Chapter 787: A Swift Strike
Red zone offense is inherently difficult. In a limited space, the match-ups between offense and defense are further compressed, and tactical deployments are also more restricted, posing a severe test for players on both sides.
Among the official NFL statistics, there is a "red zone offense efficiency." Some teams get weak after entering the red zone and can only settle for a field goal, while some teams have extraordinary red zone efficiency and can score touchdowns with only a few opportunities. Similarly, some players are also known as red zone assassins, such as Calvin Johnson and Rob Gronkowski.
In the previous touchdown drive, Lu Ke tried to tear open the defense with a multi-route offense. Three playersโGinn, Moss, and Marcusโformed a tiered pattern to confuse the defensive players' positioning. Although the pass was successful, the effect was far from satisfactory.
However, an offense in the red zone is a close-quarters battle, and gaining five yards is enough.
Now facing a second-down play, Lu Ke changed his tactics.
The San Francisco 49ers' offense quickly changed their positions. It was still a multi-route offense, with Moss moving to the right and Vernon to the left, joining Logan and Ginn.
The reason was simple: in the short-passing area of five yards, a two-tight-end formation could create a match-up advantage, standing like a lighthouse in the end zone and becoming a target for Lu Ke's passes. In addition, with both tight ends on the same side, Lu Ke could choose either Vernon or Logan, further confusing the defense.
At the same time, Marcus was also on the right side, which meant that Marcus could run a slot route, forming two quick and agile threats with Ginn on the same side, creating more passing options.
The right side was now heavily loaded.
Correspondingly, the New York Giants' defense also immediately adjusted. Because this was a red zone offense, within a mere five yards, every corner was filled with players. Even a slight carelessness could lead to a gap being completely exploited, so their defense also had to tighten up.
Lu Ke stood behind the offensive line, his pupils slightly constricted as he carefully observed the defensive players' formation.
But in fact, the defensive players' formation had little tactical leeway. Because the distance to the end zone was only five yards, even with the end zone space, it was only a total of 15 yards. There was simply not much space to work with. Wherever he looked, he could spot a defensive player. It was like a powder keg, ready to ignite and explode anywhere.
However, Lu Ke could still vaguely spot some open spaces, and it was up to his offensive teammates to tear them open.
After the official start of the second half's offense, Lu Ke used his special ability "Boost Aura." So far, the offense and defense have switched very quickly, so the special ability was still in effect. This was good news and provided a significant boost for the comeback.
Without thinking too much, Lu Ke straightened his body and made a slight adjustment to the running routes. He shouted the snap count on the left twice, then on the right twice, making sure all the receiving players had received the signal. Only then did he bend down again, ready for the snap.
"Hut!"
This time, Lu Ke didn't use any fancy trick plays. He directly announced the snap, then quickly dropped back, pulling the entire pocket wide open. He took small steps to the right.
Vernon, Logan, and Ginn immediately spread out. None of them were in a hurry to advance. They were moving back and forth in the five-yard area between the line of scrimmage and the end zone. Each player had the ability to open a gap and connect with Lu Ke. This instantly created a sense of tension in the entire end zone.
Only the linebackers in the middle noticed Marcus's abnormal movement, because they were responsible for covering Marcus.
Marcus went around Lu Ke, moving quickly behind him, and sprinted toward the left pylon at the fastest speed. This simple running route instantly scared the living daylights out of the entire New York Giants' defense. At least two players quickly followed Marcus's steps, moving horizontally, and started to rapidly compress the space to prevent Marcus from getting a lane and running directly for a touchdown.
On one side, there was a full-scale attack from three points; on the other, a sudden attack from one point.
The New York Giants' defense was clearly overwhelmed. All the players in the end zone spread out, instantly splitting to the left and right, like Moses using his staff to part the Red Sea. It was a spectacular sight.
Then, Lu Ke's feet paused slightly. He made a motion as if he was about to pass, and in an instant, everyone's muscles tensed up. But then, Lu Ke's feet paused and he took a big step, suddenly accelerating to the left. Before the defensive players could react, he raised his hand and passed the football.
Oh no!
Almost every New York Giants' defensive player realized something was wrong. They could only react based on their instincts, but in a speed competition, the football always has the advantage. They could only quickly track the flight path of the football with their eyes, and then watched helplessly as Moss completed the catch.
