Among the five main receivers for the San Francisco 49ers, there were three wide receivers and two tight ends.
Generally, wide receivers are more nimble, faster, and have more varied catching techniques. Tight ends are stronger, and blocking and creating lanes are essential skills. Their strength lies more in colliding and breaking through after the catch than just catching the ball.
Of the two tight ends, Vernon Davis had better physical talent, while Logan Newman had better footwork and catching techniques. Of the three wide receivers, Kyle Williams and Ted Ginn were known for their nimble speed and delicate catching skills, while Michael Crabtree was a big, strong receiver with a height advantage, so his speed wasn't as obvious. His strength was making tough catches in desperate situations.
At this moment, the three receivers on the left were invading the Bengals' backfield like a tornado. Crabtree was the first to fall behind, making a right-angle run route, penetrating the undefended soft spot in the middle like a sharp blade.
Facing the big receiver, the Bengals didn't dare to be careless. The middle was a defensive vacuum, so two players split off and quickly used their speed to block Crabtree's running route and started to defend him up close.
Williams and Ginn, on the other hand, were completely focused and unaffected, continuing to sprint at full speed. Their speed seemed to have reached its peak, and it was clear that Ginn had a slight advantage. As they sprinted side-by-side, after crossing the thirty-yard line, they split up.
Ginn ran toward the sideline, while Williams cut into the middle.
The two Bengals' defenders were stunned. They looked back at the pocket but still didn't see me throw the ball. This meant that they still couldn't accurately determine their defensive positions. In a flash, they made a choice. Each of them defended one person and began to keep up with the two receivers' pace.
The zone defense strategy had ultimately turned into a man-to-man defense strategy. To make things worse, in that moment of hesitation, even if it was only a millisecond, they fell behind. In front of two receivers known for their speed, the gap was silently widening. It was invisible to the naked eye, but the rhythm of their sprinting steps was already different.
Was it Ginn or Williams? Or Crabtree? Wait, what about Newman? What about Logan Newman, my most trusted receiver?
"Lu Ke snapped the ball. The Bengals' defenders seemed to have been affected by the previous false start. Although it wasn't a real foul, their reaction speed was clearly a quarter of a beat slower, and the 49ers' receivers had already gained an advantage. Wow, the field is dazzling. The 49ers' offense is running a kaleidoscope of routes."
During his TV commentary, Kirk's speed was a little more restrained. He wasn't giving a blow-by-blow account. After gradually getting used to the TV format, his commentary was also starting to develop its own style, becoming sharper.
"The Bengals' zone defense seems to cover the entire field and isn't at a disadvantage at all. It's impossible to find an open spot. But it also seems to be full of holes, and you can find a breakthrough point in every corner and every direction. The question now is, can the 49ers' rookie quarterback keenly seize the opportunity?"
Kirk's question wasn't meant to be answered, but Teddy took over. "The more important question is, why hasn't Lu Ke thrown the ball yet? Look, he's been adjusting his footwork in the pocket. There's clearly an open spot—at least I can see that Lynch has found an open spot, but he doesn't seem to have any intention of throwing the ball."
Teddy's reminder also made Kirk notice me in the pocket, methodically adjusting my footwork while cautiously observing the receivers' running routes. But my hands were still holding the football. I hadn't made a throwing motion yet, not even a fake one. It seemed more like... hesitation.
"That's a little strange," Kirk said, voicing his thoughts. "Lu Ke isn't a quarterback with slow passing judgment. He's been observing, and he hasn't run out of the pocket. Clearly, he has a different plan in his mind. The 49ers' offensive line is providing a very solid pocket protection this time. Oh, I shouldn't praise them, I shouldn't praise them. The pocket's broken. Atkins has broken through the pocket again. We don't know how many times we've said his name today!"
Teddy pointed to the field. "Lu Ke threw the ball! With a nimble step, he actually dodged Atkins's tackle. Then, he took a step forward, raised his hand, and started to throw! This... this is a bullet pass! My God, this isn't a rainbow pass. This is a bullet pass!" Teddy's voice also started to get excited and distorted.
This wasn't Teddy's usual style of commentary, so Kirk immediately took over. "Now the San Francisco 49ers' receivers are all running deep. There's only Lynch in the short-pass area. The other players are running deep routes. Newman and Crabtree are in the medium-pass area. My God, Williams and Ginn have entered the red zone!"
