New-York tribune., 1906-09-30


with the snapperback."
This rule is intended TO prevent anv nIsver
who is supDosed to be on the line OF scrimrnaee
from taking position at such an angle to the
line of scrimmage, whether he faces In toward
the centre or away from II, as shall enable him
the more rapidly to get into the Interference
So you see the restrictions on the line men
Now go TO Diagram II and notice how the
players on the attacking side have been placed.
II is nothing more or less than what has AL
ways been known simple formation" There
are seven men on the line and four men in the
backfeld. The quarterback is a yard back Of
centre the fullback two yards back of the quar-
terback and the two halfbacks stand uttle
back and off from the fullback. Just so they can
reach over and touch him.
We Will vary this simple formation as IN.
season progresses but II is beyond doubt the
best TO start to practice with.
Massed plays are ruled out this year. How
shall We replace them?
Necessarily they must be replaced by the So
called quick opening" play
In the massed play a heavy lineman was
prought pack out OF line, and by the combined
weight Of the backfield he was pushed over
the opposing rush line. II not necessary to
have an opening for him to go through. If he
kept his feet and HIS forwards had not been
bent back by the quick charging of the oppo-
nents. then he would just grind on over. In
fact, II wa. really better not to have opening,
because quick back would dart in. tackle the
front man Of the tandem directly and knock the
feet from under him.
The quick opening attack depends on speed in
stead of weight The linemen must be quick and
clever. the quarterback accurate and marvel
lously quick and the back must be a sudden
starter. There are possibilities of making a
quick opening anywhere along the line The
fullback usually bucks into the quick openings
around centre and the halfbacks further out.
The quarterback or any player who receives the
ball directly from the centre is not allowed to
carry 1t inside of the tackles--that is less than
five yards from centre.
Remember that in order TO make these quick
opening plays more effective the second line Of
defence must be forced to play far back as
possible
Here's where the unprotected zone" comes in
II Is the space wherein short kick could be
placed and the forwards of the kicking side have
as good chance to get the ball as the defending
side. These forwards cannot get the ball until
1t has hit the ground.
nearly thirty yards back. because he must not
allow long. quick kicks TO get by him, for they
would roll for many yards. Now. in order to
make the unprotected zone as small possible,
the second line Of defence cannot play too close
to the rush line
So practise little short kicks over the second
line of defence, and also quick long kicks to
keep the quarter we'll back.
The little fellow who will play back on de-
fence will have TO bear a terrible lot of responsi-
bility this year. He must not only be a sure
catch and tackler. but he must be alive to every
possibility and situation. If he is the signal
gfVer he must be a student OF the game and
clever little general The little Quarterbacks
will be the heroes this year
The forward pass yet is too uncertain a
proposition to tackle Have your practise
forward passing all the time, however because IL
is beautiful play 10 fool end rush with, and
will help force the second line OF defence to play
well back.
Next week there will be a diagram showing
how the forward pass can be worked.
The diagram to-day shows very effective
way Of making end run
The centre rush snaps the ball directly to tho
LETT half at the point marked X. The instant
the ball is snapped the right halfback and full
back start off at full speed almost parallel to the
rush line toward end, and the quarterback does
likewise. The left half starts with the snap of
the ball, too. and the centre aims to pass it in
front of him so he get II at full speed with
out an instants delay. The fullback and right
halfback together box the opposing left end,
mage TO meet the play. The quarterback goes
straight for the opposing left half The right
end helps the right tackle box the opposing left
tackle, and then the one of the two who get
away most easily goes for the opposing left half
back or fullback. If the opposing left tackle
charges forward, he will not do much HARM un-
less he break clear through, because the
runner viii be well around the end by the time
he can recover. The rest Of the line block
their individual opponents TO keep them from
acking up The left side Of the line may safely
let their opponents through and then go on
down the field to interfere. II will require q
great deal OF practice for the centre rush to
pass the ball accurately 10 the runner but he
rest assured that he will not be bothered
by any opponents, for the rules on that point
are especially strict this year. The rule makers
probably had this very play in mind when they
made such a strict rule in regard to it,
We will start system of signals by the fig
8. which will be signal for the left halfback
TO take the ball around right end.
Here a few signals:
Left half straight ahead-S.
Left half outside right tackle-7.
Right half outside left tackle-10
Right half around left end-12.
Right half straight ahead-11.
Signals should be made in groups near as
possible.