Dominate the Super Bowl

Chapter 49: 0.49%

Fifty-five seconds left, twenty-six yards from the end zone, second and eight.

Under such circumstances, what would one choose?

Clearly, the safest choice was to run down the clock, kick a field goal, tie the score, and then head into overtime.

If that had been the case, Saban and Sweeney would have been in perfect harmony, playing a game of give and take, comradely walking into overtime with their arms around each other’s shoulders in mutual agreement.

So, what was Saban thinking?

Li Wei, change your position.

All along, the offensive group of the Crimson Tide Storm had mostly been using the pistol formation—

The offensive line would spread out in a line, the quarterback four yards behind the center, and the running back another four yards behind the quarterback, all three players in the same vertical column; additionally, on a horizontal line relative to the offensive line, there were two wide receivers on the left and one wide receiver paired with a tight end on the right.

This tactic was greatly developed in the NCAA, mainly aimed at mobile quarterbacks.

With the overlapping positions of the quarterback and the running back offering concealment, the quarterback could observe and choose whether to pass, hand off the ball, or run it himself.

In 2005, the University of Nevada popularized this tactic, and in the 2009 season, it became the first team in history to have three players with over 1000 yards rushing in a single season, including two running backs and the quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.

The quarterbacks of the Crimson Tide Storm, Hertz and Beteman, were mobile quarterbacks, so Saban very frequently employed the pistol formation.

However, at this moment, the Crimson Tide Storm lined up in the shotgun formation—

Its basic setup was consistent with the pistol formation, with a difference in the running back’s position.

The running back was not positioned behind the quarterback but parallel to him, and spaced apart from the quarterback, which meant that the running back also acted as a potential receiver; some teams might even take it a step further, placing the running back near the line of scrimmage in line with the wide receivers and tight end.

Therefore, the answer was clear, if you regard the running back as the fifth receiving option, the tactical intent of the shotgun formation as a primarily passing setup couldn’t be more obvious.

Compared to NCAA, the use of the shotgun formation was very frequent in the pass-centric NFL, and it was one of the best formations to exploit the abilities of traditional pocket quarterbacks, fully unleashing their firepower.

Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning’s usage of the shotgun formation was simply masterful, his reading of the defensive group accurate and sharp, and his layout of the offensive running routes truly at a master’s level.

In the 2013 season with the Denver Broncos, Manning took the power of this formation to its limit, setting all-time records with 5477 passing yards and 55 touchdown passes in a single season, and leading the Denver Broncos to become the first team in history to score over 600 points in a season.

The focus returns to the Crimson Tide Storm.

From Li Wei’s position, one could tell that Saban was abandoning the pistol formation for the rare choice of the shotgun formation, a clear indicator that a pass was imminent.

A single-stroke battle.

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The Crimson Tide Storm had no plans of playing it safe, second and eight, Saban was going for broke.

The Tigers Defense Squad immediately became alert, the main feature of the shotgun formation being the five potential passing points, an inherent numerical advantage. Against the Tigers’ "4-3" scheme, since there were only three linemen, it was often difficult for the middle linebacker to be properly positioned, allowing the offense to gain a numerical advantage.

Watkins was first to sense the danger and began waving his hands frantically, signposting the entire defensive formation to spread out—

If it was the first quarter, facing the shotgun formation, a blitz on the quarterback would be the best tactic, to cut off the source directly, but with only fifty-five seconds left in the game, they only needed to intercept this one pass to turn the tide, so applying pressure from the front line wasn’t very meaningful.

Therefore, the defensive group needed to play man-to-man combined with zone defense, covering both the short and intermediate passing areas.

But.

Beteman strictly followed Saban’s instructions without hesitation or pause, emphasizing speed above all—

"Attack!"

Immediately after lining up, he announced the snap, giving the defense no time to adjust.

Then.

Li Wei could see that the first reaction of every defensive player was to take a small step back, holding their position defensively while keeping a close eye on Beteman’s passing hand.

The air, slightly condensed.

In just a brief half-second, Crimson Tide Storm took the defensive group by surprise with an unexpected offensive formation, creating a momentary mismatch.

One step forward, one sidestep.

Li Wei had already seen Beteman’s soft lob, without any space to connect, sending the football straight into his embrace.

Thwack.

His hands could feel the leather texture of the football, and with one push of his feet, his body had already burst forth.

A pass?

No, a run.

In the Shotgun Formation, 99% are passes, but there’s a 1% exception.

Saban cleverly used the mindset changes of the Tigers Defense Squad in these few rounds of offense and defense to create an opportunity, preparing a sneaky ground attack.

Saban knew that ground attacks took time, but perhaps Li Wei could bring a surprise? Even if it failed, as long as they secured the first attack, they only needed to use their last timeout and would still have three more chances to attack.

A mismatch in game strategy had created space for Li Wei, who remained highly focused.

Ahead of him, Tight End Hentges and Wide Receiver number one Foster were clearing the way for him, but their respective opponents were a lineman and a cornerback. Before cutting into the short pass zone, Li Wei still had to deal with the defensive line near the kickoff line—

Here it comes!

Lawrence, quick on the second reaction.

Offensive Tackle Cotton tried to stop Lawrence and he did, his hands on Lawrence’s shoulders, halting his steps.

But Lawrence had captured the trajectory of Beteman’s pass at the first opportunity, a thrust of his foot, a quick start, and he had completely shaken off Cotton.

Cotton, cautious of committing a penalty and wasting the carefully arranged strategy, was somewhat hesitant, and in that slight hesitation, Lawrence had already gained distance.

In terms of physical condition and reactivity, Lawrence truly excelled, deserving of his potential top draft pick status even when he was just in high school, showing enough potential and strength. He held his breath, pouncing over with the ferocity of a tiger descending the mountain.

Li Wei was extra calm.

Left pull, right lean.

A flicker, a flash, his center of gravity shifting continuously, his steps dizzyingly nimble, like a Flamenco dance, constantly unbalancing Lawrence.

But Lawrence no longer had time to hesitate, clenching his teeth, he lunged forward with heavy force, aiming to envelop Li Wei, his arms wide like a condor spreading its wings to increase his reach.

However, to Li Wei, Lawrence’s all-or-nothing attempt was in vain.

Left fake, right dodge.

His light and agile steps shifted his center of gravity again, and just as Lawrence seemed to close in, Li Wei burst forward with a rapid right side-step, elegantly and smoothly sidestepping, his upper body gliding past Lawrence’s left arm. The two had completely missed each other.

Li Wei had left Lawrence behind without a sound, the intended surefire tackle hitting nothing but air, and the flailing hands failing to control the plummeting center of gravity.

And Li Wei?

His steps as smooth as flowing clouds and water, completely under his control. Just after evading, his legs pushed off the ground, and his body was already driven forward.

Start, accelerate—

Sprint.

Lawrence was just like that, desolately left behind.