The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-27

| HOW A FOOTBALL FIELD VII
most impossible for the officials to decide
accurately in all cases
1 In regard to the rule requiring seven
men to be in the line Of forwards when
the ball Is mapped. when the play Is be-
tween the two twenty-five yard lines,
opinion is about evenly divided. The ma
| jority, however, think that this change
would improve the game from the spec
tators' standpoint, because it would ne
| cessitate more open play and more punt
ling. Several men hold that the change
will increase rather than decrease the
| danger Of the game The opinions of
some of the leading football men in the
city follow:
Changes Are All Right.
George Mueller, former guard, Mime
| sota-The change providing that seven
men must be in the line forwards, when
playing between the twenty five yard
| lines, is good one. It will cut out mass
plays during the greater part Of an aver
age game, for much more than half the
time the play is in the middle part Of the
/ field, between the lines mentioned. I do
I not think that 1t would be so hard to
gain ground without mass plays as some
men think. Many of the best ground
gaining teams have used mass plays little
| or not at all.
Z AAAS SAA1A16C ciAOW il1S -I4AS dudi lSEUdCh W
run with the ball would lend variety to
| the play "A very strong play could be
| devised by sending the other three backs,
outside tackle or end for interference,
/ with the quarter, carrying the ball, behind
them. The changes will make the tackle
l and end positions Of even more import
ance than formerly, because these play
ers must bear the brunt Of the defense
George Belden, former halfback, Min
| nesota-The change requiring seven men
/ In the line would make ground gaining
much more uncertain. It would mean
more punting, and more open play. From
! the spectators standpoint 1t would i'm
prove the game, doubtless, and while con-
/ ststent gains would be harder, they would
| not be impossible The rule allowing the
quarter to run with the ball Is all right;
IN fact, I see no reason why he should not
be used for ground gaining. The pro-
/ vision that the quarter, when carrying the
/ ball, must go five yards outside center,
however, would make the referees duties
i even harder than they now are. The open
4 game, think, would be more dangerous
4 than the, present play, in which mass
I formations predominant.
Bernhagen, former halfback, Minnesota,
| and Coach Of North High Team-If the
| rules committee really wanted to abolish
| mass plays, think a more satisfactory
| way would have been to provide that a
team must gain ten yards in four downs to
! retain the ball, instead Of five yards in
/ three downs as now. This would not pro-
Improbable. because no mass plays could
| gain ~ yards down consistently
against a strong team. The rules allow
| ing the quarter to run with the ball gives
the referee too much power in deciding
4 whether he goes out five yards, as re-
l CURED
/ Harder to Keep Men In Shape.
\ Under the new rules it would be harder
4 to keep men In shape thru the season, be-
cause the fast, open play, in which the
1 backs play to the limit is much harder
on the ofense than mass plays. tho easier
1 on the defense.
i Sport" Leary, Captain 81 and 90 Min
4 nesota Teams-Both changes suggested
seem to be good ones, altho practical
4 trial would be necessary to determine
4 their actual value. A more open game
| would please the great body of the spec
tators, altho those who understand the
4 game thoroly might find it more interest
4 ing than the present game.
Sig. Harris. qua rterbacl. Minnesota
4 The new rules would make the play more
4 open and do not think 1t would be i'm
4 possible to make gains without mass
plays, but it will be hard to tell just how
they work until they are tried The rule
4 allowing the quartet to run with the ball
makes the game pretty complicated.
/ New Rules Are Extreme.
1 Larry Merrill, Coach Central High
team-The rule requiring seven men to
4 play in the line is a title extreme. Six
would be enough, and would knock out
heavy mass plays, without making it so
hard to gain ground. The tackles, ends
i and punters will he the most important
men on the team under the new rules, for
i the tackles and ends must bear the brunt
Of the defense. while the kickers will have
much more work to do than formerly.
think that 1t would be a great mistake
q under these rules, to develop back field
at the expense of the line, for the for
wards will have a lot Of work to do open
ing holes for the runners If mass plays
are eliminated.
The rule allowing the quarter to carry
i the ball will put a team at the mercy OF
n the referee. Besides that, the quarter
ii will have SO much more work running
back punts than formerly, that 1t would
need man Of iron to carry the ball FREE
\ Quently In addition to his other duties.
Does Not Benefit Players
!. DR. e. P. Harding, Captain Of '94 Min
nesota Team-F'rom the players stand
point the change in rules cannot be con-
sidered an Improvement. There Is fully
as much danger and possibly more In the
open style of play as in the mass forma-
tions. Ofgcourse, under the new rules the
J game will afford more excitement for the
| spectators, and the gate receipts will be
larger. ss .r5 ss y