Chapter 1451: Chapter 1450: Startled Fawn
Danger. Danger!
Alarm, sounding all over—
Kansas City Chiefs raid!
To be precise, it wasn’t entirely without warning.
First down, ten yards, Kansas City Chiefs’ ground defense made a mistake again, facing a crisis, yet surprisingly relied on Chris Jones’ on-the-spot play to turn the situation around, not only stopping behind the line but also forcing the opponent to lose yardage. Defensive Coordinator Spagnuolo immediately seized the opportunity and aggressively launched pass-rush pressure, tearing open the offensive line pocket protection with the stance of a four-man raid, turning the tide.
It seemed sudden, but in reality, it flowed seamlessly, showcasing the progress of the defense group under Spagnuolo this season.
Note, this is the end zone frontier; whether it’s the Kansas City Chiefs or the San Francisco 49ers, their defense groups can unleash incredible energy upon entering this area, turning passive into active, using quality and intensity to reverse the situation, which is a crucial factor for both teams advancing to the Super Bowl.
Right now, it is the same.
Spagnuolo doesn’t care whether the San Francisco 49ers are passing or running; he completely plays to his rhythm, the defense group holds the initiative, instead seeing through Shanahan’s fake run to pass strategy, striking like a forceful bamboo shaft at San Francisco 49ers’ critical weaknesses, pouring all firepower towards Garoppolo.
Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs defense group captain, is not at his best, not just due to the long season’s mental exhaustion, injuries that appeared sporadically after the season also affect his condition. After the conference finals, he even went back and forth to the hospital several times.
However, minor injuries do not retreat from the battle line.
Chris Jones doesn’t want to miss this showdown; compared to standing on the sidelines, he prefers being on the field, fighting alongside his teammates in this battle.
The first half of the first quarter has been dull, repeatedly sluggish due to a slow start unable to enter a state, placing more defensive responsibility on the teammates; at critical moments, Chris Jones still timely raised his intensity, standing at the end zone frontier, with nerves and muscles taut to the extreme.
Instantly, Chris Jones burst forth with astonishing energy, powerfully breaking the equilibrium, with both arms pushing against the shoulders of the opposing offensive line player, swiftly stepping past him, and taking small, quick steps to pounce towards the handsome, slender figure in the pocket.
Sack!
Last time, aiming at the running back; this time, aiming at the quarterback, Chris Jones mobilized all energy within his body like a tiger descending the mountain.
Garoppolo: Hu.
A shock.
Those eyes, hungry, ferocious, bloodthirsty, stared at him intensely, causing his heart to constrict sharply.
No panic. No panic, no panic.
Now, precisely the opportunity to prove himself, not just defeating Li Wei, but also shutting the mouths of all opponents quietly.
Garoppolo strained to suppress his own panic, tightly controlled the football with fingers squeezing again.
However, this isn’t easy because over half of Garoppolo’s season passes were released within 2.5 seconds, so the opposing defense had no time to strike Garoppolo; the football had already left his control; thus whenever facing an impending hit, his heartstrings would suddenly tense.
“Alternative plan. Alternative plan!”
Garoppolo tried to hold onto his thoughts.
The truly stunning part of Shanahan as a head coach is that even in an ever-changing game, he has a second plan, a third plan.
This is not about in-the-moment coaching; it’s all pre-exercised strategy, simulated and strategized, backup plans.
In actual games, if Garoppolo’s first passing target is covered, then he still has a second passing target. If not feasible, he has a third one.
Typically, this process is left to the quarterback, so quarterbacks have a skill called “read defense ability,” meaning finding a passing target using footwork when the first target doesn’t have opportunity; of course, the receivers’ running routes are surely arranged, but specifics will change based on actual game, with quarterbacks often possessing the decision power.
However, Shanahan arranged everything in advance, meaning Garoppolo doesn’t need to read defense again, skipping observation, adjustment, and finding breathing space processes, directly passing towards the preset second target; in every pass strategy set, Shanahan pre-assumes second and even third passing targets to ensure San Francisco 49ers have selected an offensive tactic handling multiple games’ situations.
The benefit lies in not relying on quarterback’s in-game response; all through practice evolved as routines, compressing quarterback’s release time, reducing the danger of encountering sacks.
The downside, on another hand, is quarterbacks become tools without independent thinking ability. Once the coaching staff’s prearranged targets fall into difficulty, it’s stalemate.
But Shanahan trusts his “calculation ability,” through pre-game calculations and strategy-arrangement, ensuring infallibly successful pass connections.
Throughout the season’s progress, Shanahan proved his strategy’s correctness.
Now, it’s the same.
Panic is panic, Garoppolo’s brain can’t calmly think—even though he’s trying, but it’s okay because all Garoppolo needs is following plan seeking the second pass target.
No need to think, as tactical routes deeply imprinted in the body through countless practices, muscle memory can complete reflex.
No Kittel, then it’s Kendrick Bourne—
The team’s third wide receiver.
Bourne is indeed that Bourne from “The Bourne Identity,” so within the team he’s nicknamed as the assassin: not the first wide receiver, but frequently acts as a surprise player.
Clearly, in the swift-changing game, San Francisco 49ers’ pass targets have multiple choices, Kansas Stadium lacking coordination, they struggle predicting Garoppolo’s second pass target actually being Bourne.
Found!
No need for thought nor observation, Garoppolo at himself left oblique front direction six yards away’s location, within offensive line and defensive line entangled area oblique behind, there’s no doubt found Bourne.
Everything, as planned, as tactical manual, identical presenting within the game.
Bourne quietly, like an assassin, stealthily cut inward laterally, appearing within linebacker and safety’s gap, a turn, end zone behind afar.
And without defenders one-on-one tight defense, though three yards away scattered red figures, Bourne indeed possesses a gap around.
As Shanahan expected, indeed without fail.
No hesitation, no delay, Garoppolo abiding his body’s instinct, immediately raising right hand, attempting a pass.
However!
Just as the football was about to depart hand control, Garoppolo saw Chris Jones decisively rising as a black bear without time for stepping to impact, snarling loudly, face behind helmet twisted, raising hands high in blocking stance, standing front—
That imposing presence, comparable to “The Lord of the Rings” facing the dragon’s Gandalf.