Chapter 89 088 Head-to-head confrontation
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What is the core strategy of the Louisiana State University Tigers' ground defense against Li Wei?
Speed.
Because they knew Li Wei excelled in speed and burst, but his weakness was in confrontations and strength, they adopted a double-linebacker man-marking tactic, with Riley and Beckwith providing double insurance, disrupting Li Wei's acceleration front and back, ultimately outnumbering him and piling up like sandbags to complete the stack.
This was also the conclusion they drew from all the games of the Crimson Tide Storm thus far.
It must be said, they conducted an all-around analysis of Li Wei and came up with targeted tactics, even considering the offensive line and tight end's blocking assignments and so on, going all in to cut off this point.
Indeed, whether it was the Peterson training template or the McCoy training template, Li Wei's acceleration and speed truly became key to changing the game; but don't forget, when Burns first took notice of Li Wei, there was another key talent he saw:
Change of direction.
Now, Li Wei was ready to enter "Super Saiyan" mode and take it on head-first.
"Attack!"
Hertz's kickoff voice exploded in his ear, and Li Wei instantly accelerated, pausing slightly past Hertz before successfully completing the reception.
Saban, faced with the dilemma of Third Gear and six yards, still chose a ground attack, still trusted Li Wei, placing this heavy burden squarely on Li Wei's shoulders—
After all, the score was still "0:0"; the Crimson Tide Storm might be in a sorry state, but they weren't behind, they still had capital, and they should be planning for what came next.
Li Wei held the ball but did not immediately accelerate.
If he sought speed blindly, given that Riley had already completely locked on to Li Wei, it would still be difficult for Li Wei to break away; it would be better to create space by pulling back.
Not accelerating immediately was not about standing there like an idiot, but about taking continuous small, quick steps to adjust the center of gravity while waiting for an opportunity to move laterally and pull apart the defense.
Because Li Wei knew that once he created space, Beckwith and Adams would follow; they knew the Edgerunner's breakthrough ability on the sidelines. Three players, three barriers, were like the ancient tomb channels from an Indiana Jones adventure, with layers of mechanisms swiftly established.
Today, Li Wei also tried to break through from the side, but the effect was mediocre.
The core reason lay in the rapid follow-up speed of Beckwith and Adams, leaving no space for Li Wei to rely on speed for a breakthrough.
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Now, Li Wei was ready to try a different method.
If the opponent didn't leave him any space, then he would create his own.
His footsteps continuously shifted laterally behind the kickoff line, calm and collected, and after two sideways crossover steps, Riley had already taken the bait and rushed up.
—Proactive. Forceful. Aggressive.
This was also a feature of the Tigers' ground defense today, pressuring to quickly snuff out the Crimson Tide Storm's ground game, and because of previous successes, the confidence of these young men tended to become more aggressive, prouder, and what was once a meticulous and organized defense would start to show cracks.
In the first step, Riley took the bait.
He pounced towards Li Wei like a tiger descending the mountain.
The other linebacker, Beckwith, subtly sensed something was amiss but couldn't immediately put his finger on it. He was half a beat late and also subconsciously followed.
However, as soon as Beckwith took a step forward, he saw Li Wei shake off Riley and continue to advance. The layered defense of Riley and Beckwith became disjointed due to Riley's aggressiveness and Beckwith's hesitation, creating three or four steps' worth of space to the left and right. Beckwith immediately sounded the alarm—
What's going on?
Just a second ago, Riley tried to actively tackle Li Wei, confident after multiple successful attempts that day.
The next second, Riley saw only an afterimage as Li Wei moved left and right, his nimble center of gravity stopping and turning as if in a tango dance. Riley tried to match the left and right steps but couldn't keep up, getting firmly planted in place while Li Wei broke through.
Riley's eyes bulged in disbelief, instinctively reaching out with his right hand, trying to catch and disrupt.
However.
Li Wei had anticipated this, stepping out in a small arc, dodging at the waist, swiftly passing Riley, and in an instant, he had dashed away.
Riley, grabbing at air, stood stiff as a mummy, unable to move, watching the silhouette disappear.
No matter, no matter, there was still backup insurance; after all, Li Wei's step had not yet crossed the kickoff line. If he were to be tackled here, they would still lose yards, and Li Wei's deliberate delay and sidestepping Riley was nothing more than cleverness for its own sake, which only made his run more difficult.
Riley, self-satisfied.
His thoughts were correct.
Even though Li Wei had dodged Riley, his foot had not yet crossed the kickoff line, and he could already see Beckwith and Adams coming up ahead.
Layer upon layer!
But this time, had Li Wei really just shot himself in the foot?
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No.
Of course not.
Li Wei had fought for three steps of space, and that was his room to start and accelerate.
His brain, completely focused, held only one thought.
Push off, Li Wei, push off. Push off!
Thump, thump, with each push off the ground, he keenly felt the release of power, the drive between the ground and the soles of his feet propelling his body amidst the explosive energy rippling through his muscles.
One step!
Two steps!
Three steps!
And then—
Boom.
Li Wei didn't dodge; he charged straight into Beckwith's embrace, a clash of force against force, a ripple effect from the instantaneous release of energy.
Beckwith: Hmph.
Li Wei: Ah!
One was active and the other passive, Li Wei reversed the situation, letting out his power in a burst that kept burning, and from deep within his Dantian, energy erupted.
"Aaaaah!"
One step, and another.
Li Wei harshly pushed Beckwith right out of the way.
Beckwith only felt as if a bullet train crushed his chest, losing his balance completely, and without even the chance to resist, he was already sent flying with a muffled grunt.
Ripping through like a hot knife through butter!
Beckwith could hardly believe his own eyes, who said Li Wei's strength was a weak point? Damn!
And Li Wei?
Still vigilant.
With a bump and a shove, he flopped Beckwith, the world in front brightened, but Li Wei didn't let his guard down because he knew it wasn't over yet.
As expected, with a lunge and a wrap, Adams precisely grasped Li Wei's waist—
Got him!
Adams, truly the star player of Louisiana State University, the core of the defensive group, had noticed the space for acceleration created by Li Wei straight away, his step was clearly faster than Beckwith's, so by the time Beckwith was flipped, Adams had already rushed over.
Taking advantage of Li Wei's unstable center of gravity, Adams had already completed the tackle.
Fast. Accurate. Ruthless.
Tackle, hitting its mark.
But would Li Wei just surrender meekly?
Of course not.
Li Wei was mentally prepared as well, having just flipped Beckwith when he already felt the force bearing down on him, and not only did he not shrink back, he met it head-on.
After all, this wasn't the first time in this game a situation like this had occurred, and if Li Wei hadn't learned his lesson, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.
Push off, collision, head-on charge.
Bang!
Be it Li Wei or Adams, both exerting force, the clash of power made both wobble, chests heaving, blood boiling.
But this time, Li Wei, who had been advancing and exerting and pushing, held a slight edge.
The strength, originating from the Dantian, flowing into the legs, driving against the ground—
Release the power.
Ah! Aaah!