Dominate the Super Bowl-Chapter 1586 - 1585: Sowing Confusion

Li Wei... actually turned the tables?

Harbaugh’s eyes showed a trace of surprise, but thinking it over seriously, it wasn’t unexpected. The reason Li Wei is Li Wei is because he always manages to continually bring surprises.

Right now, Li Wei is just continuing to be himself.

After a brief pause of thought, Harbaugh neither admitted nor denied but went along with the flow. Since Li Wei started the counterattack, he could take advantage of it to pull Li Wei back into his rhythm, probing for the information he needed in their back-and-forth confrontation.

Confrontation?

Harbaugh was never afraid of anyone, "So, you are also closely watching the lineman? Which lineman do you think is worth watching?"

Compared to wide receivers, the real focus of this year’s draft should be on cornerbacks and linemen, especially in the first round.

Although the Kansas City Chiefs no longer have a first-round pick, they need to replenish the defensive group, especially the secondary line—cornerbacks and safeties.

Li Wei was testing Harbaugh, and Harbaugh was also testing Li Wei in return.

Li Wei chuckled softly, "No, I haven’t done any research, I’ve only heard Isaiah Simmons’ name."

Harbaugh laughed along, "Indeed, who hasn’t heard of Isaiah Simmons? But unfortunately, he probably won’t be joining Kansas City."

Isaiah Simmons, Clemson University lineman, is one of the most watched players among the linemen in this year’s draft, known as the "all-round defensive monster." In college, he could play multiple positions such as lineman, cornerback, safety, showing incredible athletic talent and quality.

"A future Hall of Famer talent," that’s the scouts’ conclusion, a promising star of tomorrow.

All indications are that Simmons is a lock for the first round, and if the Kansas City Chiefs want him, it would likely require a hefty price.

Li Wei spread his hands, "No, we don’t harbor much expectation."

Harbaugh, the old fox, sensitively caught the gap in Li Wei’s words, "So, Simmons isn’t worth trading up for?"

Li Wei refused to respond, "So, are the Baltimore Ravens planning to trade up? Coach Harbaugh, where do you think Simmons will be drafted?"

The lineman is a very important but not so important position. In fact, in these years after Von Miller, the market value of the lineman has continued to decline. Now, the value of the league’s defensive group is shifting towards the defensive line and cornerbacks. Linemen and safeties are losing their status.

So, Li Wei’s counterattack was accurate and sharp.

Harbaugh got drawn in, "Anything is possible. Washington, Detroit, Carolina..."

Washington Football Team, second pick; Detroit Lions, third pick; Carolina Panthers, seventh pick.

All these teams could choose defensive players, further could choose linemen. But as Li Wei said, how much are the Baltimore Ravens willing to pay to compete with these teams?

Furthermore, are these players willing to use their high picks on a lineman?

After quickly pondering, Harbaugh caught a detail, his eyes lit up, looking at Li Wei, "You don’t think Simmons is worth a high pick?"

Li Wei just smiled without speaking.

Harbaugh frowned slightly, "Simmons can play multiple positions and can be adjusted according to the team’s tactics. His talent has great potential to be mined."

Li Wei, "But, biting off more than you can chew. Coach Harbaugh, NFL’s playbooks are different from NCAA’s."

There are countless players in the NCAA who have excelled playing multiple roles, but it’s another matter entering the NFL. Players need to reposition themselves according to the team’s playbook and coaching style, and can’t continue to be greedy and play multiple positions, otherwise, the outcome will be very bad.

However, wouldn’t scouts and coaches have considered this?

Harbaugh, "Simmons’ Frederick Test scores..."

The words weren’t finished because Simmons didn’t take the Frederick Test!

As said before, the lineman is equivalent to the quarterback of the defensive group, often the focus of the coaching staff’s game plan, so the lineman’s Frederick Test is especially important.

Harbaugh suddenly realized that during this year’s rookie training camp, everyone was discussing how Burrow’s Frederick Test score was below expectations, only thirty-four points. Although people didn’t expect him to score a perfect fifty, a score below forty sparked some concern. Maybe Burrow wasn’t as perfect as rumored?

Burrow stole the spotlight, causing people to overlook the fact that the top lineman prospect Simmons voluntarily skipped the Frederick Test.

Harbaugh was shocked, looked at Li Wei, did he see something?

Simmons belongs to Clemson University, a bitter rival of the University of Alabama, and those who know you best are often your enemies.

Li Wei didn’t respond, remained calm, allowing thoughts to run wild in Harbaugh’s mind.

Harbaugh, also an old fox, quickly noticed Li Wei’s calmness, regaining his composure quickly after a fleeting moment of confusion.

But Harbaugh didn’t rush to launch a counterattack, instead, he paused slightly, a hint of playfulness in his eyes, "So, is that your mission? To confuse and disrupt?"

Li Wei spread his hands, "Oh no, caught. But, Coach Harbaugh, just keep it to yourself, no need to tell others, let’s cause some mischief."

Li Wei... actually admitted?

In Harbaugh’s view, Li Wei’s actions today were indeed unusual, from intentionally or unintentionally undermining this year’s top hotshot Burrow to Rags and Simmons, Li Wei was intentionally or unintentionally sniping at draft favorites, stirring up chaos in the pool, affecting their draft market.

If these draft favorites slide down the order, even falling from the first round to the second round, the Kansas City Chiefs might just snag them at a bargain.

But now, with Li Wei’s casually open demeanor, showing no signs of nervousness, Harbaugh was left uncertain.

Thinking carefully again, Harbaugh’s reasoning wasn’t so airtight.

Firstly, the Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a first-round pick, their second-round pick is also later, if they wanted to pick up a bargain, it would require a lot of luck.

Secondly, such a simple and crude method doesn’t seem like Veach and Li Wei’s style at all. How could they be so bold as to come out and criticise all the draft favorites and then foolishly expect the whole team to buy it?

Harbaugh didn’t panic, in such situations, the calmer one remains, he didn’t overturn his own hypothesis, but instead followed Li Wei’s words.

"So, what’s next? Who do you plan to target?"

"Chase Young? Or Jeff Okudah?"

Both are defensive stalwarts from Ohio State University, the former a defensive end, the latter a cornerback, there is also another cornerback Damon Arnette, together forming Ohio State University’s defensive trident, they shone last season, attracting numerous attention.

In the draft, they are all hot prospects; and these are also positions that the Kansas City Chiefs need to replenish.

Li Wei’s smile fully bloomed, "If Ohio State University knew, they might rush to Kansas City to fight me."