Dominate the Super Bowl

Ron Rivera urgently needed a running back.

At the beginning of this year, during the 50th Super Bowl, the Black Panthers’ offensive group was brutally dominated by the Broncos’ defensive group, getting thrashed to the point of helplessness.

The general criticism outside was that the Black Panthers’ offensive line provided poor pocket protection, and quarterback Newton’s tactical choices at critical moments were also questionable.

But as the head coach, Rivera’s thinking was very clear; he knew that they couldn’t always rely on Newton’s legs—not only because Griffin’s predicament was a warning from the past but also because the team’s offensive strategy relied too heavily on Newton’s read option. Once it was figured out, they would be doomed.

They needed an excellent running back to share the pressure, shift the focus, and enrich the tactics.

Li Wei was just right.

The reason was very direct; those unfavorable factors on Li Wei, in Rivera’s eyes, were advantages—what being Asian, what only getting in touch with football in April, what lacking in match experience.

These factors that might affect the draft position were actually advantages that Rivera could use to convince Gettleman to pick a running back through the draft—perhaps in the sixth or seventh round, they could select a running back with an exceptionally high cost-performance ratio.

They needed to seize such an opportunity.

The only thing to consider was whether this running back truly possessed potential?

Rivera trusted Saban’s ability; what was more important was his trust in Burns’s judgment. Li Wei’s emergence and his mysterious aura were backed by the trust of these two fine judges of talent. If they didn’t believe in Li Wei’s ability, he wouldn’t have been able to become the main running back of the Crimson Tide Storm.

Immediately, Rivera felt a surge of excitement and picked up the phone.

"Connect me to the scouting office."

Meanwhile.

In the Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager’s office, David Caldwell couldn’t contain his excitement and agitation as he examined the document more closely, feeling more and more satisfied with it.

Knock knock.

Right at that moment, someone knocked on the door. Upon Caldwell’s permission, a figure pushed the door open—it was none other than the head coach, Gus Bradley.

"David?" Bradley’s expression was somewhat serious, and seeing Caldwell’s excited face upon entering, an ominous premonition arose within him.

Caldwell slid the document toward him, "What do you think about us selecting a running back next year?"

Bradley was startled, then overjoyed. Could there be such good fortune? He had been emphasizing since the year before last that they needed an excellent running back, but clearly, the team always had other positional needs that were higher priority than a running back. They picked a running back in the third round last year, but he didn’t even make it through training camp before getting cut.

Bradley was truly fed up with such situations.

Now, Caldwell was actually taking the initiative to pick a running back? And just when the new season was about to kick off?

After the surprise, Bradley became cautious, and his words were more careful, "I have no objections. Blake could indeed use some help."

The current quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars is Blake Bortles, the third overall pick in the 2014 draft. Soon to enter his third season in the Professional League, but Bortles’s performance was still unsatisfactory and showed no improvement.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were strong contenders for being second-to-last every year. With last season’s record of five wins and eleven losses, the results were truly unbearable to watch, and Bradley had been considering solutions. But it’s difficult to cook without rice, and while he wasn’t inherently downcast, he genuinely couldn’t summon a smile.

The problem with Bortles was that the passing pressure was too much. Already lacking pocket protection and receiving targets, the offensive burden fell on his shoulders every time. If the ground attack could provide some help and give the pass offense a chance to breathe, the situation might improve.

In a league where passing prevails, Bradley believes that without a running game, there’s no passing offense. Now the league, for the sake of broadcasting ratings and advertising fees, has gone mad, to the point where general managers no longer value running backs.

Coaches like him, without decision-making power, are like marionettes, endlessly clamoring for a "balanced pass-run" offense, but it has become empty talk.

Bradley had emphasized this point more than once, but now Caldwell had an air of "I’m a genius for coming up with such a brilliant idea." Bradley was beyond being able to complain.

However, Bradley wouldn’t mind if Caldwell reaped the credit, as long as Caldwell truly could bring an outstanding running back to the team.

He was really tired of being at the bottom year after year, and tired of competing for the number one draft pick year after year. He didn’t want to tank, but always ended up hopelessly in a position where he had no choice but to do so.

And he knew, in the end, he would become the scapegoat for the team’s disaster.

Damn it!

He was truly fed up.

So, if things could improve, Bradley wouldn’t mind Caldwell showing off his stupidity.

Bradley calmed down and read through the resume carefully—

It wasn’t long, even somewhat sparse.

Nevertheless, Bradley was very serious, and interest slowly thickened in his eyes:

He was curious about this running back’s game footage, just looking at the stats, he indeed seemed dominant, but he was more curious about how he dominated the games.

"How did you find him?" Bradley looked up and asked.

Caldwell revealed a smile, "It appears you haven’t read today’s newspaper. NCAA opening game, also today’s hot topic in football, this kid is the running back for Crimson Tide Storm."

Bradley’s eyes lit up, "Saban!"

Caldwell nodded, "More importantly, this is a Hua Xia native."

Bradley was stunned: So what?

Caldwell expressed regret and frustration at Bradley’s lack of comprehension, "The Hua Xia market."

Bradley: ...Can he curse?

The Jacksonville Jaguars had been performing terribly for several seasons in a row now, the team never showed improvement, the roster was a complete mess, filled with either veterans past their prime or young troublemakers. Those players who truly had ambition and aspiration did not want to stay here any longer, it was simply a disaster.

As a result, the team manager didn’t contemplate how to build a competitive roster, instead considering how to market the team, trying to get a piece of the big pie—

No wonder!

No wonder the League pushed for the expansion of the overseas market, holding regular-season games in cities like London, Munich, Mexico City, Tottenham, and the Jacksonville Jaguars were the first to respond enthusiastically, signing a series of participation contracts with the League!

Now, Caldwell had set his sights on the world’s largest market.

Bradley was so choked up he almost passed out.

But Bradley still controlled himself—

Maybe his calculations differed from Caldwell’s, but as long as the final effect was the same, there was no problem.

Bradley decided to ignore Caldwell, as long as the running back could satisfy.

"Haha, a smart move." Bradley said with a plastic smile, then quickly shifted the subject, "But if we can think of it, so can others. We need to move quickly."

Caldwell smiled mysteriously, not at all hiding his smugness, "Of course. I’ve already made the calls. Scouts nearby are on their way; we must seize the opportunity."

When Joshua Brand stood at the entrance of Bryant Denny Stadium, he looked around and let out a long sigh:

Weren’t they saying running backs didn’t get much attention? So what was with this spectacle before him?