The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-29

the forward pass, the on-side kick and the
partial readoption Of high tackling. OF these
effect, in that they both seek to weaken the
defense by forcing the defensive backs to
spread themselves more freely over the back field
territory (thus preventing them from concen-
trattng so effectively, and at the same time
providing means for taking advantage Of this
weakness. Another point Of similarity is due
to the fact that in both instances the defen-
sive team is called upon to protect not only
that part Of their territory which is ahead Of
them thereby to divide their attention instead
OF allowing them as heretofore to concentrate
wholly on the territory ahead. Again, they
the game principle which with one exception.
that of allowing interference ahead Of the
runner. has not been considered wise policy
principle, altho it is not a part Of the English
game: VIII nevertheless tend to introduce into
the american game a feature very common to
the English game-the use of plays which de-
/ pend for their success not 80 much upon pre-
cision as upon chance. For example, every
player s ; on an a1.u American team knows before
| ton In that play is to be-where his respor.
sibility begins and where it ends He knows
will receive 1t at one particular place or mo-
ment 1t practically never varies. while, on the
| other, hand, It is generally true of the English
piaye. that while he knows perhaps, that the
| the play, he has not the slightest Idea Of the
exact moment mo or the precise spot at which this
| OaSo VIII tdke place. Inc only Qt6erence that
can see in the influence of these two change
| will be question Of degree.
Forward Pass and on-Side kick.
The forward pass. 1t seems to me, win MOT
begin to be as effective as the on-side kick -
explained before, football has always deveE
oped toward the conserratiye-footbaiI piayern
have avoided taking risks In their plays whHa
IT tv was possible to adopt plays which did ict
great risks and 1t will be used freely opX
after football men have come to the concYusSnA
will be little chance Of advancing the bali.
The forward pass rule provides that If the
ball crosses the line Of scrimmage. It must
DO 50 at a point at least nYe yards from the
| presuming that back standing In his posi-
ton attempts to make such a pass, 1t is clear
that the ball win travel on the hypothenuse
lance Of its shortest leg-represented In this
case by the distance from the line at which
q. player stands A very long pass for very
sneFs GAIN again this pass WIN . b made s
euracy is likely TO end In the recovery OF tho
oail oy an opponent and perhaps q long run.
the pass, which must be recovered In the all.
VIII have to do 70 while running in approxi-
mately the same direction as that In which the
| a very hard position in which to attempt to
catch the ball, while the opponent on the
defense, facing the play, is In a most adyan-
tageons position to recover the ball Or to tackle
ground before being touched BY q player ot
either side 1t belongs to the side which did
not pass It at the spot at which the pass was
Of players Of the side which makes the pass
i may receive 1t, making 1t hard to surround the
ball with enough men to reduce the chance q
| to Be a very difficult thing to teach men .
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