Luke knew he was rolling the dice, playing it fast and loose.
In football, a long pass is a game-changer, a clutch move that can flip the script when it counts, but no one kicks off the game with one. It's like in basketball, no one wants to chuck it from half-court right off the bat 'cause the risk is sky-high. Miss it, and you hand the upper hand to the other team. A three-pointer? That's a big deal; a half-court shot? That's a Hail Mary.
More importantly, the receiver and the defensive line start from the same spot, which means the longer the pass, the farther the receiver or tight end has to haul it. They need more time to get to the catch zone, which also means the quarterback has to wait longer to throw, and the offensive line has to hold off the defense for more time.
If the defense busts through the offensive line and sacks the quarterback or messes up the pass, the play could tank before the receiver even gets close.
So yeah, a long pass is a double-edged sword, and unlike soccer or basketball, the risks and challenges of a long pass in football are way bigger.
Now, Luke was going for that long pass.
The catch? The practice squad players weren't exactly top-notch, their skills were meh, and their tactical smarts were so-so. Plus, they had zero chemistry. There's a reason they were on the practice squad. So, Luke had to roll the dice.
In this gamble, if they blew it, they'd just hand the ball back to the third team; but if they nailed it? The practice squad needed confidence, belief, unity, and team spirit. Once that long pass hit home, all of that would be within reach!
Taking a deep breath, Luke cleared his head of all the noise, staying chill, not thinking about the game outcome, not thinking about how long it had been since he last threw a pass, not thinking about any what-ifs, just zoning in on the offense. He stood tall and started scoping out the opponent's defensive setup.
For a quarterback, having a wide-angle view of the game is key. Scoping out the opponent's defensive setup, their tactics and game plan, and their on-field layout to make spot-on calls, and even tweaking his own offensive moves based on their defense, is what makes a top-tier quarterback.
Peyton Manning is the GOAT at this among active players. Before the snap, the offense has forty seconds to get ready, and Peyton often switches up the offensive tactics in the last ten seconds, either spotting a defensive weak spot and changing the play or reading the defensive setup and making tweaks. In such a short time, if the defense can't keep up, the play's likely to hit.
Luke's physical skills were a weak spot, but his tactical smarts were his ace. Standing at 6'4", he had the height advantage, and his eyes, sharp as an eagle's, scanned the opponent's defensive layout. It was clear the third team was sleeping on them, but you couldn't blame them.
Luke? A practice squad player among practice squad players? A dude who never played quarterback in college? Let alone practiced offensive tactics. Facing such an offensive mind, no matter how much they tried to stay sharp, a sense of underestimation inevitably crept in.
Luke walked behind center Tevin McDonald, his eyes still carefully scanning the opponent's defensive setup. The third team players, who had been laughing and joking, now took their spots, their smiles fading, their focus sharpening, their eyes locking onto Luke, their mocking and taunting gazes launching an invisible attack.
A voice rang out, "Kid, don't drop the ball in fear after the snap." The mocking words hadn't even been identified as to who said them before everyone burst into laughter, creating a chaotic scene, and the source of the voice was naturally drowned out.
But the practice squad surprisingly didn't clap back. The offensive line formed up, and Luke pretended to look back at Derek in a panic. Derek and Luke exchanged glances, then Derek spread his feet, placed his hands on his knees, and assumed an offensive stance. When Luke looked back again, he felt reassured.
He patted Tevin on the shoulder, "Buddy, I'm ready."
Luke stood behind Tevin, everyone was ready, waiting for the offensive command. Luke thought he would be nervous, but he wasn't nervous at all. His mind was calm, like he'd been waiting for this moment all these years, never feeling rusty. Then he shouted loudly, "Attack!"
Outta nowhere, the offensive command was given.
Tevin snapped the ball between his legs, and Luke snagged it clean, then backpedaled fast. He faked a pass, but his eyes were always on the lookout for Derek. Meanwhile, the whole offensive line started shifting left, the sound of bodies crashing together filling the air as the defensive players charged, smashing into the offensive line, which started to buckle under the pressure.
The practice squad guys were getting steamrolled by the third team's defense.
Luke stayed locked in, knowing he had to trust his line. Any hesitation could blow the whole play.
Turning around, Luke faked a handoff to Derek. Derek took on the running back's stance, hunched over, and started charging forward. Luke's right hand dipped down, hiding the ball at his waist and thigh, while he stood tall, using his height to scan for John.
The defense bought it. They didn't see Luke ditching the run so soon, nor did they expect the fake run and real pass play between Luke and Derek. More accurately, they hadn't even bothered to analyze Luke's tactics, probably thinking he had none and just relying on their defensive instincts.
So, they followed the offensive line's movement, blocking Derek's path. In their eyes, Derek was sprinting left, trying to find a gap, and the whole field started shifting left like a herd.
Luke's quick footwork shifted rapidly, looking to his right, and then he saw John tearing down the field at full speed.
In football, the forty-yard dash is the gold standard. The current league record was set by Chris Johnson in 2008, clocking in at 4.24 seconds, a record that still stood.
Now, John was like a wild stallion, sprinting so fast he seemed to morph into Chris. He was flying, but Luke saw he still hadn't hit the sweet spot for the catch.
The standoff between the lines had lasted less than three seconds. If Luke threw now, best case, it’d be an incomplete pass; worst case, a pick by the defense.
Luke needed more time. Without a second thought, he bailed from the pocket—the safe zone protected by the offensive line—risking exposing his play, and sprinted right.
Sure enough, the defense caught on. One of them charged at him like a freight train, the chaos filled with the sounds of pain and collisions.
Luke's focus was razor-sharp, his eyes glued to John's sprinting feet. His steps were steady and calm, no panic. Then, with a powerful step forward, his right arm swung in a perfect arc, and the ball whistled as it left his hand, flying in a beautiful rainbow arc.
The defender was on Luke, tackling him hard and slamming him to the ground.
Luke's whole focus was on the ball, so he wasn't ready for the hit. He went down hard, his shoulder and arm screaming in pain, but he didn't care. His eyes were locked on the ball soaring through the air.
Not just Luke, but the offensive players, the defensive players, the coaches, and everyone on the sidelines were watching the ball. No one expected the practice squad's first play to be a bomb.
The defender covering the wide receiver finally reacted, sprinting after John. But their defense was all about stopping the run, not expecting a long pass, leaving the backfield wide open. They could only watch John's back as he tore away.
John felt like he had wings. Looking up, he saw the ball flying above him, and in his peripheral vision, he saw the forty-yard line closing in. Faster, he needed to go faster. He was almost at his limit, his whole body buzzing with power, but his mind was clear, locked on the ball. He stretched out his hands, reaching with everything he had.
His outstretched hands extended his catch radius, and he saw the ball, like a feather, land perfectly in his palms. The force wasn't too strong, and it didn't jostle much. He reflexively closed his arms, securing the ball firmly and steadily, so solid, so sure.
But the play wasn't over yet. Ahead, the field was wide open. Run, John, run like your life depends on it!