The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-02
BY O'LouqhIin.

J, 5.
HE selection of an "All-western
u TINS season aS is perplexing prob.
trouble in picking individuals, but in
choosing team capable of working to
the best advantage under the "new
1. The new code has had an unsatisfac-
tory trial, altho the playing season has
clearly demonstrated one or two points.
The first is that the ten yards on downs
IS too great task for teams Of any
thing like equal caliber. 1t is great
, - equallzer' between strong and weak
teams, but when teams Of anything like
class strength are matched the rule is
Possibilities Of the play
~ In the west the big nine conference,
or rather, the faculty football reform
ers, saw fit to limit all games to class.
This was move in the right direction,
to limited extent, but with this stric-
ture upon schedules calling for evenly
has proved a failure-the failure that
it was expected to be. It has called
Tor season of scores made up of field
goals and thru accident. Goal lines
nave been unusually immune from
touchdown crossing. It has resulted in
ular with the people who follow the
game.
This was brought to the light in the
Indiana Minnesota game. Hare and
Larkin were in toe fight. Kick fol-
lowed kick and punt after punt. The
This was in line with the idea Of
did not appreciate it. "Play football!S
was the long-continued and insistent
demand of the spectators, who tired Of
the perpetual thump Of the leather,
skurry down the field, return and
skurry back. The ten yard rule has cut
down the line and end play. It is too
great distance. It should be short
ened or an additional down granted.
First down is always a satisfaction to
crowd, no matter who is making it,
and few teams have been able to work
consistently this season along this line.
Gophers' Star Performance.
Minnesota probably furnished the
best example Of this in the season just
ended when the gophers took the ball
on Nebraska s 40-yard line and carried
it down the field and over the goal for
q touchdown. It was remarkable per-
Torrance under the new rules. That is,
q, remarkable performance for big team
play.
The forward pass has probably lost
far more ground than it has gained.
It is an uncertain play. The tempta-
ton is great on account of the "theory
of possibility but it's real gains have
been slight. The short kick is equally
uncertain, but far better than the for
ward pass. 1t does not carry the re-
turn penalty.
There was talk last spring and sum-
mer, even in the early fall, that the
new rules favored the light, fast teams,
against the heavy teams Of years gone
by. The play of the year has not
proved this contention in any instance
Speed is always desirable, but weight
Is just as valuable as ever A fast, big
man, what might be termed fairly
fast, big man is more valuable than the
very fast, light man. The big fellows
are more valuable than ever for the five
central positions in the line. The rule
holding guards and tackles to their
PLACES aSS f has done away with the urgent
places. The guard or tackle does not
require, absolutely, the speed that was
essential in addition to his weight, in
the good old days when the guards and
tackles back plays brought "grand-
stands to their feet.' A guard or
tackle who could break thru and get
down the field or get thru to break up
a play behind the opponents line is
still desirable, but formerly a guard or
tackle needed weight and some speed
was absolutely necessary. For defen-
sive line work weight is at just as great
a premium as ever.
Starting with this opinion in view,
the writer has selected a team answer
ing. in his mind, all of the require
ments, The team will not require any
great elaboration, as most of the ma
yterial is veteran and too we'll known
to hooters for any great explanation as