American winner takes all

Chapter 7 Tactics
Adam was right before, Coach Thomas did have the intention of letting Ethan replace the injured receiver.

To be precise, as one of the alternatives, another option is to start the Italian who joined the team at the same time as Ethan.

Next week is the start of the penultimate round of the South Coast League.

The Nan'an League is an urban high school sports league in Los Angeles, sponsored by the Los Angeles City Department of Education. It covers seven high schools in Los Angeles and competes in high school-level leagues in multiple sports including football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball.

In terms of football, a double round-robin system is adopted, with a total of 42 games in one school year. The top three high schools advance to the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) Southern Section playoffs.

The opponent is the Eagles of Hawthorne High School. This team has been lingering in the last place all year round. This year, it has suddenly emerged and is in great form. It is currently on the same points as the undermanned Norman team. This game will be the test of what the Norman team can do. Whether to enter the playoffs is a life and death battle.

On the third day of training after joining the team, Ethan was able to become a member of the offensive team as a wide receiver.

Opposite Ethan is the corner of the defensive team, responsible for guarding the wide receivers during the game.He is an 11th grade senior, and he greeted Ethan warmly when he saw him.

"I saw your last catch, and it left a deep impression on me." He patted Ethan's chest. His nickname in the team was "Mountain Mountain." His voice was rich, and his personality was exactly the same as the nickname. He was calm. Tenacity.

That unexpected catch on the sideline made Ethan famous within the team. Although he was only a junior player, some people were very optimistic about Ethan's potential.

"Shut your mouths. It's training time now. You need to focus. You are no longer facing your alumni, but your enemies. Do you understand? Give me 120% of your strength." Thomas scolded.

Standing on the outside of the service line, Ethan saw the center delivering the ball from his crotch to quarterback Adam. At the same time, Ethan had already begun to rush forward.

Move forward, this is the only command Ethan got before training.

Go deep into the defense, take away corners, and create space for teammates.

As for whether to move horizontally or advance vertically, Ethan did not receive strict requirements, and he was even excluded from the tactical system.

"Since you still don't understand tactics, why don't you try to use your imagination." Coach Thomas told Ethan.

So Ethan chose to change directions continuously. "Mountain" Monte was a big man and had an advantage in body, but he was inferior to Ethan in terms of physical flexibility. Sure enough, Ethan found an opportunity. After changing directions quickly in succession, he , he and Montella were separated.

Standing in the pocket, Adam found a gap next to Ethan at the far end. He chose to use a very classic seven-step retreat. Just before he was about to be sacked by the linebacker, he threw towards Ethan [-] yards away. A powerful pass was made.

The high-speed rotating football drew an arc in the air, and Ethan had already formed a prediction of the ball's landing point, but in this short gap, Monte had already caught up with him, turned around and leaned on Ethan, forcing the squeeze Ethan's position was opened.

The football hit the ground and rolled to the far end.

The failure of the pass also means the end of this offense.

Rugby is actually a turn-based game. If the offensive team fails to attack four times in total, it will hand over the offensive power to the opponent. If the offensive team advances more than ten yards in total, it will get four new offensive opportunities. This cycle repeats until a touchdown.

"The intention of passing the ball is too obvious. Believe me, the opponent you are facing will be faster. You will never get the ball like this. You have to be ahead of schedule." Monte pulled Ethan up. And tell him the key points directly.

In the second attack, Ethan used the same tactics as before, once again using flexibility to create a gap.

This time quarterback Adam also chose a long pass again, but the target of the pass was not Ethan, but another receiver on the other side - Flea.

His body was not dominant, but his speed was extremely fast. After receiving the ball, he quickly turned around. After running for 20 yards, he was controlled by the outfield and corner players who were double-teamed.

At this time, it was only 20 yards away from the formation, and the offensive effect was immediate.

Within an hour, the whole team conducted offensive and defensive drills continuously.The intensity of this exercise has exceeded that of formal games. In formal games, the offensive team and the defensive team often play alternately, allowing sufficient rest time.

At this time, everyone, including Ethan, was sweating profusely, and the scorching sun of early summer was beginning to show its signs.

