"Match Tasks:
- Finish the first pass in the practice game; Task requirements: None; Task reward: Basic points +1.
- Score the first touchdown in the practice game; Task requirements: None; Task reward: Basic points +1.
- Win the practice game: Task requirements: None; Task reward: Basic points +1."
Just like Luke figured, the daily grind was all about nailing the basics, while racking up those basic points meant knocking out match tasks and special tasks. He had no clue what the special tasks were yet, but the match tasks were already proving his hunch right. This was just a practice game, and it had three basic points up for grabs. In the last ten days of training, he’d only managed to snag three basic points total.
But, getting those match tasks done wasn’t gonna be a walk in the park. Football’s a team sport, after all.
Putting the match tasks on the back burner for now, Luke checked out his character stats. After a quick look, he dumped his new basic points into short pass accuracy, bumping it up to sixty-four. His stats weren’t gonna change overnight, so he had to focus on what mattered most for a quarterback: passing accuracy.
His long pass accuracy was already over eighty, which was solid for a practice squad player or even a backup. So, after thinking it over, Luke decided to boost his short pass accuracy, the skill he needed to sharpen ASAP.
The whistle blew, and Luke glanced up to see the practice squad’s defense celebrating. The third-string offense looked bummed out, with Kevin in the middle looking especially ticked off, grinding his teeth.
Kevin seemed rusty, like he forgot how to pass. All three downs were a bust, and they couldn’t move the ball ten yards. If they tried a fourth down and still couldn’t make it, the other team would get the ball right there, just twenty yards from their end zone.
That was basically handing the other team a scoring chance. Even if they didn’t get a touchdown, they could at least nail a field goal and go up "3-0."
No way the third-string team could let that slide.
So, they decided to punt and brought out the special teams.
A punt means the offensive team’s punter kicks the ball away, while the defensive team’s special teams get ready to catch it on their side of the field. The returner can then run the ball back, called a return. The offensive team’s special teams have to stop the returner, and wherever they tackle him is where the other team’s offense starts.
The best punts pin the other team at their one-yard line, making it tough for them to move. The worst punts let the returner run wild, maybe even score a touchdown.
It’s kinda like a soccer goalie’s long clearance. Best case, the ball lands in the other team’s penalty area, stopping a counterattack. Worst case, it lands at the feet of their star player, who then dribbles back and scores.
During a punt, there’s also the standard play where the punter kicks the ball out of bounds, out of the opponent’s end zone, or into their end zone. In those cases, the other team’s offense starts from their twenty-yard line.
Kevin walked off the field looking down, and both special teams came on for the punt. This time, the third-string team didn’t mess up, giving the practice squad’s returner no shot and kicking the ball out of bounds. Then, it was Luke’s turn to hit the field.
Kevin’s grumbling could be heard from the sidelines, but Luke tuned it out. He led his teammates to their twenty-yard line, jogging. Everything felt weirdly familiar, like he was back in high school, but that was three years ago.
The nostalgia didn’t last long. Luke called his teammates over, "They’ve never taken us seriously. We’re just practice squad players, not even backups. But they forget we go through the same training, face the same challenges, and sweat and bleed just as much. What they can do, we can do too! I wanna win this practice game. Who’s with me?"
Luke was the first to stick out his right hand, then looked up at his teammates. His bold words left everyone stunned for a moment, but soon their eyes started to light up.
The practice squad was like ghosts—part of the team but never getting the props they deserved. No one saw them as essential. They were ignored, dissed, and underestimated. They couldn’t even tell their families, "I'm on the team," 'cause they’d never be on the field, the bench, or even the roster.
John was the first to slap his hand on top of Luke's. Running back Derek Bryant followed, then the third, fourth, and soon all eleven hands were stacked together.
Luke grinned wide, "Alright, guys, let's score some touchdowns!" That simple line had everyone cracking up, raising their hands high and cheering like crazy.
In a game, you’ve got the offense, defense, and special teams, each with eleven players. On offense, you usually have one quarterback, one running back, two wide receivers, one tight end, and five offensive linemen (OL). The last spot changes based on the play—maybe another wide receiver or tight end for passing, or another running back for running plays.
Among the five offensive linemen, the center is in the middle, snapping the ball to the quarterback. On either side are the left guard, right guard, left tackle, and right tackle.
Remember the 2009 movie "The Blind Side"? It’s based on a true story, and the main dude, Michael Oher, started as a left tackle. That spot’s also called the quarterback’s "blind side." For a right-handed QB, the left side is the blind spot; he can see defenders coming from the right but not the left. So, the left guard and left tackle gotta protect the QB no matter what.
Usually, the left tackle protecting a right-handed QB is the toughest guy on the offense and needs mad skills. For a left-handed QB, this job goes to the right tackle.
But for the practice squad, these positions didn’t mean much. It boiled down to: attack, protect the attack, push the attack, and score a touchdown.
Luke looked around at his teammates, ready to set up a play. Their weak spot was their lack of chemistry; he’d never worked as a QB with this offensive line, wide receivers, or tight ends. His eyes finally landed on John, his only solid option. "I bet they think our first play’s gonna be a run."
Not just the opponents, even his own teammates had that look like they didn’t trust his passing game or his sync with the receivers.
Luke didn’t bother explaining, "But we’re gonna pass, and it’s gonna be a long one." The plan was already cooking in his head. "Alright, guys, we’re shifting left. Derek, rush forward and get ready to catch. I’ll fake a handoff to you, then you bolt. John, be ready to snag it. Everyone else, act like it’s a run and clear the path for Derek. Don’t sweat about me."
A play-action pass is a classic move where the QB fakes a handoff to the running back but actually goes for a pass. The trick is to fool the defense, plus the QB’s gotta nail the throw and the receiver’s gotta catch it.
Everyone’s jaws dropped. Not only were they gonna pass, but it was gonna be a long pass and a play-action pass? That was some gutsy stuff.
Derek shrugged, "Well, we don’t have many options. Let’s roll with it!" The others nodded and laughed, "As long as your first pass doesn’t get picked off, why not?"
Each offensive series has four downs. They could use the first down to test the waters and build some chemistry. The key was that Luke’s pass shouldn’t get intercepted.
The team broke huddle, and Luke called John over, "Dude, sprint to the opponent’s thirty-yard line."
The opponent’s thirty-yard line? They were starting from their own twenty, so Luke was planning a fifty-yard bomb.
John was stunned, eyes wide as he stared at Luke. But Luke nodded, "I’m serious. Hit the forty-yard line, then run the route we practiced the most. After you break through, head right. I’ll be watching you." Luke patted John’s shoulder, "Man, I’ll get it to you. Trust me."
John shook his head slightly, then turned and jogged out.
Luke turned to Derek, "Alright, we need to nail this play-action pass. The fake handoff’s gotta be spot on. We might not win any Oscars, but let’s give it a shot. Who knows, we might have a knack for it?"
Derek, a cheerful African-American sophomore, a year younger than Luke, grinned wide, "I’ll show you some Best Actor skills."