Chapter 1431: Chapter 1430: Power of a Single Battle
"When we discuss whether Kyle Shanahan is an excellent coach, what are we really saying?"
"The answer is right here: tailored teaching, adapting to conditions, arranging and combining the weapons we have at hand to find the optimal solution."
"Although the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line isn’t good at pass protection, and although their quarterback isn’t a top-tier passing monster in the league, Shanahan has found a way."
"The key lies not in the offensive line, nor even in Garoppolo, but in Shanahan setting up enough emergency targets, ensuring that when Garoppolo faces pressure, he doesn’t need a second defensive reading, doesn’t need on-the-spot creativity; he can immediately locate the second or even third target to complete the pass."
"Everything originates from the playbook and daily training."
"Practice makes perfect, making tactics engrave into the soul and into the muscle, like a meticulous machine."
"Thus, Garoppolo’s passing completion rate under pressure ranks fourth in the league."
"Garoppolo’s familiar game mode is managing the game, not dictating it with his arm, so in the regular season, his average passing distance is the shortest in the league, but after the wide receiver catches the ball, the average advancement distance is the longest."
"According to Shanahan’s game plan, naturally, he hopes the playbook routines all work effectively, quickly inserting the football into the hands of wide receivers and tight ends, letting these offensive weapons advance with the ball."
"On one hand, the San Francisco 49ers’ wide receivers aren’t players who run for long periods seeking gaps, but they are reliable passing targets in one-on-one matchups."
"On the other hand, Shanahan completely tailored strategies based on Garoppolo’s ability and characteristics, ensuring that Garoppolo could display his maximum potential."
Gradually, Bart dives into the main topic, his words are animated, visibly showing excitement on his face.
Bart looks at Lawson.
Lawson doesn’t speak, but gestures for Bart to continue because he knows what Bart is going to say next.
Bart does not refuse.
"The Kansas City Chiefs Defense has indeed made great strides this season, their zone defense coordination is increasingly harmonious, but the one-on-one ability of the defensive secondary remains questionable. The starting players Fuller, Brilland, Matty, and Sorensen performed superbly, yet their one-on-one ability is not among the league’s best."
"Against the Tennessee Titans, the Kansas City Chiefs secondary performed excellently; but when facing Houston Texans’ Hopkins, they couldn’t hold ground."
"And this is precisely the strength of the San Francisco 49ers."
"Hence, Shanahan has reason to continue insisting on ground attack breakthroughs, trusting his Running Back Committee. Similarly, he has reason to opt for passing attack breakthroughs, not because he trusts Garoppolo, but because he trusts his short passing route playbook refined over three seasons."
The answer is finally revealed.
While netizens are still eager to attack Garoppolo, these professionals have gone further, glimpsing the essence hidden beneath the phenomenon.
In the 2019 season, the entire league was going crazy for the Baltimore Ravens and Jackson, even the Kansas Chiefs Offense was slightly overshadowed, causing people to selectively ignore one fact—
The San Francisco 49ers Offense ranked third in the league, closely trailing the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs.
On the Super Bowl stage, indeed, the San Francisco 49ers had the strength to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs, even the capability to engage in a showdown with them.
The reason Lawson didn’t refute is that Bart is right.
Every word is fact.
The San Francisco 49ers Offense’s strength directly corresponds to the Kansas City Chiefs Defense’s weakness, while the Kansas City Chiefs’ strongest and most excellent defensive frontline may not be able to exert corresponding effects against the San Francisco 49ers, this will become a crucial point in their Super Bowl duel.
As Bart’s words come out, the studio buzzes with lively debate, with both agreement and opposition, the data is there, but everyone has different interpretations.
The back-and-forth exchange of viewpoints sparks a brainstorming session.
Until Crosby notices, "Josh, why are you especially quiet?"
Lawson instantly feels the bustling gaze all converging on himself, "Because Blair is right."
"Oh!"
"Come on!"
"Josh!"
Everyone let out a gasp; this was already the second time in today’s program.
Crosby made a calming gesture to the camera lens, "I know the viewers watching this program right now are as shocked as we are, but I believe Josh still has a ’but’ coming."
After saying this, Crosby looks at Lawson.
Lawson pauses, "But..."
Amidst shouts, everyone is banging the table and cheering, bustling with excitement.
Even the usually stern Lawson cracks a smile, "But, what we are discussing is Reed."
"Shanahan and Reed, the two head coaches with the thickest playbooks in the league, I believe the collision between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers is a matchup everyone is eager to see because the magician hats of these two coaches might conceal surprises none of us could predict."
"But from the regular season data, the Kansas City Chiefs have maintained an undefeated season for a reason."
"It’s natural for third-year Mahomes not to be as dazzling as last season, but none of us would say he’s hit a rookie wall, because Mahomes remains outstanding and dominant, even more mature and steady, completely integrated with the team without the rashness of last season."
"Moreover, the Kansas City Chiefs have Li Wei. Whether Mahomes is absent due to injury, or facing challenges in conference finals and playoffs, Li Wei can always step up."
"I need to remind everyone, to prevent ignoring the key point, everything didn’t start from the playoffs’ second quarter ’0:28’ trailing to the Tennessee Titans, but in the fourth-to-last week of the regular season."
"That week, a loyal 17-year-old Kansas City fan, Felix Gray, passed away, yet social media began denouncing Li Wei, accusing him of commemorating the fan inappropriately."
"From that moment, the Kansas City Chiefs became unstoppable."
Never seen before, there are no boos or replies in the studio, including Bart, because they all know Lawson is discussing serious matters.
Dragons have reverse scales, no one wishes to touch them.
"Felix Gray," is Li Wei’s reverse scale, anyone daring to provoke will face total annihilation.
As Lawson said, from that point onward, Li Wei steadily silenced all the trolls and haters, leaving them shivering in dark corners, causing the Kansas City Chiefs’ opponents to plead the trolls:
Stop talking. You are helping the wrong side, can’t you see?
Even Bart dares to continue mocking Li Wei, but won’t joke about Felix’s topic.
No one dares.
It’s believed the San Francisco 49ers and Shanahan feel the same.
Then, the whole studio holds its breath, watching Lawson.
"The residents of Kansas City used their actual actions to achieve the team’s final push from quantitative to qualitative change."
"Thus, in this season, the Kansas City Chiefs truly completed their transformation; now, no one can stop them from achieving Super Bowl victory and the triumphant goal of a three-peat."