point waiting. The San Francisco 49ers, playing on the road, have taken the lead!"
Kirk's roar was immediately drowned out by a vast wave of cheers and shouts. Fifteen thousand away fans were screaming wildly, "Ahhh!" Everyone was jumping, roaring, and celebrating. Even on the road, the team still showed good form, getting a touchdown on their first drive with the power of a tiger coming down a mountain!
Cliff Hart once again started waving the flag in his hand. In the dazzling white sea, a red flag was creating huge waves. In a trance, people saw the madness of Candlestick Park again.
"Ah!" Ted Ginn grabbed the football with his right hand and roared toward the away fans' stands. But the excitement and emotion still couldn't be released, so he started roaring madly again, "Ahhh!" All his emotions erupted without any hindrance. This wasn't because of the touchdown but because of his position in the offense.
After a few seasons of decline and suppression, Ginn had finally found his place on this young and spirited team.
"Ted! Ted!" All the offensive players ran over, trying to hug Ginn and congratulate him. But Ginn pushed his teammates away and quickly looked for his target in the crowd. He was confused for a moment, and then he found his target and quickly rushed over.
Standing in place, Lu Ke clenched his fists tightly in celebration.
Even though it was already Week 5 of the regular season and touchdowns had gradually become a habit, the excitement and exhilaration of every success were still unparalleled. Then, Lu Ke saw Ginn rushing toward him. Before he could say anything, Ginn gave Lu Ke a big, tight hug.
"Thank you! Bambi, thank you." Ginn said to Lu Ke's ear, his slightly nasal voice trembling with emotion. A thousand words were condensed into the simplest phrase of thanks.
Lu Ke patted Ginn on the shoulder and said jokingly, "I'm about to run out of breath. Although I'm not sure if your girlfriend will be jealous, if I run out of oxygen, I won't be able to pass the ball anymore."
With a witty jab, Ginn burst into a happy laugh, released his embrace, and patted Lu Ke on the shoulder again. "That won't do. I'm still looking forward to a second touchdown."
"Then we have a lot of work to do. The most important thing now is to clear the field. David is already waiting impatiently," Lu Ke said with a smile. He led his offensive teammates off the field, leaving the opportunity to perform for the special teams led by David Akers.
Target Mission.
Before the kickoff today, the system had issued a new type of mission, a target mission, which required two receiving targets to complete fifteen and ten touchdowns, respectively, before the end of the regular season.
Lu Ke didn't have time to study the details of the target mission yet, but he knew the mission was difficult and important. So, he didn't delve into it. Before going on the field, he quickly decided on two passing targets.
Currently, the San Francisco 49ers have four wide receivers, four tight ends, and four running backs. In Jim Harbaugh's West Coast offense, using a two-tight-end tactical cover is very common, so the tight end reserves are relatively sufficient. However, there are only five players in the core receiving team: three wide receivers and two tight ends.
Among the tight ends, Lu Ke chose Logan Newnan without hesitation. The chemistry was one factor. Newnan's receiving style and route-running style also fit Lu Ke's passing habits. Among the wide receivers, after a brief thought, Lu Ke chose Ted Ginn.
Michael Crabtree is a big receiver, a heavy weapon, whose primary role is to catch short and medium passes while stationary. He isn't the best choice for long-distance strikes. Kyle Williams is relatively average in all aspects. All his metrics are good, but none are top-notch, and he has a tendency to drop the ball.
Overall, Ginn's speed advantage is undoubtedly a sharp sword. Speed is the ultimate martial art. When his speed reaches the extreme, Ginn's agility and Lu Ke's long-passing ability are undoubtedly the best combination. In addition, Ginn's receiving feel is also quite good, at least for a Black player, it is already at an excellent level.
The only regret is that Ginn's running routes are not rich and diverse enough, and he needs to continue studying the playbook. However, this is a minor flaw. He can slowly grow in the future, as tactics can always be learned. So, Lu Ke chose Ginn.
In these two catches just now, Ginn repaid Lu Ke's trust. The first score of the game!
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