It was Randy Moss again!
After the snap, Moss was not in a hurry to charge. Instead, he moved back and forth with small steps in the two-to-three-yard area nearby. His body's center of gravity moved as if he was going to cut horizontally to the inside, which distracted the defensive players. But his feet didn't move. His muscles were constantly tense, as if he was on the verge of exploding.
He tilted his head slightly and used his peripheral vision to catch the movement on his left side. When he saw a figure quickly passing by, Moss immediately refocused. With a quick glance, he caught the movements of all the defensive players in front of him. The center of gravity of almost every person's body was moving to the left.
Step.
Step.
Moss continued to take two steps in place, ensuring that the defensive players' moving center of gravity had shifted. Then, he quickly sprinted with two big steps. Without too much movement, he immediately made a 180-degree turn to the right, and his pupils quickly caught the football flying straight toward him.
The height was just right, at chest level. Moss didn't need to adjust his feet or his center of gravity. He just turned around and immediately controlled the football in his palm.
Catch successful!
Moss's mind immediately recalled the positions of the defensive players. He could feel a surging wave of air behind him. He could imagine that at least one defensive player was rapidly approaching.
Moss didn't change his center of gravity. He sat back with the momentum, threw his entire body out, and arched his back like a cooked shrimp. With a thud, Moss seemed to have hit a steel plate, and he pushed away the blocking impact that was coming from behind.
Having prepared in advance, Moss was not flustered at all. He used the flexibility of his body to relieve the recoil. After his feet landed on the ground, without any pause, he used his left foot as the center, quickly turned to the left, and with a quick slide of his right foot on the grass, the propulsive force burst out from his calf muscles. The whole person, like a loach, quickly slipped through the defensive player's position.
That defensive player tried to forcefully change his center of gravity, but Moss's footwork was truly elusive and unpredictable. He stubbornly twisted his body 90 degrees, but his feet and muscles couldn't keep up with the speed and rhythm at all. In just one offense-defense play, Moss's physical talent was fully displayed. No wonder he was called a once-in-a-century genius wide receiver in the NFL! To this day, no one has been able to surpass him.
The next moment, the defensive player fell to the ground in a daze, like a baseball player sliding into a base. But at this moment, it was not cool or exciting at all, but rather embarrassing. He could only watch helplessly as Moss took a light step forward, and the front of the end zone was just within reach.
Touchdown, successful!
The speed of the touchdown was so fast that the live audience didn't even react. For a moment, they were all stunned until they saw the end zone referee raise both his hands high and straight, signaling a touchdown. Only then did the home crowd come to their senses, and with a "boom," the cheers instantly exploded.
They had scored a touchdown again!
In the fastest and shortest amount of time, they maximized their score, quickly completed the touchdown, and fiercely suppressed the New York Giants' momentum, bringing the suspense of the win back into sight.
Explosion! The entire audience exploded collectively! With just a single shout of "Ah," all the energy in their bodies burst out continuously.
Even Teddy and Kirk in the studio were a little stunned. The commentary had just begun, and the touchdown was already a done deal.
"Offense! Lu Ke moves to the right and makes a passing motion, but... it's an obvious fake. Then Lu Ke moves horizontally and turns to the left. He raises his hand and passes the ball. Lu Ke finds Moss, who is waiting in place. Moss makes the catch! Moss scores a touchdown!"
Without time for surprise or cheers, Kirk's commentary came to an abrupt halt. It was so sudden and so fast that it felt absurdly unreal. Finally, he laughed dumbly.
He turned his head and saw a similar expression on Teddy's face. After the two exchanged glances, Teddy finally let out a soft laugh, easing the atmosphere. He returned to the pace of the game and said frankly, "In a drive from the front of the red zone, no one questioned the San Francisco 49ers' ability to score, but it came so fast, it was still a bit of a surprise."
"Yes. Facing a second-down touchdown situation, Lu Ke played very smart. He used the two-tight-end formation to hold a lot of the defensive players' attention, and he used a running back receiving play to divert the attention of the man-to-man defensive players. In the end, with a simple three-yard short pass, he easily found Moss, who was open!"
Kirk also quickly recovered and gave a simple and clear summary. After speaking, the entire offensive model was formed in his mind, which made Kirk nod repeatedly with a smile of approval.
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