Chapter 1445: Chapter 1444: Mental Preparation
Keywords: rhythm.
The Kansas City Chiefs did not use a modern outside zone offensive system to confuse their opponents, not because its inventor Shanahan was on the opposing side, showcasing Shanahan’s depth by completely limiting the Green Bay Packers in the National Conference finals; but because Reed needed to keep the rhythm in his own hands, choosing to trust and rely on Li Wei to play the role of metronome.
Li Wei, did not disappoint.
Although there were no smoke bombs to confuse, Li Wei still relied on the time difference at the start to firmly grasp the initiative, tearing open a gap with a cool calculation.
Then, evasion, breakthrough.
Nick Bosa was completely stiff, dumbfounded.
The brain was sending out signals, secondary reactions, secondary starts, don’t stand like a wooden stake, everyone in the league knows Li Wei can execute a Marseille Turn, not necessary to stand shell-shocked like a fool who’s never seen the world, quickly catch up for a supplement defense.
However, with stiff muscles and numb limbs, Bosa was completely stunned, unable to see Li Wei, and the entire response was half a beat slow.
Facing a player like Li Wei, being half a beat slow means the whole game is lost.
Li Wei focused, effortlessly shaking off the “iron pillar” Bosa who hit the rookie wall, held his breath, and the next second saw the Heavenly Net in front of him.
The San Francisco 49ers possess top-notch ground defense in the league, not relying on star power, but on teamwork.
Li Wei’s footsteps cut inside, breaking through the gaps, and what met his eyes were the layered positioning obstacles of linebackers, cornerbacks, and safeties.
Comparable to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain.”
However, Li Wei did not pause, tiptoeing across the ground, as if crossing a river on a reed, his poised figure searched for openings in the dense defense.
A glance to the right, avoiding the impact from second-year linebacker Fred Warner, but had no time to catch his breath, about to run into another rookie linebacker Dre Greenlaw, as Li Wei tiptoed to continue a counterclockwise spin, brushing past Greenlaw for the evasion.
Greenlaw: ???
It was all supposed to be very simple, Li Wei crashing into Greenlaw’s embrace, throwing himself into the net, Greenlaw just needed to wrap his arms around him.
But! Like a bolt of lightning!
Li Wei spun like a ballet dancer with continuous whip turns, giving Greenlaw no time to react, already spinning out from Greenlaw’s right arm to left arm, when Greenlaw clumsily tried to clasp his arms, Li Wei had already spun to his rear flank.
Stopped, a bump.
Li Wei used the momentum to bump back against Greenlaw’s back, using the counterforce to regain his center and continue forward.
Greenlaw lost his balance, clumsily lunging forward, colliding with a now-turned Bosa, akin to a car crash scene.
First-year and second-year players, all turned into chaos.
Evidently, these young players thought they were mentally prepared, they believed they could defeat Li Wei, despite Li Wei’s fame, he’s just a third-year student like them, no essential difference, they weren’t afraid nor idolizing, firmly believing they could step on Li Wei’s shoulders to achieve greatness.
The reality, however, was another story.
Right at the opening, they were already in disarray.
But people simply had no time to care about these, because Li Wei’s steps did not pause, moving straight ahead.
The forty-yard line was already within reach.
Cornerback Kewan Williams stood behind two linebackers as the trump card—
The San Francisco 49ers’ top-ranked ground defense and zone defense in the passing area owes much to the role played by Kewan.
The San Francisco 49ers use a “4-3” defensive formation, but not with three linebackers, rather two linebackers paired with a quarterback.
This quarterback role is often played by a cornerback, last season the Kansas City Chiefs also attempted such a tactic, and Fuller grew from this; however, this season Shanahan frequently used the quarterback tactic, activating this position, providing forward support for ground defense, and backward support for passing defense, increasing defensive strategy diversity.
Especially against teams like the Kansas City Chiefs balanced in passing and running, the flexible use of quarterbacks is Shanahan’s trump card.
And in front of us, is just that.
Despite the San Francisco 49ers’ erroneous anticipation, missing the first chance, unable to block Li Wei right at the snap, Kewan’s position in the rear gave him enough time to wait and judge, responding correctly after a hundred percent confirmation of the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive strategy.
A dazzling moment, Li Wei’s figure already came into view.
Kewan bent his knees lowering his center of gravity, ready to absorb impact—
He wasn’t greedy, not fancying himself able to tackle Li Wei, after all, “League’s First Man” is no idle title, a pre-game caution repeatedly advised by Shanahan.
Thus, Kewan merely prepared to impede Li Wei, awaiting other teammates to converge and encircle.
Li Wei: ?
Kewan didn’t advance, instead lowered his center of gravity awaiting impact, what strategy was this?
Li Wei couldn’t understand Kewan’s thought process, but the point was, since Kewan lay in wait, why should Li Wei foolishly charge straight at him?
A lateral drag, Li Wei completely bypassed Kewan treating him like a traffic cone, just like so… bypassed him.
Kewan: …
A gust of wind slapped painfully on Kewan’s helmet, rustling loudly, he hadn’t even touched a corner of Li Wei’s attire, then…nothing more.
Some thought they were mentally prepared, let their guard down.
Some believed in heightened vigilance, and ended up tactically fatigued and missing opportunities.
Li Wei effortlessly bypassed Kewan, and the Heavenly Net in front rapidly contracted, Cornerback Richard Sherman, Safety Jimmie Ward, and Jaquiski Tartt.
Though Kewan didn’t manage to stop Li Wei, he still forced Li Wei to detour, providing the defensive second line time to complete encirclement and compress space.
Layer upon layer, indeed the San Francisco 49ers’ ground defense has some craft.
Li Wei’s steps had already leisurely crossed the forty-yard line, peripheral vision catching a glance at Sherman, noting Sherman’s stumbling steps, in order to shake off Kelsey, Sherman sacrificed balance to force a turn, refusing a head-on face-off with Kelsey, with sights on Li Wei.
Sherman, advancing with menace, exuding a murderous aura.
How could Li Wei decline such a gracious offer?
Steps dragged continuously to the right, Li Wei didn’t advance vertically to challenge the two safeties head-on, instead aiming at the 45-degree angle gap before the encirclement closed, preparing for a forceful speed breakthrough.
Sherman sounded the alarm!
In this patchwork defensive group of the San Francisco 49ers, Sherman is a top star, and also the only player with Super Bowl experience—
He is the one truly ready.
First moment, Sherman realized the crisis, if Li Wei broke through his line of defense, it wasn’t just the loss of a first down, the entire San Francisco 49ers defensive second line would be at Li Wei’s mercy, mocked like circus monkeys and lions.
Shaming!
No, no no no, he refuses.