Could the Pittsburgh Steelers' medium-pass defense really be their weakness? It sounds far-fetched. The Steelers' defense is a series of interlocking layers. The seemingly loose medium-pass area is actually heavily fortified, with both safeties fully committed to defending it, rather than focusing on deeper zones.

The San Francisco 49ers' two consecutive long-yardage plays in that area are probably just a coincidence. Just as an offense can't score every time, a defense can't always stop the opponent. It just happened that the passing lanes appeared in the same place. Maybe it was, and maybe it wasn't.

What is certain, though, is that the 49ers have reached the edge of the red zone. Also certain is that they have no intention of giving the Steelers time to breathe or think. Led by Lu Ke, they quickly lined up and got ready for another offensive play.

The Steelers' defensive leader, James Harrison, stood up straight and quickly signaled to his teammates. He repeatedly chanted the code, "Code 15, Code 15, Code 15..." to ensure every defensive player received the message.

Code 15. The explanation is simple: it's a quarterback blitz. The defensive formation stays the same to prevent the offense from catching on, but the players' assignments after the snap are completely different. The two cornerbacks and two safeties switch to man-to-man coverage, following their assigned receivers. The two inside linebackers work together: one is responsible for covering the running back, no matter if it's a run or a pass, while the other joins the blitz. For the five defenders covering the receivers, their goal is to simply not make a mistake, because the full weight of the defense is now on the front line.

With three defensive tackles, two outside linebackers, and one inside linebacker, they create a defensive mismatch, pitting six players against the offense's five linemen. This gives them an immediate numerical advantage, allowing them to tear through the pocket like thunder and sack the quarterback. It's an all-out assault, with every ounce of defensive power focused on this play.

Facing the opponent's momentum, the Steelers' defense changed from passive to aggressive, showing their true power with speed and precision. The goal this time wasn't to pressure Lu Ke but to sack him, killing the drive at its source before he could even throw the ball. This would not only stop the 49ers from getting closer to the red zone but also deliver a crushing blow to their rising confidence.

Harrison was the first to sense the shift in the game's momentum and made the necessary adjustments. The Steelers' defense isn't just strong this season; their entire legacy is built on defense, with a long and rich history that makes them difficult to beat. As the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, Harrison's stats this season might not be as hot, but he still has nine sacks and 51 tackles, making him one of the most powerful pass rushers in the league. His aggressive and ferocious defensive style also makes him one of the best at forcing fumbles. Any offense that underestimates Harrison will pay the price.

Now, Harrison was in full focus mode. He slowly lowered his center of gravity, his muscles taut, like a tiger ready to pounce. His eyes flashed with a fierce, murderous intent.

"Hike!"

Amidst a series of confusing snap counts, Harrison remained focused. He honed in on the real command and instantly burst forward. The offense only had five linemen, while the defense had committed six players, including the incredibly strong, top-tier Casey Hampton. The Steelers easily had the upper hand.

Hampton occupied Jonathan Goodwin and Mike Lupati with a two-on-one block. The two defensive ends and the inside linebacker each took on one of the other three offensive linemen. In the blink of an eye, the two outside linebackers, Harrison and Woodley, broke free. They bypassed the offensive line, one from the left and one from the right, charging at the quarterback with the force of thunder.

With no resistance, thanks to the defensive mismatch and numerical advantage, Harrison and Woodley simply made a small turn and saw Lu Ke completely exposed in the pocket. In less than a second, almost at the same time as the snap, the two linebackers had already passed the offensive line. Their ferocious charge tore through the pocket as if it were made of paper. Like an innocent little deer, Lu Ke stood there, ready to be taken down.

At that moment, Lu Ke hadn't even had time to sense the danger. He was still looking for a receiver. For the two outside linebackers, they had the upper hand. A taste of blood filled their mouths as they violently and brutally charged at their prey. The thrill of the kill made every cell in their bodies scream.

Suddenly, Harrison's eyes narrowed. Lu Ke was starting to move. The little deer was trying to escape, but his clumsy steps only made the game more exciting. How could hunting a dead object be as fun as a live one? Subconsciously, Harrison licked his lips.

Almost the moment the ball was snapped, Lu Ke knew something was wrong. The Steelers' defensive front came at him like a tidal wave. He saw two white figures on either side of the pocket, tearing toward him. At this point, he hadn't even had time to turn around, let alone hold the ball and look for a target. His left side hadn't become a blind spot, so he could clearly see them. Immediately, Lu Ke realized he had fallen into the Steelers' blitz trap. They had used a numerical advantage to force their way through the pocket.

A smart quarterback would either throw the ball on the ground or intentionally throw it out of bounds in the direction of a receiver to avoid a sack and a loss of yards. This also meant that the defense's secondary coverage was relatively weak, and even with man-to-man coverage, they could use a matchup advantage to complete a catch.

It was a desperate situation, but also an opportunity. If he were a mobile quarterback, he would run out of the pocket, risking a tackle, and try to complete a pass. He would be seeking fortune in danger and could create an unexpected result. The only problem was that his passing accuracy might not be reliable.

Lu Ke wasn't a mobile quarterback, but he wasn't going to surrender. He took a quick step back and shouted, "Marcus!" trying to get Marcus to block Harrison. He couldn't control whether Marcus would understand.

In the pocket, Lu Ke's feet didn't hesitate. He continued to step back, pretending to look for a passing target, but his peripheral vision kept the two outside linebackers in sight. In a flash, he made a decision, shouting "Absolute footwork!" in his mind.

First Second. Lu Ke's feet began to move sideways to the right, following closely behind Marcus. Sure enough, after getting the hint, Marcus immediately understood what Lu Ke meant. He noticed Harrison rushing from the right and moved to block him.

But neither Marcus nor Harrison expected that Lu Ke would also move to that side. Harrison collided with Marcus, and his momentum came to a sudden halt. He watched as Lu Ke nimbly moved sideways from behind Marcus. His light, skillful footwork was like a ballerina dancing gracefully on the edge of a cliff. Harrison used the impact to brake hard, then pushed Marcus away. Using the rebound, he took a large step back, changed his center of gravity, and lunged at Lu Ke.

Second Second. Lu Ke had completely left the protection of the pocket, exposing himself to the linebackers' and cornerbacks' view. But he didn't have time to worry about that. He lifted his chin, trying to find a target. Everything was happening too fast. The opponent broke through the pocket too quickly, and he left the pocket too quickly. The four players on the field were still running their pre-planned routes, and they had just realized the chaos. As they were trying to readjust, their receiving positions were terrible.

"Damn it," Lu Ke cursed under his breath. Then he saw Harrison closing in. Harrison was clearly prepared. With an unsteady center of gravity, he didn't lunge recklessly. Instead, he quickly adjusted his position with small, shuffling steps. He spread his arms like a hawk catching a chicken, circling Lu Ke. As soon as he found his rhythm, he lunged forward.

Lu Ke, however, didn't panic. He took a deep breath, and his feet paused for a moment. Just as Harrison was about to touch him, he lightly pushed off to the left. The light footwork perfectly captured the elegance and subtlety of a dance. He dodged Harrison, and the next moment, with a quick push off his toes, he stepped forward to the left like a nimble cheetah, completely shaking off Harrison.

Third Second!

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