The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-01
BROWNS DEFEAT.
Some Points About the Bate on tn, Grid
iron Not Generally Knswi.

run NOt uSHSiaiiJ husWIs
Saturdays game betweon Brown and
University OF Pennsylvania brings to
light many things hitherto obscure and
not generally well known. In the first
place, Brown played "A hard, conscientious
and good game in spite Of the almost un-
precedented score rolled up against her.
With absolutely no excuses TO offer for the
result, still IL may be SAID that Fuitz was
in no condition to enter tho game, and
would not have had not his determined
courage oyerruled his better Judgment.
1t was pitifui indeed to watch his vain
attempts TO get into the play. He simply
was not and could not be fast. Time
and again the play would leave him be-
hind. Moreover Hapgood is not q match
for Meendy. though he does his very
best. This game should prove of great
value to the team in the lesson It teaches,
for il certainly made the defects and
weaknesses of the play glaring. Criti-
cism, if given i'm the right spirit, should
be of value to the team.
WhaS~I consider the most important
weakness of the team was in the unjusti
ing back for n kick. Ii was the most i'm
portant because 1t was the most costly.
Pennsylvania madv many points by 1t.
Time and again were the backs so near
the line that the punt went sailing over
their heads, and rolled away for yards
and yards of loss. There can be no excuse
for a punt ever going over the heads OF
backs placed purposely tn receive II. Not
only is the loss OF ground due To this seri
Gus, but in addition the danger
Of losing the ball entirely is increased
many fold. Where this does happen it
practically means run Of GO or 40 yards
or even more. 1t is ground gained by
opponents with hardly an effort.
This fatal fault should be remeded
once for all. 1t is astonishing that it
could occur mt all i'm the face of the excel
lent coaching the Brown team has had.
1t would also seem that Browns general
ship could be brought into question.
To rely for gains at critical points on
plays that early in the game have proved
disastrous, or at the least upproductive
Of gain IL usually poor policy. While n
firm believer in straight away plain foot
ball, / still believe that under certain con-
dtions for certain teams strategic game
Is of great value and when regular foot
ball avails little, little can be lost
by strategy, and its possibilities are great.
And IL is we'll known that the Brown
team has at its command considerable
strategem.
OF course, n general is born and not
made, but without one no team can play
great games any more than an army can
plan and fight great campaigns
Inexperence is great drawback. and
experience is the only thing that can
overcome it In Saturdays game there
was some tendency for the ends to be
drawn in on some plays that went around
the end. No doubt this was causeG by
Pennsylvania's interference going one
way, so Is To draw the ends in, and the
ball going the other way, around the end.
The eagerness of the enusreo get into the
play draws their attention away from the
ball. The one main idea when on the
defense is To get at the ball, not only for
the ends, but every other man. That a
man who follows the ball as closely as
Murphy does should be tricked in this
way more than one In the same game is
surprising.
Pennsylvania play can be considered
practically irresistible. That team is play
ing on new system which might be
called the new football In q word the
formation is Of five line men and six backs.
1t is in the DISPOSITION of these six men
.l.% .,f Ao 1sag h..
tenton of the defence must be divided on
six men instead of three or four. This alone
Immediately weakens the defense.
The number Of combinations that can
DO made with six is many times the num-
her that can be foundssrom three or four.
The defense cannot he concentrated. since
these six men are spread over considerable
area and it Is impossible TO tell even Of.
ter the play has started whether it Is GO
ing to be open or closed. II open. 1t APP
rears to be close long enough to draw the
defense in and then suddenly becomes
open by some man taking swing ont
into comparatively open Held. II closed.
good gain has been made before the de-
fense can be concentrated, and then it is
more difficult to fiEd the ball amopg six
men than among three or four These
methods have made n total OF 4Q2 points
in II games this year, an average of 80
points To q game.
As before said, the main idoa Of the de.
fense is to stop tho progress OF the ball rs-
eardlcss Of all else, and il is very mnch
easier to coneal the whereabouts Of the
ball among six men thDn With the room.
lar number. This at once puts the de-
fense at sea. II may be said that this
system is unknown 10 opposing teams.
and they could not be expected TO form
on the instant lines Of defense against
system Of attack planned out for months
and that while they are 40 successful for
the first time the second time they met
the same team 1t would be known better
how to form n Defense aud the system
q