Chapter 893: Defensive Intensity
Standing inside the pocket of the offensive line, Lu Ke had just felt the leather texture of the football when he saw a black mass of players charging at him. It was a crushing wave, like a mountain landslide, and the powerful air current was a direct hit, almost knocking him off balance.
His mind instantly made a judgment: his pre-snap defensive read was wrong.
The linebacker, who seemed to be dropping back, was actually a decoy. The Chicago Bears' defense had fully exploited Lu Ke's habit of reading the defensive formation before the snap, using small movements to create a false impression of a retreat. In reality, it was a quick-blitzing tactic, and the forward pressure was the real purpose.
The two outside linebackers joined the four defensive linemen to create an overwhelming numerical advantage. After a defensive mismatch was formed on the line of scrimmage, they instantly broke through the San Francisco 49ers' offensive line, trying to sack the quarterback.
The momentum of the blitz was overwhelming. It broke through the pocket with sheer force. The 49ers' offensive line, which had been performing well this season, couldn't hold its ground. Left defensive end Julius Peppers and right outside linebacker Lance Briggs both successfully crossed the line of scrimmage, charging at Lu Ke like tigers descending a mountain.
The error in his defensive read had caused Lu Ke to lose the initiative. Standing in the shotgun formation, his center of gravity was still moving forward. In that state, he immediately realized the danger. His internal alarms went off, and he quickly retreated, but his disorganized footing made it impossible to get up to speed. He had never been in such a bad situation this season.
As he retreated, Lu Ke knew he was in danger.
It was too late to use "Absolute Steps" now. In that critical moment, Lu Ke made a decisive decision and activated "Iron Skin and Bones." As soon as the voice in his mind finished, Peppers and Briggs had already arrived, completing a tackle and a hit from the left and right. Their combined force gave Lu Ke no chance to escape, and he immediately went down.
The two heavyweights on either side had him in a pincer grip, squeezing all the oxygen out of his lungs with an overwhelmingly powerful pressure. His vision went black for a moment, but he could still clearly feel the power of both Peppers and Briggs.
Even with the effect of "Iron Skin and Bones," Lu Ke could feel the chaotic collision. Although he didn't feel any pain, he could still clearly see the grim faces of Peppers and Briggs.
Tough!
Absolutely tough!
The Chicago Bears' defense showed its intensity and confidence in the first offensive-defensive play of the game. Fired up, Peppers' power and Briggs' agility left Lu Ke with no chance. They sacked the quarterback right at the beginning of the game, putting the home team's offense in a difficult situation. Was this an early show of dominance?
"Wow! The Chicago Bears! Wow!"
The exclamations could be clearly heard in the broadcast booth. Even the fans at Candlestick Park were momentarily shocked. This kind of situation was truly rare this season.
"The San Francisco 49ers had the first possession, but against the offense with the highest scoring rate on the first drive of both last season and this season, the Chicago Bears' defense showed a commendable performance. Not only were they not intimidated, but they also had the upper hand!"
"On first-and-ten, Charles Tillman showed his excellent form. He used a defensive mismatch to trick Ted Ginn Jr., then cut inside to cover Logan Newman, and batted away Lu Ke's pass on the short route to Newman. He was even a hair away from making an interception."
"After missing the interception, Tillman was visibly frustrated."
"This season, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman once said he would make Lu Ke scared to throw to his side, but in the game, Sherman's defense on his side was not satisfactory. Also, the highly anticipated matchup between Darrelle Revis and Lu Ke was not able to happen because Revis was out for the season."
"Now, all the cornerbacks in the league are eager to face Lu Ke. In this situation, the in-form Tillman stepped up and bravely came forward. In his coverage of Lu Ke's best passing target, Newman, he showed his excellent touch and officially announced that the showdown between the top cornerback and the top quarterback is about to begin!"
"On second-and-ten, the Chicago Bears successfully tricked the tactically excellent Lu Ke with a defense-within-a-defense formation. Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs used an absolute display of dominance to tear through the 49ers' excellent offensive line this season and sacked Lu Ke."
