Set - Hike, Gered [Just a Moment #1]

"Coach runs his mouth more than a squirrel looking for an acorn" is what I think. Obviously, I am not going to say that. We've only got forty seconds here. He's going to talk himself out of calling a play. I've given him more "uh-huhs" than to that boring girl at the party the other night. There, I just heard a play. I hope this is the one he wants.

"Buffalo 63, Viper 82, Eagle 1!" I shout to the rest of the defense. I'm supposed to watch this. D-Line shifts left for the inside blitz from the right middle linebacker. That's a check. The linebackers stand up and squat back down. They don't get to move much. There are four of those guys. They don't have a lot of space to move - I guess. They confirm the call. That's all I need. My cornerbacks move up for what looks like man coverage. And, Corey nods. He’s my strong safety. Everyone has heard the play and is in position. Now, all I have to do is to cover that outside deep zone. No problem.

This is it - this is my moment. It don't get much better. The white "C" is on the front of my crimson jersey. I got the coach-mic. And it's Saturday afternoon on our turf. Yep, this is it.

The sun turns me into a buttermilk biscuit inside these pads. That's how I know the weather is right. The guys do an amazing job on the grass. They must've run the sprinklers. The turf just glistens as we start this year. Everybody's here too. Mom and Dad are out there somewhere. The noise is awesome. Just great that everyone's waiting on us. They know we will be great.

My whole life has come to this moment. The practice has been hard. The years have been long. Here I stand.

"That's a false start." No, wait - the guy hasn't moved. His head keeps twitching though. That slot receiver’s coming my direction. Man, I could light him up.

Look at him. He can't decide who's going to hit him first. I hate to tell him. But, he has nothing to worry about from those linebackers. Both of them are going to sack the quarterback. We ain't even gonna worry about the ball being thrown. But - what if their QB feels the pressure? He'd throw the ball away to that slot guy.

Ah dude, I could jump that route. I'd've me an interception on the first play of the season. That'd get the NFL paying attention. Do you know? I bet I could even run it back against East Poly-Technical State. Then, I set the standard for this defense on the first play. I could show them coaches that I deserved this before now. I told them I should've been a starter last year. But, they made me sit the bench. For what?

I was the best free-safety last year. I knew the playbook better than anybody. And, I was faster than them all. This one play will show them. I'll just check off my outside guy, jump this route, and be on my way to our first touchdown of the year. Everyone'd go nuts - just for me. Yes, this is my moment.

What's that outside receiver doing? Nothing - he's just standing there. He's staring downfield. He's not even looking at the ball. Does he know he's a decoy? They gonna try to throw a short route to that slot boy. Short pass'd give that quarterback some confidence. Until I pick that ball and run it all the way back.

Think about it. I switch my role. I make the interception. That showcases a pre-snap read. My speed gets a highlight reel. And, I am on my way to a great season before the first round of the NFL. That's it. I'm gonna go get this chump. I hope he likes making Sportscenter for all the wrong reasons.

But there, I'll be. All them guys'll talk about me. They'll discuss my football IQ. They'll say how fast I am. I might even get a comparison to Woodson. I could be in the early Heisman talk. All right, slot - you are my man to a one-snap ticket to all my dreams. I'm gonna drop my assignment and drop to this slot receiver. My future awaits.

So, why does that outside receiver hang in the back of my mind, like a familiar face whose name I've forgotten? Could it be? Does he think he can outrun me? Is he dreaming of a touchdown? There's no way.

Shawn on the line is about to get his first sack. I don't even know why I'm thinking about interceptions. The ball's never going to leave the QB's hands. If Shawn doesn't get him, Cissme (the blitzing linebacker) will. Those guys will get all the attention - as usual.

But, what if the quarterback does freak out? He could toss it up to this slot, and there's my interception. What if he has just enough time to notice the uncovered outside dude?

I'd start this junior year - the way my last one ended. Man, I wished I hadn't brought that up. I lost us the state regional that year. That receiver torched me for a last second touchdown - had to live with that the whole spring and summer. No one wanted to talk to me; all I could do was work - so many lonely drills. Do not want to go back there.

Of course, I could go back there. Maybe I can't even keep up with that outside receiver? He'll be too far out to make contact, so he'll juke me, and off he goes. We'll be down seven points before the offense takes the field. The team'll have to start the year playing from behind - all because I can't keep up.

If I can't keep up with a guy I've got a ten yard head start on, how do I really plan to jump a route that's not my assignment? I'd get embarrassed. I'd collide with Dante, who's suppose to cover the slot guy anyway, and the receiver scores a touchdown. Either way, we're down seven.

I guess it doesn't matter what I do. They're gonna score either way.

No way, I've put in too much work since that junior year. There's no way these guys have worked as hard as I have. These boys are cream puffs, and I'm going to show them all. I'll cut to the inside. The quarterback’ll cut his eyes to outside. I'll adjust and have an interception either way.

That's right. I was recruited by this team, and they could only land at a DII school. I bet they never won a state championship, and I did it twice. I earned defensive player of the year my senior year. All that talk about getting out run is in the past. I am a beast. These receivers are in my way to prove just that. I'll embarrass all of them.

Look at that slot receiver. He's twitchy. He looks downfield. Then, he glances at me. He notices each linebacker between him and me. He knows he's going to get lit up. He's trying to decide which one of us is going to do it. Well, it's going to be me, and I won't even have to hit him. I'm gonna get that ball and run it the other way. Then, we'll be up by seven, and they'll have to turn around to face us again.

There's no way that outside receiver is any better off. He looks lost in a daydream. He's only seeing green behind Dante. He thinks he's got a touchdown. Imagine him scoring on this team - there ain't no way. Dante bumps him, and I pick the guy up. He's never going to see the ball, much less catch it.

