The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-23
PERT4NENr. SUGGESTIONS.
Coach .Monilaw Sees Where New Rules
Can Be Improved

Can Be Improved.
In discussing the new rules after a
month of work under them. Coach
Monilaw, of the Missouri Tigers, stated
unhesitatingly that he considered them
a great Improvement over the old rules
and he had some exceedingly pertinent
sugg estions to make concerning still
further reforms in them.
There are two changes that I
would have he said. THE ends
should not be allowed to interfere with
the man who is catching a punt before
the ball is caught. To allow this is a
step backward In the development of
the game. It gives a chance and will
surely bring about increased rough
ness which the tendency has been to
eliminate from the game. There is
always a chance here that an end will
knock out the man who Is trying to
make the catch. get the ball after it
hits the ground and get away for a
touchdown. IF he can put out enti1ely
the man who is trying to catch the
ball he may be able to- do this. Then
the provision that no man on defense
shall be allowed to use his hands In
the face of the man carrying the ball
should be that he shall not use his
hands in the face of any man on the
opposing team. This would eliminate
a fayorite bit Of roughness in which
line men especially indulge many
times in the game.
eff these changes were made the
new rules would De ali IlElL. 10 not
believe this talk that scoring has been
eliminated from the new game when
teams are evenly matched. The games
up to the present time do not give any
indication that such will be the result.
Where scores have been small against
the smaller schools it means only that
the big fellows have been experiment.
ing against the little ones in prepara-
ton for their big games, and IN many
cases they have not allowed to be used
in the little games plays which they
have worked out for use in their own
big games. There Is no reason why
there should be less scoring. So far
as I can see, If the team is developed
up to the possibilities of the new style
of play the ratio between offensive
and defensive power has not been
changed at all. The team with the ball
| has to make ten yards, to be sure, but
/ look how they may make It. There is
no use saying that the offense has not
been strengthened, and the defense
weakened by the new rules of the
/ game. Suppose a team plays the old
style of defense. a team with the plays
that are possible under the new rules
i will make them look like monkeys.
With the old style OF defense the
quarterback kick and forward pass
will make the ten yards more easily
/ than five could have been made II
these plays were not possible. When
| the defense is shifted to meet this
style Of play, to prevent the effective
use of the quarterback kick ana for
/ ward pass, then the defense Is weak
ened for almost every attack that may
be made. A quarter back run Is more
easily pulled off and the line is weak
ened SO that distance IS much more
easily gained even by straight line
plays. Taking a1l these things into
| consideration there can be little
/ change in the ratio OF defense to at
tack when the ten-yard rule is tackled
on. When the season gets down to
the big games you will see the teams
scoring as many points as they were
accustomed to score under the old
game.
ssOf course It Is a more spectacular
kind Of football. e is better from the