Flea's disadvantages are also beginning to show. He is full of explosive power, but lacks endurance.But Ethan can still run.

Relying on his physical advantage, Ethan's number of successful catches increased, and he completed four touchdowns. He also gradually began to cooperate more tacitly with Adam. Often, Adam would pass the ball the moment Ethan started.

One of the most critical times, Ethan learned how to get rid of a flea. Under the triangle surrounded by free defenders and strong defenders, he suddenly stopped and turned around, making a move similar to that of a football. Using the "Marseille slalom" escape gesture, he easily broke out of the three-man blockage and successfully completed the touchdown.

In football, there is a more vivid naming method called "Houdini Escape".

Houdine is a famous master of escape magic. He often locks himself and throws himself into various closed environments, and escapes repeatedly.

And "Houdini Escape" is often used to refer to those wonderful actions to escape from desperate situations.

Ethan completely ignited everyone present.

Adam couldn't help but applaud, and someone put his fingers into his mouth and blew a rapid whistle.Coach Thomas nodded frequently as he watched.In the remaining hour, the two safeties, the anchors at the defensive end, also focused more on Ethan's side, which was completely different from the beginning.

The respect of your opponent is often the greatest respect.

And with Ethan's restraint, Flea also got more room to play.

Ethan and Flea, this pair of "double ghosts hitting the door" offensive combination are also beginning to take shape.

In the last attack, Ethan and Flea ran across each other, causing the defensive players at the deep end to meet directly, causing chaos. Adam saw this and threw the ball, and Ethan easily caught it and came to the formation at a jogging speed. district.

The defensive team in his own team is no longer enough.

When Coach Thomas blew the whistle, Flea ran directly over and put his arm around Ethan's shoulders.

"I like you so much, brother! I have played with many wide receivers, and you are the one I feel the best about!" Flea took off his helmet, and he was a young man with a round face.

"We will be the best partners."

Adam also came over and couldn't help but sigh: "You are growing up so fast."

Then he added: "How about we make the last cross-running tactic a fixed tactic and name it scissors. When I make this gesture..." Adam made a "V" gesture.

"That means we're going to score a touchdown!" Flea threw his helmet high.

Compared with other sports, rugby has very obvious fixed tactics, which are like martial arts moves.

But Ethan is still at the stage where he punches his old master to death.

And his disadvantages were clearly reflected in the subsequent post-practice review session.

Ethan followed everyone to the locker room, and Thomas began to discuss tactics with everyone.

"Just now, the 78shouttosser tactical TE was obviously running slowly, causing the RB to almost be sacked..."

Listening to Coach Thomas's analysis, Ethan felt like he was listening to a book from heaven.

The other team members were listening carefully, but Adam took out a small notebook and started taking notes on the spot.

After a while, during the free discussion period, Adam stood up and announced the new tactical command, and said that in this tactic, other positions should be used as cover to create space for the two receivers.

Ethan felt that almost everyone's eyes were focused on him.

The team has tactics with itself as the core, which means that it has completely established itself as the main force.

The expression on the face of the Italian in the corner, who was recruited at the same time as Ethan, became a little unsightly.

He has the same position as Ethan, and now it seems... he will either switch to another position, or be Ethan's substitute.

After the tactical review, Thomas left Ethan alone again.

"Tell me, you've played rugby, right? You definitely don't look like a newbie." Thomas looked at Ethan again.

Ethan shook his head again.

"Then you must have played other sports." Coach Thomas crossed his arms.

"Does playing arcade games count as exercise?" Ethan smiled.

"You must be kidding." Thomas shook his head repeatedly and laughed.

"Coach, I feel that I now have the ability to integrate into the tactical system..."

"No, no, no, you don't need any tactics, that will limit you." Coach Thomas repeated again.

Thomas pointed at his head, twirling his fingertips like a smart Ikkyu brother.This cartoon was broadcast on CBS in 1987, and Thomas's youngest son really liked watching it.

"You have to unlock the shackles of your thinking. You will become the most unexpected trump card of the Normans. You will catch the opponent off guard and help the team win, just next week." He opened his mouth and looked at Ethan , like looking at some kind of treasure.

(End of this chapter)