Dominate the Super Bowl

A question, just how good are Zhu Zhu and Danord?

Danord, the third overall pick of the 2018 draft, unfortunately, although high expectations were placed on him, he never performed to the level expected in the professional league. However, no one can deny that being selected with the third overall pick in the draft is because of his outstanding performance in the NCAA, earning unanimous praise and affirmation.

Zhu Zhu, a second-round selection at seventy-second overall in 2017, became the first player in history to achieve five touchdowns before his twenty-first birthday, and he also became the youngest player in history to catch for over 150 yards in a single game and the first to reach 2500 receiving yards. In the 2018 season, he recorded over 1400 yards, becoming an absolute rising star in the league.

However.

Afterward, a series of not serious but incredibly troublesome injuries continued to disrupt Zhu Zhu's professional career. He never again showed the vigor of his early days in the league, and his career never again featured a thousand-yard season. Like a meteor streaking across the sky, he quickly faded from view, bouncing between three teams in three years.

Still, in the present, on the college football field, Zhu Zhu's confidence wasn't unfounded.

Looking at the historical trajectory, the USC Trojans started the season ranked twentieth nationwide and ended it ranked third, under Hayden's coaching the offensive group became one of the most efficient and outstanding in the NCAA, solidifying Hayden's position as head coach.

Now, at the season's opening game, Hayden, with a mix of hope and nervousness, watched as the Trojans' offensive group set off on their journey for the first time.

Unlike the simplicity and brutality of defensive tactics, Hayden, with a background as an offensive coordinator, demonstrated his abilities in the offensive segment. The Trojans' offensive tactics were mature and balanced.

— A balance of passing and running.

This is the perfect offensive mode that all NFL teams strive for but often fail to fully execute due to the limitations of their player's lineup. But Hayden could do it.

In the passing game, the pairing of Danord and Zhu Zhu, along with several other wide receivers and tight ends, offered a well-coordinated mix of tactics.

In the running game, Donald Jones II was a reliable player, rushing for 983 yards last season, just shy of the thousand-yard mark.

Therefore, Hayden could rely on the running attack to stabilize the situation and use the passing game to break it open, using the run to set up the pass and the pass to assist the run.

The entire offense played beautifully, in stark contrast to the Clemson Tigers where it was all the Watson show, the Trojans still emphasized team cooperation.

Saban calmly responded to his opponents, and the Crimson Tide Storm's defensive group was no pushover. They won the championship last year because they had top-tier NCAA players on all four lines of their defense, and without a doubt, Saban's defensive tactics and his ability to respond on the fly were among the very best.

Even though the Trojans continuously managed to advance by combining passing and running, the Crimson Tide Storm always reacted promptly, tackling to prevent the continuation of the Trojans' advances, avoiding missed tackles that resulted in giving up large chunks of yardage. This forced the Trojans to consistently deal with third-down situations.

At the critical moment, Zhu Zhu stepped up, making key receptions on three consecutive third downs to convert and gain first downs, slowly but firmly helping the Trojans cross midfield.

Humphrey was very, very unhappy with his performance; he was matched against Zhu Zhu and although he managed to tackle every time, preventing big losses, his continuous failure to hold his position on third down and let Zhu Zhu successfully complete receptions was unacceptable to him.

Especially since Li Wei from the offensive group had just shown off, how could the Crimson Tide Storm's defensive group, which always stood in the spotlight, allow Li Wei to hog all the glory?

Glancing to the side, he saw Zhu Zhu, that guy, twisting his hips towards the stands of the Crimson Tide Storm fans, his provocative and mocking intent completely undisguised.

Damn.

Humphrey cursed furiously.

Standing on the sidelines, Li Wei immediately noticed this scene. The Trojans' offensive group brought so much pressure, one wave after another, with such rich and multi-dimensional attacks, which indeed put the defensive group on the back foot. But it was exactly such situations that were crucial—

Although Li Wei couldn't remember the name of that number nine wide receiver, he distinctly remembered number nine's individual skills.

The coach had said that it was his ability to continue advancing after catching the ball, delivering deep strikes, that was the true lethal weapon.

Just like LeSean McCoy.

Number nine also used speed and agility to break free, often difficult to shake off after being tackled, but if he could elude the grasp, the entire field would become his playground.

During the first and second downs, it was Li Wei who had thrown off the lineman's tackle, determined to make a play and seize the opportunity for a substantial gain. Now, the Crimson Tide needed to be cautious that number nine didn't replicate the same pattern.

So far, number nine hadn't shown his speed and breakthrough ability, always being tackled soon after catching the ball. Therefore, such moments demanded even more focus, because if it were Li Wei, he would seize such gaps to make a breakaway.

Just then, Humphrey looked over, and Li Wei didn't say much, just gestured to his head with his index finger: Concentrate.

Humphrey grinned and patted his chest hard: Watch me.

Indeed.

When the game restarted, the Trojans' offensive tactics had clearly changed.

Previously, the Trojans had always focused on short passes, quick and sharp, with Danord releasing the ball at lightning speed, often in less than two seconds. Their main strategy was speed—throwing the ball before the defensive pressure mounted, and relying on the ground game to carve up the field little by little.

But now, Danord continuously backpedalled and stood in the Shotgun Formation, deploying all his offensive weapons, completely opening up the depth of the front half-field. He didn't rush to release the ball but adjusted his footwork while watching the movement, ready for a deep strike. From his stance alone, one could sense the looming danger.

Dangerous!

Up until then, everything was a set up, and now Hayden finally showed Danord's real weapon.

Humphrey wasn't dumb, to be precise, he was very smart.

At the moment of takeoff, Humphrey noticed something different about Zhu Zhu, who didn't try to shake off the defense but released his speed immediately.

Humphrey reacted swiftly, trying to block his position, but Zhu Zhu slipped away like an eel, and Humphrey closely followed Zhu Zhu's steps.

He didn't rush to accelerate, but instead used continuous impacts to disrupt Zhu Zhu's speed and balance, clenching his teeth and clinging on, while doing a Rhino watches the Moon—twisting his head to look backward, watching as he charged forward.

Thump thump thump.

Five yards.

Thump thump thump.

Ten yards.

In the blink of an eye, Humphrey and Zhu Zhu had rushed out about fifteen yards, and just as they were approaching the thirty-yard line in the middle of the field:

Here it comes!

The football, spinning at high speed like a shuttle, came piercing through the air.

Humphrey was half a step behind, so he simply used his shoulder against Zhu Zhu, taking a lateral misstep and blatantly used his back to block Zhu Zhu completely.

Stay calm.

Stay calm!

Humphrey didn't rush to jump.

Only when Zhu Zhu forcefully tried to break free and jump did Humphrey push back and fall, using his weight to disrupt Zhu Zhu's jump and trajectory.

As the football rapidly descended, Zhu Zhu, amidst the chaos and jostling, forcefully raised his hands high to welcome the reddish-brown arc into his embrace.

But just as his hands were about to touch the leather, a pair of hands, shaky yet firm, reached across and intercepted the football midway.

Zhu Zhu's mind thundered, a precise blow struck him on the head.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment—

Interception.