"Red zone offense, first down and six, the 49ers are in a shotgun formation again. This isn't a very common tactic for red zone offense, but Lu Ke has always been a rookie with excellent tactical planning. It's not impossible to use a shotgun formation for a running play. The key is how they will break through the Bengals' defense."
"On the 49ers' left side, two strong receivers, Newman and Crabtree, are lined up. Williams and Ginn are on the right side, and Lynch is behind Williams. The 49ers' shotgun offensive formation has a lot of tactical variations, so it's impossible to tell who the receiver will be. Snap!"
"Newman! Newman is rushing into the left side of the end zone, his speed and strength are very strong. Crabtree is cutting inside, running a route toward the middle. But, oh! Oh! Oh! It's Ginn! It's Ted Ginn! Ginn! My God, Ginn unexpectedly ran a straight-line outside route, piercing into the end zone like a spear, and he beautifully shook off safety Taylor Mays to make the catch!"
"Touchdown! It's a touchdown! The San Francisco 49ers have scored a touchdown! In this away game, the 49ers were the first to break the deadlock, getting the first touchdown of the game! This drive was truly amazing!"
Kirk's series of comments once again showed the style of a radio commentator, passionate and full of emotion. Teddy's emotions were also stirred up. Football games always have the ability to make people's blood boil.
"Beautiful! The Bengals' defense played beautifully, but the 49ers' offense played even more beautifully!" Teddy snapped his fingers twice. "In today's game, the Bengals' aggressive blitz strategy has been very effective, but Lu Ke immediately made the corresponding adjustments. He used quick short passes in both drives to tear open the defense with short passes before the blitz could even get going, continuously making progress."
"Let's look at the release time. Wow, 1.73 seconds, lightning fast! The Bengals' defense had no chance!" Teddy couldn't help but exclaim. "A four-yard short pass and a six-yard short pass, Ted Ginn made two crucial catches and really broke the game open. This is unbelievable! Wait, is it just me? Why do I feel like Lu Ke's ability to adapt to the game is getting stronger?"
"No, I don't think it's just you," Kirk said with a laugh. "Although we've already said it, is this really Lu Ke's first away game? Are you sure it's not his hundredth?"
In the first half of the second regular season game, the Dallas Cowboys' correct strategy effectively contained Lu Ke's passing. It was clear that his ability to adjust in the game was still lacking, and he didn't get his rhythm back until the second half. But in this week's game, in just the first offensive series, Lu Ke had already found his own solution in a head-to-head confrontation. This kind of growth rate is truly astonishing.
"Bloody Bambi! Bloody Bambi!" After the touchdown was confirmed, Ginn was the first to rush over to Lu Ke. His eyes were wide and his mouth was open as he shouted frantically, "My God, the Bloody Bambi!" Not just Ginn, but the other players also started shouting.
Now, they finally understood what Logan meant by "Bloody Bambi": Never anger Lu Ke on the field, or you will have to face the consequences.
In the stands, the San Francisco 49ers fans were completely fired up. Cliff stood up, waving his flag vigorously. Jeff, who was standing next to him, started shouting hoarsely, "Bambi! Bambi! Bambi!" In a trance, it was as if they were back in the college stadium, back at the Rose Bowl.
It was Lu Ke again, a clash of the titans again, and once again, he fought his way out. In the high-intensity confrontation between the offense and the defense, Lu Ke once again showed his strong heart. He almost single-handedly tore open the defense's blockade with a gorgeous and fluid offense and a complex and intricate strategy, leading the players to score.
Touchdown! Another touchdown! The first touchdown of the game came from Lu Ke!
This wasn't just a touchdown; it was a testament to their fighting spirit and courage. Chris also jumped up and down. For how many years had the San Francisco 49ers' offense not felt this kind of toughness and attitude? But now, in the undrafted Chinese rookie, he felt the surging power of passion again.
After Ted Ginn made the catch without seeming to try hard, Chris started shouting uncontrollably, "Touchdown! Touchdown! Touchdown!" The touchdowns that were once hard to come by were now like a harvester, one after another, so easy, so powerful!
As he was shouting, Chris found himself in tears. Because of the touchdown, because of Lu Ke, and because the team had missed the playoffs for eight consecutive years and been in a slump for fifteen years, the San Francisco 49ers finally felt a sense of life again.
So, what if he was an undrafted rookie? What if he was a Chinese quarterback? What if he was a quarterback whose physical fitness wasn't top-notch? On Lu Ke, Chris smelled the long-lost scent of hope again.
