Full Steam Ahead

Joshua Brand, a veteran scout for the Baltimore Ravens, had been in the NFL for over twenty years. Known for his sharp eye and insightful evaluations, he had weathered countless ups and downs throughout his career.

This year, from the spring training camps through to the NCAA season opener, he had been focused on scouting quarterbacks—young talents like Louisville's Lamar Jackson, Wyoming's Josh Allen, and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, all players worth keeping an eye on.

But then, an unexpected phone call sent him rushing to Alabama to scout a running back.

A running back?

Brand rolled his eyes. It wasn't that he had anything against the position—his job was to scout talent, no matter the position—but this running back had only played in a handful of games, meaning the data was limited. It seemed premature to make such a fuss.

As a seasoned professional, Brand knew that a single standout performance didn't mean much. Some players excel during contract years, only to fade into mediocrity once they've secured their payday. It wouldn't be the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. One good game didn't mean much in the long run. For all he knew, this player might fall off the radar entirely after a few more games.

In Brand's view, it all boiled down to one thing: hype.

From what he could gather, the media was latching onto the novelty factor, and the league was eyeing a potential entry into the lucrative Chinese market. It was likely that the teams showing interest were following the same strategy.

After all, the buzzword here was "Chinese."

Since 2005, the NFL had been laying the groundwork for expansion into China. After more than a decade of effort, they were finally seeing results. Now, they needed a superstar to break through, just like Yao Ming had done for the NBA. A Chinese star could be the catalyst they needed to complete their push into that enormous market.

So, as long as this running back wasn't completely hopeless, it wouldn't be a surprise if he went in the third or fourth round, simply due to the hype surrounding his background.

With that in mind, why did they even need scouts? Wouldn't it be enough to just look at the post-game stats? After all, this was just another show—just another media spectacle.

But as Brand read more about Lance's story, a spark of curiosity was ignited.

A preseason win against Deshaun Watson's Clemson Tigers, followed by a season opener victory over Sam Darnold and the USC Trojans.

Interesting. After all, Watson and Darnold were quarterbacks Brand was already keeping tabs on.

But only a little interesting.

After all, Lance was a running back and didn't directly compete against those quarterbacks. The focus should be on the defense. Clemson and USC were known for their powerful offenses, but their defenses were another story. Clemson's was decent, but USC's was practically nonexistent. No wonder Alabama ran for over 300 yards against them—it was like playing in their own backyard.

So, how much did those stats really mean?

Sure, they were impressive, but they didn't tell the whole story.

That was precisely why Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh had sent Brand to Tuscaloosa for a closer look.

In the 2012 season, the Ravens had won the Super Bowl, defeating the San Francisco 49ers. Quarterback Joe Flacco had been named Super Bowl MVP and was riding high.

But anyone who truly knew the Ravens and John Harbaugh knew that it wasn't the offense that had won them the title—it was their defense.

Harbaugh, after all, had trained under Nick Saban. He was one of Saban's most successful protégés and had carved out a place for himself in the NFL.

After that Super Bowl win, Ravens linebacker and defensive legend Ray Lewis retired, leaving a massive void on the defensive side of the ball. Harbaugh had been forced to pivot and build an offense around Flacco. But after peaking in 2012, Flacco's shortcomings, particularly his accuracy under pressure, became increasingly apparent. He began making poor decisions, and his interception count soared.

Compared to his draft-class peers like Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Philip Rivers, Flacco's decline had been swift. By last season, he was clearly struggling to keep up with the league.

Everyone knew that finding a great quarterback was tough, and finding an elite one was even tougher. Even an average quarterback was considered valuable.

Flacco had fallen out of the "elite" conversation, but he was still better than most. The Ravens weren't likely to move on from him anytime soon, especially with the offense they had built around him. Harbaugh believed they were close to perfecting their system.

The easiest and most effective way to support Flacco was by adding a strong running back.

Last season, the Ravens had filled other roster holes and missed out on competing for Derrick Henry, opting to draft a running back in the fourth round instead. This year, they had more flexibility to address the need.

And what better source for a running back than Alabama, the program run by Harbaugh's mentor, Saban? Harbaugh trusted that any player coming from Saban's system would be well worth scouting.

So Brand packed his bags and made the trip.

Standing outside Bryant-Denny Stadium, Brand glanced around and quickly spotted seven or eight other scouts.

Seven or eight scouts didn't sound like a lot, but Brand knew this was a significant turnout for a single game. The buzz was all due to one thing: Lance's Chinese heritage.

It was like a panda had come to town.

Brand lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled.

The next few weeks were sure to be eventful. But how much real talent would they see?

Still, Brand was a pro. He figured he could shift his focus to Alabama's defense. After all, this was a great opportunity to evaluate their defensive players while watching the quarterbacks he was interested in face off against such a formidable unit.

Perhaps this wouldn't be as boring as he thought.

As it turned out, Brand's hunch was spot-on.

Alabama had indeed shown their dominance. After their season-opening win, they continued their hot streak, racking up six consecutive victories with overwhelming performances that kept them firmly in the top spot of the NCAA rankings.

Their defense, as always, was the star of the show. In six games, they allowed an average of just 14.33 points per game—by far the most dominant unit in the NCAA, feared by every opponent.

Nick Saban remained true to form, and Alabama's Crimson Tide stayed true to their identity. With their defense alone, they were strong contenders for the championship, and six straight wins had come easily, with no surprises.

However, the real shocker was Alabama's offense. Through six games, they averaged 45.8 points per game, outscoring every other traditionally high-powered offense and leading the NCAA by a wide margin.

Was this still the same Crimson Tide team known for their defense-first approach?

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Powerstones?

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