Running back or quarterback, their outstanding performances are always indebted to a stellar offensive line.
In a football game, the offensive line is responsible for protection and for clearing the path. Their blocking shields intercept the enemy’s first wave of assault, thereby creating opportunities for the running back and quarterback.
Thus, when evaluating the performance of running backs and quarterbacks, one can never ignore the role of the offensive line:
If there is a top-tier offensive line, a running back or quarterback scoring 60 points turning in an 80-point performance is not unexpected. Their evaluation requires discounting.
Conversely, if they face a badly perforated offensive line, and a 60-point running back or quarterback turns in an 80-point performance, it’s considered a miracle. That means they are carrying the entire offensive group forward.
The Crimson Tide Storm has a decent offensive line; although not top-tier, it’s among the first tier in the NCAA, which is why their running back frequently gains ground.
At that moment, it was the same.
Beteman set the tactics: the running back was to break through the middle, that is, to advance from the heart of the defensive group’s territory. Relying solely on the running back’s physical collision was an impossible mission as he would quickly get stuck in a melee; the running back needed the offensive line to clear the way and provide cover.
The Crimson Tide Storm’s offensive line did just that —
Whoosh.
The five offensive linemen, like pushing open a thousand-pound gate, split to the left and right, forcibly pushing back the opposing defensive line.
Then, a fine, straight path appeared before Li Wei.
Li Wei, feet pushing off, burst forth in an instant, dashing out rapidly, crossing the scrimmage line in just two or three steps.
Whoosh!
A step forward, sideways charge, embodying the mode of a bulldozer forcefully advancing.
In a football game, the middle path is often the area heavily packed with troops. If a running back chooses to advance through the middle, it’s about forcefully pushing through using strength and body. Though clumsy, it could lead to surprising effects—
Especially when advancing one or two yards, jokingly referred to as "plowing one yard," like a pig foraging through cabbages.
Li Wei wasn’t a power-type running back; his routes typically focused more on flanking or even the sidelines, using his vision and explosive power to find breakthroughs. But for this reason, this play was about bucking the stereotypical expectation and seeking a breakthrough in the middle.
From the start, the goal was clear—
Don’t be greedy. Just two yards was sufficient, just to secure the first down, then they could continue their strategy, steadily and systematically proceeding.
Feet on the ground.
Thus, Li Wei was prepared.
He knew overpowering strength wasn’t his forte, so from the start, he bent over, tucked in his shoulders, adopting a defensive posture to withstand the impact, facing the difficulty head-on, pushing past the scrimmage line and continuing forward.
One yard.
Two yards.
That is, a swift glance; positions of the crimson shadows entered his view, faces unclear but still able to depict the moving trends of the red halos, Li Wei’s brain quickly kicked into gear, seizing the spatial aspect—
To the right side horizontally, Foster was approaching.
To the frontal left diagonally, another lineman rapidly returning starts a fast cross-cut.
To the rear right diagonally, an unclear defensive lineman was turning around.
To the rear left side, the lineman he had just knocked open was attempting to pull at Li Wei, risking the penalty of holding to prevent Li Wei from getting away easily.
Directly in front, two safeties were approaching, with Strong Safety Harrison leading.
Behind, out of sight yet still sensible, a wave of heat and pressure crashed against his back like a massive wave, skin burning.
Surrounded by adversaries, ambushed from all sides.
But it was not unexpected, this is what one encounters when advancing through the middle.
So, what would NFL legend running back, Adrian Peterson, do at this time?
Three weeks of celebrity template training experience, making Li Wei exceptionally calm, judgment and choice made in a flash—
Since the first attack was already secured, why not let them play around a bit, right?
A smile, crept up the corners of his mouth.
He could taste a hint of blood, adrenaline bursting and blossoming in his blood, the game had begun.
All of it, just a moment in his mind, he hadn’t even had time to breathe out, and Li Wei’s steps had already controlled themselves.
Forward one step, but not merely a casual step, it was to the left then circling and finally to the right, like a waltz step, maneuvering past the lineman on the rear left diagonal and then past Foster on the horizontal right, finishing at the spot right behind that earlier lineman.
A loop around.
Treat that poor lineman as a pillar, just now Li Wei was in front of the pillar, now escaping Foster’s dive, he moved behind the pillar.
It looked simple, yet complicated.
It looked flashy, yet clean.
Foster’s eyes, hidden behind his helmet, widened nearly popping out—
How... what happened?
He hadn’t anticipated Li Wei breaking through the middle, nor did he expect Li Wei’s advanced dodging skills, completely treating the two linemen as if they were playing monkey in the middle.
ESPN commentator Pash revealed the truth.
"Adrian Peterson!"