Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 954 Turning stone into gold
Barry Sanders, a legend, a master, a GOAT.

Now, Levi has Sanders' training template, and he has the opportunity to continue learning from the legendary running back through the system.

This is an honor.

Some people may wonder, what is so great about Sanders?
The answer is, omnipotent.

Sanders has a very special body shape. He is only 5.7 feet (173 cm), which is extremely short among football players and has almost no vision. However, he is 200 pounds (91 kg), with a body of steel and agility.

Speed, change of direction, strength, confrontation, observation, judgment, and on-the-spot response.

omnipotent.

Previously, Levi had obtained Tomlinson's training template. The running back's versatility lies in his ability to run, catch and pass the ball, creating a whole new school. Now running backs like Tomlinson are also popular in the league. In addition to Levi, McCaffrey is also one of the best.

Sanders is slightly different. The versatility of this running back lies in that he plays the job of the running back position to the extreme.

He can break through the defense head-on like Lynch, he can dodge continuously like Peterson, and he can find gaps in dense defense like Bell.

Simply put, when people discuss how tough a running back's play was, Sanders was able to do it all, and even better.

The younger generation of running backs may have different favorite running backs, but no one is unaware of Sanders’s fame and unsurpassable reputation.

In fact, Bell's iconic "stop, look, and pass" move was learned from his idol Barry Sanders and evolved into his own trick.

Since he first came into contact with football, Levi has experienced different training templates and explored his own style in the process of learning and testing. During the offseason last year, he ushered in an improvement through the Lynch training template and the Tomlinson training template, which was tested during the season.

In the eyes of outsiders, Levi has reached his peak and he can't be any stronger.

However, Coach Burns does not think so. He believes that Levi still has potential waiting to be tapped and that he can continue to improve.

Before the offseason began, Coach Burns told Levi that he could watch Barry Sanders' game tapes when he had the chance. He believed that Levi could develop into a comprehensive running back with Tomlinson's versatility in covering different positions and Sanders' extreme performance at the running back position.

Perhaps, Levi can reach a new peak and create a new era for running backs.

Now, everything is fine.

Levi doesn't need to watch Sanders' game videos because he can truly experience all of Sanders' games through systematic template training.

If there's any reward comparable to the 75% injury risk reduction card, it would be an S-level Barry Sanders training template.

So, after the offseason began, Levi has been looking forward to returning to the training ground and following in Sanders' footsteps.

Some time ago, in between his busy work, Levi once experienced Sanders' game feeling through system template training.

Shock.

To be honest, Levi is no longer a rookie. After three seasons of practice and practice, including studying the game videos of different running backs, he has a deep understanding of the style and type of running backs and the state of running backs facing the defense. Although he may not be an expert, he has seen a lot of things. However, Levi can still feel insignificant in Sanders' training template.

Those shortcomings, those weaknesses, those flaws emerged one by one. He thought he was already at the top, but he didn't want to look up:
There are people outside.

The most obvious and direct point is Sanders' understanding of the game.

First, understanding of oneself.

A player must have a deep understanding of his own body and condition. Even the top players cannot maintain a high-frequency state throughout the game. The ups and downs of the state, the body's reaction, the distribution of physical energy, the distraction of attention, etc., may all lead to deviations in the final running effect.

It was not obvious in the early stage of Sanders' career, but it became more and more obvious in the latter half. Why did Sanders maintain his peak condition for ten years? Why did Sanders still maintain his running efficiency despite the decline of physical function and inevitable injuries?
Knowing yourself is the first step.

Second, understanding of defensive tactics.

Levi has always insisted on doing this, and even attended defensive team meetings, standing in the position of a defensive player to examine changes in offensive tactics.

The same goes for Sanders. He stays focused at all times, observing the tactical changes and dynamic developments of the defensive team and making changes at any time.

This also perfectly fits the spirit of rugby: a turn-based game.

The contest and confrontation between offense and defense are always fluid. Sanders is not a god. It is impossible for him to sweep away thousands of enemies and be unstoppable every time he runs and advances. The opposing defense can also constantly update and improve. Naturally, Sanders also keeps observing and grasping the changes in the game at all times.

People have a stereotype that running backs are reckless and muscular, and they just rush with the football; this is not the case at all. There are two different types of running backs: one who knows how to run a route and one who doesn't. There are two different types of running backs: one who knows how to read the defense and one who doesn't. When a running back starts to think, it is the true essence of the sport of football.

It's more than just a collision.

So, what does this mean?
This shows that the game cannot be judged solely by the playing time.

Before stepping onto the field, the players have already trained their bodies, understood their own tactics, and analyzed the opponent's situation. In fact, the confrontation has already begun.

When the audience sees the players performing well on the court, the sweat and effort behind the scenes far exceeds the few short seconds on the court.

Sanders has been able to stand at the top of the league's running backs for ten years, and the effort and sweat behind it is far more than what those statistics show.

There is no doubt that this is another new shock for Levi. He has entered the world of rugby for three years, but to be honest, he has only heard the name of Sanders by chance, but has never understood the significance of Sanders' existence, until now, when a door to a whole new world has been opened for Levi.

When the running backs look up to Sanders, they see not only his talent and ability, but also Sanders' understanding and interpretation of the running back position and his approach to the offensive and defensive game of football. All of this proves that there are always people who are better than you, and the running back position is far from reaching its peak.

At the same time, Sanders' existence is also a powerful counterattack against the saying that "running backs are consumables". His career is more legendary and more exciting than any other running back. He has continued to produce strong output for a long period of ten years. Even age has not been able to stop his excellent performance.

So, why have running backs gradually become expendable in real life?

(End of this chapter)