Chapter 822: Tough Defense
"Right side."
"Left side."
"Lu Ke is scanning the field. Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree are blocking for each other. Lu Ke has completed his scan, and he's throwing! Lu Ke is throwing!"
"It's a rainbow pass! A beautiful arc. On a crucial third and six, Lu Ke once again made a bold and decisive choice to throw deep! This is undoubtedly his strongest skill! The target is... the target! Whoa, the pass isn't to the left, it's to the right! It's to the right! The entire Seattle Seahawks defense has made a wrong read!"
"To the right! To the right! The target is Ted Ginn!"
"Beautiful! Logan Newman successfully made a fantastic block, taking out both Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman! This means—Ted Ginn is wide open! As long as he can complete the catch, this is a touchdown pass! What a brilliant play design and execution, my God!"
"Ginn! Ginn is flying! Ginn, who has been recovering from a long injury in the offseason, is now sprinting! His speed has completely ramped up! Ten yards, fifteen yards, twenty yards... My God, he's still running! Ginn is once again showing his toughness on a deep route! Twenty-five yards, thirty yards, thirty-five yards!"
"He caught it!"
"Ted Ginn has completed the catch! No defensive player is close to him. Even the closest one, Earl Thomas, can't catch up. It's too far. The Seattle Seahawks' defense has given up the chase. This is a touchdown! Yes, this is a touchdown! Ginn has run into the end zone, no question about it! The San Francisco 49ers have scored the first touchdown of the game!"
"Another touchdown!"
"While this seems to be becoming a new normal for the San Francisco 49ers, with them often scoring on their first drive, this touchdown is still a sight to behold! The 49ers offense has once again shown its completely transformed tactical system, scoring a touchdown with an absolutely dominant performance!"
"Absolutely brilliant, truly brilliant!"
"Lu Ke knows exactly what he's doing. He has a precise plan and is making a bold choice. And most importantly, his fake moves are so deceptive. Lu Ke spent a lot of time on his footwork during the offseason. His pocket footwork has undergone a complete transformation this season, and he's been able to make large-scale movements in chaotic and high-pressure situations, creating more passing lanes!"
"As a result, the Seattle Seahawks' defense fell completely into the trap. Thomas and Sherman, who had been playing exceptionally well in the previous plays, were completely invisible on this crucial play. Ted Ginn ended up in a completely open area, and he showcased his strength. This once again proves one thing—
The deep pass connection between Ginn and Lu Ke is still one of the most dangerous combinations in the league!"
Sherman stood up. He was covered in large patches of dark green stains and looked incredibly disheveled. But at this moment, he didn't have the mind to clean himself up.
Sherman quickly glanced at Ginn's back in the distance. Ginn was running unabashedly into the end zone, then running straight into the padded wall on the sideline to celebrate the first touchdown of the game with the home fans.
Sherman immediately looked away and glanced at Lu Ke. Lu Ke stood in place, clenching his fists. He didn't celebrate wildly. His determined and sharp eyes showed great confidence. Then he turned around and left, giving the field to his special teams teammates.
There was no flaunting, no pride, and not even a direct confrontation. It was as if... as if Sherman didn't even exist. That nonchalant, confident attitude was a slap in the face to Sherman, and it stung.
Damn it! This game has just started! Their showdown is not over yet! He will make that arrogant guy bow his head! The one who turns into ashes in the end will definitely not be him!
The home team, the San Francisco 49ers, scored the first touchdown in a thrilling and exciting drive, making the score 7-0. It was a beautiful start. So, how could the start of this game be even more perfect?
The answer: the defense also unleashes its huge potential!
Before talking about the San Francisco 49ers' defense, we need to talk about the Seattle Seahawks' offense.
The league's thirty-two teams have many different offensive styles.
For example, the New Orleans Saints' offense is built entirely on a passing system. The running backs are used more to distract the defense. In the end, all the burden falls on Drew Brees. This is why people have always criticized Sean Payton for spoiling Brees, as every season becomes a showcase for Brees to "pad his stats."
