Ep 9. The Catching Specialist

Eyeshield 21 season 1 episode 9, titled "The Catching Specialist," follows the Deimon Devil Bats as they prepare for their upcoming game against the Ojou White Knights. To improve their passing game, Hiruma and Kurita take the team to meet a legendary catching specialist, Takami Ichiro, who teaches them the art of catching.

The episode starts with Hiruma receiving a call from his informant, who tells him that the Ojou White Knights have a strong defense against passes. Knowing that they need to improve their passing game if they want to stand a chance against the White Knights, Hiruma decides to take the team to meet Takami Ichiro, a former American football player and a catching specialist.

When they arrive at Takami's training facility, they are greeted by Takami's daughter, Riko, who takes them to meet her father. Takami is impressed by Hiruma's determination and decides to teach the team the art of catching. He starts by demonstrating a variety of catching techniques, including the one-handed catch, the fingertip catch, and the over-the-shoulder catch.

The Devil Bats learn quickly, with Sena and Monta showing particular skill in catching the ball. However, the team soon realizes that their new skills won't be enough to beat the White Knights. They need to develop a new play, one that combines their catching skills with their speed and agility.

To do this, Hiruma comes up with a new strategy called the Devil Backfire. The play involves Sena and Monta running in opposite directions, forcing the defense to split. As soon as the defenders separate, Sena passes the ball to Monta, who catches it and runs towards the end zone. The play is a success, but the team realizes that they need to refine it further before they can use it in the game.

As the episode comes to a close, the Devil Bats leave Takami's training facility with newfound confidence and skills. They are determined to win against the White Knights and make it to the Christmas Bowl.

Overall, "The Catching Specialist" is a great episode that showcases the Devil Bats' determination and the importance of teamwork. The episode also introduces a new character, Takami Ichiro, who brings a fresh perspective to the show. Fans of the series will undoubtedly enjoy watching the team develop their new play and gain valuable skills that will help them in future games.