Capítulo 20: 020 Sharpening knives vigorously
The so-called punt is where the special duty group's punter of the offensive team directly kicks the football out, forcefully kicking the ball; while the special duty group of the defensive team prepares to catch the ball on the other half of the field.
After the defensive player catches the football, they can continue to advance forward, which is called a "return."
The offensive special duty group must stop this receiver because the position where the receiver's knee touches the ground will then be the starting point for the opponent's offensive group when they take the field.
The most spectacular punt can pin the opponent's starting point at the one-yard line of the opposite end zone.
The worst punt allows the opponent's returner to traverse the entire field unimpeded and reach their own end zone to score a touchdown, which is called a "return touchdown."
Of course, there are other scenarios for punting.
When the punter kicks off powerfully, either kicking the ball directly out of bounds, or flying out of the back of the opposite end zone, or falling inside the opposite end zone, the result is the same:
The opponent's offensive group will automatically start their offense from their own twenty-five-yard line, which is called the "standard offensive starting position."
In the past, the standard offensive starting position was at one's own twenty-yard line, but starting from 2016, the league changed the rules, moving it forward five yards to the twenty-five-yard line, so the NCAA also adjusted the rules accordingly.
Just now,
The main team failed on all three offensive attempts, ending up near their own thirty-five-yard line, and in order to avoid a failed fourth-down attempt giving the substitute team a closer offensive position to their own end zone, they could only choose to punt.
The main team's football was directly kicked out of the back of the end zone, which means that the substitute team will start from their own twenty-five-yard line.
Roar!
Roar, roar, roar!
Though the game had just started, Bryant Denny Stadium was already able to deeply feel the surge of the crowd, with fans cheering not only for the main team but also for the substitute team—
Who knows? Perhaps when the new season starts in September, someone from the substitute team might make it into the main lineup?
Li Wei took the field.
It was different.
It was truly different.
Li Wei, who had always been accustomed to fighting alone, could immediately sense the imposing presence of the field, a starkly different experience.
This was "merely" the power of seventy thousand people; one could only imagine what a grand and imposing sight it would be if a stadium filled with a hundred thousand was fully seated?
Just thinking about it made his blood boil with excitement.
Moving onto the field with quick short steps, Li Wei raised his head and puffed out his chest, relishing the moment, enjoying the atmosphere and the sensation.
Li Wei thought, what would it feel like if the whole stadium cheered just for him?
He was ready to find out.
The substitute team's quarterback, Cooper Bateman, whose last name sounded like Batman and whose stature also resembled Batman's—224 pounds (102 kilograms), slightly cumbersome for a quarterback—thus his teammates all called him Batman.
Unfortunately, Bateman's professional prospects were unclear.
He was a junior now, and would be a senior come September, yet he had always been a substitute, losing out to a freshman, Hertz, in competition at the main quarterback spot during spring training camp, his hopes for going professional diminishing bit by bit.
But Bateman was an honest man, still diligently training, ultimately defeating other opponents to become the team's second quarterback.
"I think we should start with a ground attack,"
Bateman said.
Kneeling on one knee, Bateman was surrounded by his teammates from the substitute team. This honest man appeared somewhat unconfident, humble and straightforward. Instead of commanding, he asked for his teammates' opinions, his eyes flickering with mixed emotions, both nervous and excited.
Then, he looked toward Li Wei—
Because Li Wei was a running back and because of the hardships they endured together during the spring training camp, they had seen not only Li Wei's talent and effort but also his intelligence.
From knowing nothing about football to now, Li Wei had become the team's official strategist. If anyone was still confused after a tactical training session, they would seek out Li Wei, who could undoubtedly clarify doubts and enlighten them, a fact that had become a little-known secret within the team.
Beteman himself had sought out Li Wei several times, and Li Wei never kept anything hidden; he didn't speak of "instructing" but always framed their interactions as exchanges and discussions.
It wasn't just Beteman; the main players in the defensive group were also keeping an eye on Li Wei.
He raised his head, looked over the crowd, and then he could see Allen and Foster.
Allen was jumping in place lightly, rubbing his hands together eagerly, his eyes sparkling with excitement, as if he could hardly wait.
Li Wei knew Allen really was eager—
As a defensive end, Allen's job was to capture running backs and quarterbacks, and capturing was one of the most dominating indicators for the defensive group, with the defensive ends often being the capture kings within the team.
From the day Li Wei joined Crimson Tide Storm, Allen had been waiting for this practice game, not for revenge, but to compete openly and directly with Li Wei during an official game, this time he would not underestimate his opponent.
Noticing Li Wei's gaze, Allen flashed a brilliant smile, slowly drew his thumb across his throat while continuously jumping like a flea, and then shouted to Li Wei.
"So, ready to wrestle hard?"
Li Wei grinned broadly, his face innocently, "Not ready yet."
"Haha." Allen and the others around him burst into laughter.
Allen, indeed, needed to be cautious, but Li Wei's attention was all on another person—
Number ten.
To be precise, Reuben Foster.
Li Wei didn't remember his name, but he remembered that this ordinary number ten was the linebacker from the tryouts, who initially didn't seem special, but within just three weeks of training, Li Wei realized Foster's excellence.
Low-key. Focused. Serious. Steady.
Although Foster was usually silent, he was also one of the captains of the defensive group, and moreover, the linebacker position was akin to the quarterback for the defensive group.
In terms of positions, linebacker and quarterback were mirror positions, the linebacker was also a position in the defensive group with a built-in headset inside the helmet, responsible for communicating with the defensive coordinator, observing the offensive group's layout and making judgments, and if necessary, he might adjust the defensive tactics—
Though not frequently. After all, the initiative was held by the offensive group, and the defensive group was mostly reactive.
Foster's strength lay in his calmness, and he had his own ideas for tactical layouts.
Furthermore, the linebacker was the real natural enemy of the running back.
The defensive setup for Crimson Tide Storm was a "3-4," which meant a setup of four linebackers, and Saban had his strengths in coaching linebackers.
At this moment, Foster wasn't particularly focusing on Li Wei, but Li Wei could feel the attention from the number ten, a hint of murderous intent locking onto him.
The fighting spirit and combativeness were already aflame.
Apparently, not just Allen, Foster had also quietly targeted Li Wei.
Turning his gaze away, Li Wei looked towards Beteman, whose eyes betrayed a touch of uncertainty, thinking he couldn't really blame Allen and Foster for being cautious, as they were all from the same team, all too familiar with each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Besides, they had been sharpening their knives eagerly for three full weeks.
It was time.
Li Wei took a deep breath, looking at Beteman.
"Okay."
Without hesitation, he agreed bravely to face the challenge—
Ready to tackle it head-on!
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