I should be worried about Dante too. He looks confused. His feet haven't stopped moving since he lined up. Maybe the moment is too big for him too? He's gonna blow his chance. He's got this slot receiver, and he doesn't even know it. Poor Dante. Thank goodness he's got me for back up. I'll jump that receiver, and he won't have to worry about it.

But then, I've kind of ruined Dante's moment. He sure could use this. Our starting cornerback twisted that ankle a couple weeks ago. Now, a guy - who thought he'd only see the field in mop-up duty - is facing his first start as a sophomore. If Dante just does his job, he could have a pick. But, me jumping the route would take that away from him. How can I take that from him?

Yet, I've got to take it. He's too nervous, and this is my moment. He can't stand still, and I've already figured out what's going to happen. Shawn or Cissme are going to get through that offensive line, and that quarterback will throw the ball to the slot receiver on a prayer. Dante won't have the awareness of what's happening. Gracious, Dante could end up with a pass interference call. The other team'd get a first down on a screw up. I must jump that slot receiver's route - I'm our only hope here.

What about McIntosh? There's a senior linebacker that should drop back into a spy role. He should be right there to help Dante. But, McIntosh is a hot-head. He's as likely to pass interfere as Dante - no, I take that back; McIntosh’s is more likely. He'll hit the receiver merely for the receiver being in his zone.

Now, that's looking like an awfully crowded section of the universe. If I jump in there, we'll all check one another. No one will make a play cause there will be too many of us. But, I can't leave such a moment to them. They'll run into each other, and that slot receiver will have a wide open field. Then, we'll be down seven points because I didn't get involved. The mistake will be on me - I'm the captain after all. I can see what's going to happen, and I'll hear about it, if I don't prevent it. Our greatest enemy is ourself, and ourself is about to make the blooper reel. I can't let that happen, knowing what I know.

Still, Dante could use that experience. Look at him. He's only thinking about how he's going to do his job. The way his head moves back and forth between the receivers - he's no more aware of McIntosh or me than a frog on a lillypad is aware of anything but that one fly. Dante needs to be aware of his teammates too, so maybe a collision with McIntosh would help Dante learn good. But, then - I'm gonna need to come over and make a tackle. In that case, I might as well jump the route and save us the trouble.

This is my moment, and I need to show the team what to do. I'll jump the slot route. Then, we can talk about reading the offense before the snap. I'll have my interception and a teaching moment. I'll get a pick and the chance to educate both a sophomore and a senior in one play. The coaches'll surely know they chose the right captain then.

A cloud passes over the sun. I look straight at the quarterback; he's going through his snap count. Won't be long now. A few fans come into view in the shadow. I love those people. They’re always here. They wear our colors, and they know me by name - especially after I made the commercial this year.

They only have to yell and sing the songs - that's always nice to hear. I, especially, like being on the sideline and watching some parents teach their kids the songs. They do their job and trust us to do ours. I'd tell 'em: "Well, y'all, get ready cause here it comes." Here comes my moment.

Eh, they trust me to do my job, but I'm about not to do my job. I'm gonna take Dante's job. Coach talks about doing our jobs, so your buddy next to you can do his job. And, Dante is my buddy.

Dante and I went to that party together last week. I saved him from being stupid. We drank, told stories about where we come from, and the shock of where we are. He's worked harder this week than any other. I think the kid might be getting it. And, now - I'm going to take his shot? That doesn't sound like the trust that coach talks about.

I'm gonna miss a real highlight though. This play is right for jumping it. Sure, it's off script, but that's part of leadership, right? It's my job to know when things need to change. It's my duty to change when the situation calls for it. That's why they made me captain, so I could make these kinds of decisions. Well, it's my decision.

But, what's that the coach said when we talked about me being captain? Yeah, that's it: "Son, leadership is more about guidance and trusting the outcome." There's "trust" again. That's really slowing me down.

"Guidance" seems like something I can get behind. We all come here because we were the best in our high schools. It's like playing on an all star team - all the time. That's hard to deal with. The great thing about all star games is they're over within about two weeks. But, here - nah, man, it's everyday. That makes guidance a huge thing. Cause, like - someone has to show you how this works, since it's just different from everything else. I remember the guys that helped me. Could this be my moment to guide Dante? I mean: I can, at least, test him to make this play.

The sun's come back out. The light flashes off our helmets. It hides everything but my teammates. The fans are gone, except for their noise. They trust us to do our job, and Dante will not disappoint.

So, I can't either. That outside receiver is my guy, and I got him. He's not burning me this time; I've come too far. I might still get a pick. Shaun's gonna get in that backfield, so anything could happen after that. I only need to do my job.

That means giving Dante his shot. He's earned it. I've seen so much improvement from him this year. He gets the playbook now, and I've even seen him going to class. He's learning to function on this team of all stars, so here's his moment. Let's see if any of these lessons can pay off. Besides, I can always show him the tape on the sidelines.

So, I guess this is my moment too. Maybe the coaches will see that I've listened. Perhaps my decision making will earn me some trust from them. I could've called an audible, but I'm not going to. That ought to count for something. And, who knows? This could all still play out in my favor. I might still have a top ten play. Nothing is for certain until that whistle blows.

For now, this is our moment. It's the first game of the season. All those practices pay off - right now. All of us are going to do our jobs. It's going to be fantastic. Shaun and Cissme are going to light that quarterback up. Dante and I have their backs, and the fans are going to love it. We'll get them fired up. The offense will take the field on even terms, and they'll make their magic. And, most importantly - none of us will have to buy a drink tonight. Who knows? The whole top ten could just be highlights from us.

There's the snap. I dart laterally. This is our moment.

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