Kirk's heart also tightened. "A bullet pass! This is a bullet pass. Lu Ke is aiming deep and throwing a bullet pass! My God! This pass is like a cannonball, truly embodying the essence of a cannon arm! The pass is aimed at... the middle! The middle route!"
"The pass has a slight arc, completely avoiding the three players in the middle. Crabtree isn't the target. This is a pass aimed at the backfield! One of the Bengals' defenders, cornerback Adam Jones, number 21, is trying to jump up and deflect the pass, but... Roar, roar, roar!"
Kirk's commentary was interrupted by Teddy's exclamation. Both of them couldn't help but let out a gasp. Kirk continued, "Lu Ke seemed to have anticipated this. His pass was a little high. Adam Jones's jump wasn't high enough to reach the football. The football flew directly over his head and continued to fly! My God, this pass has power, speed, arc, and control! It's truly brilliant!"
In just the blink of an eye, the situation on the field had changed countless times. Teddy's breathing couldn't keep up with the rhythm, but Kirk was getting more and more excited. His impassioned commentary once again showed the glory and passion he had back when he was on the radio!
"The pass's forward momentum is very fierce. It's past midfield, forty yards, thirty-five yards, thirty yards, twenty-five yards... Jesus Christ! The power of this pass still hasn't weakened. What's going on? Who is the pass aimed at? Ted Ginn?"
Kirk quickly scanned the field. The pen and paper in his hand flew out. "No, it's not Ted Ginn, it's Kyle Williams! This is crazy! This pass choice is truly crazy! But, wait, twenty yards, fifteen yards, ten yards, five yards! At the five-yard line! He caught it, Williams caught it! My God, my God, my God! He caught it! He caught it!"
Kyle Williams focused his attention, sprinting, sprinting, and sprinting again, putting all his strength into it, sprinting with all his might. In this play, I hadn't specified a target. He, Ginn, and Crabtree were all options, and Newman and Lynch on the other side were running a diversion. Whoever got open would be the target of the pass.
This was a long pass! It was an instruction from the coaching staff. They had caught the Bengals' defense's hesitation and indecisiveness. Their defensive tactics were gradually becoming more conservative, especially after two consecutive successful running plays. The Bengals' defense was now even more scattered. So, the coaching staff wanted a long pass.
They believed in my long-passing ability.
Williams knew that in today's game, he had only been the target of a pass once, and he had made the catch for a four-yard gain. His performance had been mediocre, but this was his chance, and he wouldn't miss it easily. Only by fighting to the end could he know the result, right?
So, Williams started to run, running with all his might. He didn't even notice Crabtree's and Ginn's running routes. All his attention was on his feet, and he was running with all his might, just like Forrest Gump in "Forrest Gump."
After running past the thirty-yard line, Williams started to run toward his right at a forty-five-degree angle, gradually turning, but his speed was not hindered at all. Instead, it was even higher, reaching its peak. This was his peak. He even felt that his hands and feet were starting to burn, and the oxygen in his lungs was also starting to ignite.
No competition, no worries, no confusion, just sprinting. Williams's mind only had one thought: run.
After running to his peak speed, he crossed the ten-yard line, then suddenly turned around, his feet quickly retreating. Then, in his line of sight, a cannonball-like football appeared. It outlined a small arc, and its momentum was so violent and fierce that you could even see the air current and streamline outside the football.
The ball is here!
Williams's pupils slightly contracted. He started to slow down, constantly using small, quick steps to adjust his stride. Surprisingly, he wasn't nervous at all. His mind was clear, and he was completely focused. It seemed like he had practiced this countless times in his mind.
He put his hands in front of his chest, made a catching gesture, and then saw the football coming straight toward his chest, steady and without any deviation.
"Bang!"
It was a direct hit. The powerful pass still hadn't slowed down, and it could have continued to fly for a while. Williams grabbed the football tightly, his hands feeling a little numb. His breathing suddenly stopped, and his fingertips started to tremble, but he held on tighter and tighter, as if he was holding the most important treasure in the world.
Then, he quickly retreated with his feet, retreating again. One, to cushion the impact, and two, to adjust his center of gravity. But he then felt a figure rushing toward him from behind. Williams's knees slightly bent, lowering his center of gravity, and he hunched his shoulders, falling backward heavily.
It's not over. The drive is not over yet!
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