Chapter 997: 996 beating and slapping the face
“Li Wei, the lowest point of his career?”
“Four carries, nineteen yards. Li Wei’s preseason cos to an end.”
“Off-track, distracted, has Li Wei’s magic finally faded?”
“Kansas City Chiefs’ locker room issues can no longer be concealed.”
“Defending champions lose all four preseason gas, who should be held responsible?”
“Kansas City Chiefs completely lost, defending champions in trouble.”
“Can Li Wei shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Kansas City Chiefs’ rebirth?”
Criticism, criticism, and more criticism.
Overwhelming, and even intensifying, a storm is brewing across the entire league.
The focus shifts back to Li Wei.
This is the internet age—
The craze of news rarely lasts; Luck’s shocking retirent was only a hot topic for three days before people’s attention waned, waiting for the next focal point.
At this mont, Li Wei stumbled into view.
In the fourth week of the preseason, the Kansas City Chiefs went on the road to challenge the Green Bay Packers.
This ti, Li Wei finally appeared on the field, but not paired with Mahos; instead, he tead up with a backup quarterback, playing just one offensive drive.
Four carries, nineteen yards.
Strictly speaking, the performance was decent, averaging 4.75 yards per carry, well above the league average for running backs; but it was evidently unsatisfactory to the dia and fans.
Most importantly, the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Green Bay Packers.
“20:27.”
The Green Bay Packers secured victory with a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Everyone knows, preseason wins and losses shouldn’t be overly emphasized; the Kansas City Chiefs’ preseason performance was also diocre the past two seasons.
But a loss is a loss, no need to make excuses; moreover, as two-ti defending champions carrying hopes and expectations beyond compare, the situation is naturally different—
All four gas lost, how is that possible?
Real insiders can see that the Kansas City Chiefs are establishing a new tactical system, and the preseason chaos is evident.
Such a situation is, indeed, rare.
Kansas City Chiefs have climbed to the top of the Super Bowl for two consecutive years, proving the team is on the right path. Not to ntion making radical changes, team managers often prefer maintaining the status quo to continue their advantage.
This is common sense and inertia.
However, in the NFL, the hard salary cap forces team managers to adjust their layout; two-ti defending champions face even tougher challenges.
At this juncture, one can see Reed’s decisiveness and Veach’s courage.
Judging the overall situation, they realized adjustnts were imperative, after risk assessnt and strategic planning, they exhibited determination.
The most apparent was the overhaul of the entire defensive coaching team.
Indeed, the Kansas City Chiefs could drag this defensive lineup for another season or two, but until the defensive issues are resolved, the offensive pressure cannot be alleviated.
When the Mahos and Li Wei combination has beco a key focus of league analysis and deconstruction, the Kansas City Chiefs must set their sights further, staying ahead of their rivals.
Even if it ans a major team overhaul this off-season.
At least in Reed and Veach’s view, they believe they can still count on Mahos and Li Wei leading the team forward next season; hence, while the opportunity presented itself, they began revamping the defense, preparing for future challenges.
This off-season, the Kansas City Chiefs have initiated adjustnts from top to bottom.
A direct result is the adjustnt from the traditional “3-4” defense formation to a “4-3” setup during the off-season.
That ans four defensive linen paired with three linebackers.
After starters Houston and Ford left the Kansas City Chiefs, the new defensive coordinator, Steven Spagnuolo, decided to rebuild the entire defensive frontline.
Spagnuolo is also a mber of Coach Reed’s tree, who began his first professional league job as a defensive assistant coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1999, gaining prominence due to his outstanding performance with the Eagles, later serving as head coach for the St. Louis Rams for three seasons, and also held coaching roles with the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints.
Last season, Spagnuolo served as interim head coach for the New York Giants.
This off-season, the New York Giants opted for a new head coach, while Spagnuolo responded to Reed’s call, joining Kansas City.
Don’t underestimate the change in the defensive frontline; it is not just a change in defensive linen and linebackers; it requires a shift in secondary defensive strategies and tactics, essentially overturning the entire defensive playbook and starting from scratch.
Moreover, every position in the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense has seen changes, with new season starting roles open for competition, aning everyone has a chance.
As expected, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense still lacks cohesion.
Not only that, but Reed has not ignored the offensive group either because he knows the offense will beco the focal point of the entire league’s research; if the team doesn’t change, it will soon hit a wall in the new season.
Hence, the preseason chaos is evident—
Reed has been experinting with different lineups and formations.
For this reason, starting players rarely appeared, even when they did, it was to try new combinations and tactics, making it highly experintal.
As a result, the following scenario unfolded.
First ga, Cincinnati Bengals, lost.
Second ga, San Francisco 49ers, lost.
Third ga, Pittsburgh Steelers, lost.
Fourth ga, Green Bay Packers, lost.
Despite different reasons and processes, the outco was the sa, four gas lost, ending the preseason winless.
This was indeed unexpected.
The defending champions seem particularly struggling this off-season, lost and completely bereft of the magic that propelled them to the league’s summit the past two seasons.
Shock! Bewildernt! Surprise!
So, whose responsibility is it?
All team sports are alike; when a team loses, soone must shoulder the responsibility.
In football and basketball, it is typically the head coach who bears the bla, and football is no different; the head coach carries substantial responsibility and imnse pressure.
But not entirely, exceptions do occur.
Bla the quarterback, bla the defense, or bla the team’s biggest star.
“Li Wei, talent exhausted.”
“Off-the-field glamor and frenzy have ultimately led to Kansas City Chiefs’ No. 23 losing his way.”
“Busy with the fashion runway, forgetting how to carry and run, Li Wei’s new season raises concerns.”
“The next Beckham? Li Wei lost his magic amidst the glitz and glamour.”
“Li Wei: Next stop, a free-falling plunge?”
Gloating, adding insult to injury.
The dia has initiated a mocking mode; a week ago, the grievances and embarrassnt vented by Li Wei can now be settled; no reporter is holding back.
Even casual observers feel it.
They don’t understand what happened between Li Wei and the reporters, but they can sense the reporters furiously pushing their attacks to the extre—
Barrage after barrage.
Amidst a massive onslaught, it is hard to imagine how Li Wei could survive.
Then, on social dia, seasoned football reporters dropped a bombshell, without any warning, silently yet unbelievably.
Comparable to Luck’s retirent.
“Kansas City Chiefs and running back Li Wei have reached a final agreent on contract renewal.”
A slap in the face, whizzing in, catching everyone off guard.
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