He turned his head and saw Jeff shouting madly. Then, he also raised his arm and joined in the shouting. "Bambi!" Such a simple name had unimaginable energy.
It wasn't just Jeff and Chris; they weren't alone. Today, the away fans who had traveled so far were a bit pitiful, only a few thousand of them. But at this moment, this small group of fans erupted with a terrifying amount of energy. Their shouts came together, forming a single force that surged down like a tidal wave.
This was certainly no match for the grand occasion of the Rose Bowl. In front of the 35,000 home fans, they were just a drop in the ocean. But it was this energy that parted the dense clouds hanging over Paul Brown Stadium, and the light of hope for an away victory began to quietly shine through.
"Bambi!" Logan came over, patted Lu Ke's shoulder, and gestured to the fans he saw. A smile finally appeared on his face. "You deserve this."
After playing two home games, Lu Ke didn't expect to feel the support of the San Francisco 49ers fans for the first time in an away game. In his line of sight, the fluttering flag created a magnificent and vast field of red under the golden sunlight, shocking and beautiful. His mood slowly lifted.
This was the first step.
Pulling his gaze back, Lu Ke let out a soft breath. He then took off his helmet, wiped the blood from under his nose, and looked through the crowd. His eyes met Atkins's, and their gazes collided. Neither of them backed down or gave in. They both knew that this game was far from over and that their confrontation had just begun.
Speed against speed. That was the strategy Lu Ke used in the last two drives, and he executed it with determination. Before the snap, he had already decided on the receiver: Ted Ginn.
First, Ginn was fast enough and agile. Second, Ginn's receiver target wasn't as obvious as the others, so he had better concealment.
Other than Ginn, all the other players' running routes were to act as distractions and blockers. Ginn's goal was to run at full speed, get to his designated position, and wait for Lu Ke to deliver the football to him for a clean catch. That was all. It sounds simple, and it is simple, but the execution is very complex.
The Bengals' blitzing strategy was very effective today, but Lu Ke also caught on to their weaknesses. On one hand, the defensive line was leaning forward, making the secondary weak. On the other hand, their pass defense ability was a bit weak, and the zone coverage and one-on-one coverage of the two cornerbacks and two safeties were not outstanding.
Using a quick short-pass strategy and taking advantage of the fact that the opponent hadn't changed their defensive formation, he used complex running routes to move the front-line defense. Then, he used precise short passes to complete a pass in the crowded area of defensive players. At the same time, by releasing the ball quickly, he could avoid the defense's powerful blitz and not give Atkins any opportunities.
In the previous drive, Lu Ke changed the play because he noticed that the opponent's defensive formation hadn't changed, and he made an appropriate adjustment. The complex signals were actually just conveying one message: the original receiver was Michael Crabtree, but now it's Ted Ginn.
The tactical change in just a few seconds laid the foundation for this touchdown. However, Lu Ke didn't expect the touchdown to come so quickly. The Bengals' defense obviously didn't keep up with the rhythm.
Indeed, players still need to be refined through games. Theorizing can never lead to real progress. Only by going through many battles can you become a true soldier. Lu Ke was now starting to enjoy this away game.
But it was certain that the Bengals' defensive coaching staff would also make adjustments. The chess match of this game had just begun. The faint smell of blood still lingered on his fingertips. Lu Ke pulled his gaze back and no longer paid attention to Atkins. Instead, he called his teammates and left the field, handing the field over to the special teams.
Then, the San Francisco 49ers' special teams made no mistakes and easily kicked the extra point. The score was now "0:7," with the home team's score first and the away team's score second.
"In today's battle of the rookies, both rookie quarterbacks have shown good form. However, overall, Lu Ke was the first to score. Especially under the immense pressure of two sacks and one rushed throw, Lu Ke showed a maturity and sharpness that were uncharacteristic of a rookie and even led the team to score the first touchdown. I have to give Lu Ke a point!"
Teddy didn't hold back his praise, and Kirk, who was sitting next to him, didn't object. However, he focused his attention on another player.
"Correspondingly, Andy Dalton, playing at home, seems to be feeling the pressure. He's playing well, but he still got cold feet at the crucial moment. Next, the pressure will continue to grow, and it's up to Dalton to handle it. The excitement of this Sunday game has far exceeded expectations. These two rookie quarterbacks are indeed worth watching."
As Kirk and Teddy's conversation went on, the Bengals' offense took the field again.
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