The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-07
Ten-Yard Gain in Three Downs
Will Be Hard to
Make.
STRONG PUNTERS WILL
HAVE GREAT ADVANTAGE
Forward Pass aud Short Half.
back Punts Will Play
Important Part.

The season Of 1905 viii 20 into his
tory as an experimental year for the
football game. With the exceedingly
radical changes in the rules the stvls
of play must necessarily he altered. and
1T will take al least one season TO prsr-
tice the new style and learn 10 play H.
TO advantage. Coaches at present are
saying but little about the modified
Rugby game and are studiously figuring
out new plays and the way TO arrange
their men TO meet the opponents AZ
tack.
The ten-yard rule is the princips.
change in the code of football laws,
and this one fact neeeasitates much
revision iu the style of play. That it.
will make more open game is general
ly conceded, but whether or not it 10
practical is TO be found out by putting
it into operation. While watching the
games yesterday, it vas seen that the
teams could make scarcely any headway
by straight football. The only way
either side could make ten yards III
three downs was BIZ an end run aud
sometimes by the halfbsck kick
1t has been quite universally thought
that the team with the strong punter
would have an advantage over the eley
en- with g weak kicker. This is true,
just as much so as 1t was with the old
game, but II will not be increased
much. II will be the team witb tbs
accurate kicker. who can punt from any
position and direct short. low kicks
which will give the ends an excelleuS
chance TO get down the field and fall on
the ball BY the new rules, just es soon
as punted ball touches the ground it
puts the team inside that kicked and
gives two fleet ends a good chance Of
getting possession Of the oval. Thus II
is seen that much ground will be gained
IN this way.
In addition TO this important duty for
the men at the wings. they will al5n
he used in carrying the bail great
deal this season. The fact that the
line men cannot be called back to carry
the ball unless they are brought b.Ne
Yards behind the line. wkich is too isr
for successful line pluuges, shows that
the ends viii bear the brunt OF the
fray this season.
Will Make Play Difficult.
The play which puts punted ball on
side ae soon as II touches the ground
is going to make matters very diDcult
for :he men who play back. 4 fumbled
ball VIII be more easily secured by toe
opponents, as the back men are not pro
tected by the rules as in the past
Heretofore player OF the offensive
side could not touch player 90 the
defense until the ball had been touches
by the latter. Now IL IS that the play
ers of the oEense can get the ball ss
soon as it touches the ground and can
bump the opponent every time hs gets
the chance. The only protection tne
defensive players viii have is 10 call
FIVE men back instead OF three, as was
formerly the custom,
Many coaches will shift fast guard
or tackle over TO end this year. or else
drill some heavy man for the place, so
important will his duties be.
With the forward pass permissible,
the play is bound TO be far more intrj
cate and spectacular than ever before
By this means new plays may be exc
cuted. which will prove good ground
gamers, and the execution of the entire
play will be right out in the open field
where every spectator can see II, 20
matter how distant he may be seated.
IN using the forward pass. any play
may be started In the Ordinary way,
and where the slan is about to hs
tackled he may pass it ahead OF him To
continue on toward his goal lire. This
means an increased amount Of opea
field tacklins, which stirs the blood III
the PERSONS veins, aud at the sams
time it VIII eliminate the heavy mass
on tackle plays which have been the
chief means OF advancing the Dali IN
former years.
Players, especially the backs, viii BE-
trained TO throw the ball this year just
the same rs they viii be drilled In
punting, as to make successful for
ward pass depends upon the accuracy
of the throw. Basketball players will
be valuable men in the back field, be
cause Of their practice in passing The
round bsll, In Yale's squad this year
|. s. L. L
noticed, and it is for no other reason
taan this. that they have been brought
out TO execute the forward pass,
The big 200-poun6 centers. who have
held the pivot position for some time.
will not be nearly so conspicuous an
before, and ii is though thar lighter
mau will be used in The center OF fine
line. the heavy man being used farther
ont on the line from now on.--Clsvelsnd
Plain Dealer.