Of course, the premise is that Brees is one of the most fundamentally sound quarterbacks in the league. His passing accuracy, arc control, and throwing motion are considered textbook examples.
Another example is the Carolina Panthers. Due to their weak offensive line, they have to use a lot of Wildcat or option plays to use the quarterback's role change as a disguise, turning the running backs, wide receivers, and quarterback into offensive weapons. That's why they drafted Cam Newton.
Another example is the Seattle Seahawks. Their offense is built on their running backs, with the wide receivers assisting in the passing game. In other words, a good running back is more suitable for the Seahawks' offensive style than an excellent quarterback. They often use Marshawn Lynch as the focal point of the offense, and after he enters "Beast Mode," he opens up a lane, and then the quarterback's passing assists in the drive.
But the difference between the Seahawks and the Panthers is that their wide receivers and tight ends have a certain tradition. Their West Coast offense is also very successful. Their demands for a quarterback still include passing accuracy, but they also have to have good pocket footwork. The ability to run with the ball is not as important.
This is why the Seattle Seahawks passed on Lu Ke in the draft last year. And in this year's draft, they chose Russell Wilson. Russell's pocket footwork is excellent, and he also has good passing accuracy. Although his running ability is weak, he fits the Seahawks' offensive system perfectly.
It can be said that if the Seattle Seahawks' running game doesn't work, their game will be in trouble, and their passing game will likely not be able to open things up. What's more, this is a team where the defense is stronger than the offense.
Russell's addition to the team somewhat eased Marshawn's running burden. In addition, his ability to move around in the pocket further enriched the Seahawks' offensive plays. This also became an important weapon for them to defeat the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots.
But objectively speaking, the Packers and the Patriots are both teams with a stronger offense than defense. Their defenses are in the middle or even bottom of the league.
Today, playing on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, the team with the top-ranked defense in the league, especially with their dominant run defense, the Seahawks' offense immediately ran into trouble. From the defensive line to the linebackers, the seven players in the front seven have all been playing at a Pro Bowl level.
In total, the Seattle Seahawks only had seven plays before they were out.
In fact, if it weren't for Russell's quick pocket footwork, which allowed him to escape three almost certain sacks, the Seahawks' offense would have already been off the field. But even so, Russell's constant running to find a passing lane didn't have much success.
Even Marshawn's running game was stopped by the combined efforts of the 49ers' defenders NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, and Isaac Sopoaga. He only gained seven yards on three carries, a very poor performance.
Facing their division rival, Russell tried his best, but he still couldn't adapt to the away game atmosphere at Candlestick Park. A terrible pass under pressure ended the Seahawks' drive. They had used less than three minutes of game time and were completely helpless. They left the field, giving it back to the other team's offense.
After the game against the New York Giants last week, the San Francisco 49ers' defense was also adjusting. From the first drive, with veteran Willis's leadership, they showed good form.
The offense, which had a short rest, was also encouraged.
A short pass to Logan gained eight yards.
On a run play, Marcus found an open space and successfully ran for eight yards, getting a first down and continuing to gain more yards.
Two consecutive plays easily found their rhythm, once again causing the Seattle Seahawks' defense to retreat.
In the following drive, the Seattle Seahawks' defense suddenly launched a surprise attack. They sent six players to rush the offensive line, and Sherman unexpectedly rushed forward, cutting through the open space between the offensive line and Logan. He sprinted toward Lu Ke without any obstruction.
The entire play came too suddenly and was too unexpected. It aggressively broke the San Francisco 49ers' offensive rhythm and tore open the pocket, truly threatening the quarterback's pass.
In a crisis, Lu Ke threw the ball quickly and narrowly before Sherman could get a sack. But Ginn and Vernon's cross-run was a little off, and they couldn't catch the ball. They could only watch as the football fell to the ground, an incomplete pass.
Although the Seattle Seahawks couldn't get a sack, and Lu Ke avoided Sherman's collision, this defensive play was still a success. It unreasonably interrupted the San Francisco 49ers' offensive momentum and was successful.
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