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
"Before the game, people already predicted this would be a defensive showdown, but the actual game has exceeded everyone's expectations. The sparks are already flying in the very first drive. We don't have to wait for the game to progress. The game has already entered the fierce, knife-to-the-bone stage."
"Facing third-and-ten, how will the San Francisco 49ers offense respond?"
"This offense has gone through countless tests. The transformation from underdog to powerhouse has now made them one of the top teams in the league. So, how will they respond now?"
"We'd like to remind our viewers that the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers have both used an aggressive front-field pressure to put the 49ers' offense in disarray. The Chicago Bears' front-field pressure this season is in no way inferior."
"Wow, this game is already looking good! Viewers, it's third-and-ten! Lu Ke!"
Compared to the intense atmosphere in the broadcast booth, there was not much commotion on the field. The players were fully focused on the game and had no time to think about potential outcomes. Instead, they were concentrating on the next play. Facing third-and-ten, what should they do?
Lu Ke's focus was not affected at all. After he got up, Joe Staley and Mike Iupati came over, both reached out, pulled Lu Ke up, and then they huddled around him to discuss strategy.
Third-and-ten is a long-yardage play. From the first and second downs, it was clear that the Bears' defense had prepared many specific tactics. On both downs, they chose to be proactive and did not consider the 49ers' offensive strategy. They relied on their own defensive players' abilities and pre-game tactical setups to catch Lu Ke off guard.
Simply put, the Chicago Bears' defense showed its offensive power, breaking through using the very method the 49ers' offense is known for. With thorough pre-game preparation, great team confidence, and strong player performance, the Bears came to Candlestick Park without fear or compromise, despite the 26-year historical record.
Now, the 49ers' offense is on the defensive. What should they do?
All the offensive players' eyes were on Lu Ke. After a season and a half of practice and tests, they seemed to have gotten used to this pattern: when faced with danger, a difficult problem, or a critical moment, trusting Lu Ke was their best choice.
Surrounded by his teammates, Lu Ke knelt down, quickly communicated with Harbaugh through his helmet's earpiece, and silently adjusted his breathing. Then, he quickly finalized the play, as if it was just another regular snap. His calm and steady demeanor reassured all the offensive players, and they immediately turned to line up.
Lu Ke's steps brought him back into the offensive line, and his mind quickly worked.
What should he do if the defensive formation has no rules or structure? Just like an offensive play, everything they show is a smoke screen. The defense has already set its play before the snap and is acting preemptively. So, how should the offense respond? Should they stick to their game plan, or fight fire with fire?
A thought flashed through Lu Ke's mind. He could use a special ability, like "Absolute Steps" or "Bullet Time," to fool the defensive players and break their defensive rhythm, and then find a way to break through on the offensive side. But that would be too lazy. He couldn't rely on special abilities all the time, could he?
So, the thought vanished in an instant.
Lu Ke quickly calmed down and seriously read the defensive formation:
The opponent's defense not following the rules and even creating a confusing effect to deceive Lu Ke is one thing. But making an accurate judgment and prediction of the opponent's defensive position before the snap is a quarterback's important preparation. That's another thing.
No matter what the opponent does, Lu Ke still has to follow the process, or at least go through the motions, even if it's just to deceive the opponent.
Julius Peppers moved to the right side and was still on the move, facing the 49ers' Alex Boone. He was not afraid of his opponent and was constantly adjusting his center of gravity to challenge him. At the same time, he was talking trash, and even though there was no physical contact, the tension was building.
Lance Briggs, who had just sacked Lu Ke with Peppers, was standing not far behind Peppers, quietly moving his feet to the outside—or rather, brazenly, because his small steps were not hidden. He was once again posing as a rusher from the outside.
Facing third-and-ten, the Chicago Bears' defense was showing an even greater desire for an offensive play, like a beast baring its fangs.
Lu Ke's clear and firm voice, like a sword unsheathed, sliced through the air:
"Attack!"
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