New-York tribune., 1906-09-23

me linesman 10 be nimbe and active in backing
Gp all along the line and outside the ends Take,
Tor instance, the right guard. All he used TO 40
was 10 protect his own position and helm o,.t
the centre rush and right tackle II he was NOT
too busy with his own man. This fall YOU viii
PROBABLY see the guard tacklinE all over the
Held His duties will be doubled. for he will have
70 watch the attacking back field ike a hawk
70 see what il is going 10 do, and he will have
10 look out for plays aimed straight at him and
also out at the tackle or end
Therefore, IN order TO get out Of his position
quickly. he viii want 10 stand little back from
the une or scrlmmage
This backing UP theory will he varied and en-
larged progress
Next let US go TO the diagram again and take
look at the second line of defence.
Note that it is playing further back and more
scattered than it was last year. The half backs
are practically secondary ends. whereas they
used 70 play Just back or inside of their tackles.
Why is this?
First, because the second line Of defence is
afraid Of forward passes and the short kicks
where every one is on-side when the ball hits the
ground.
Second. because the second line of defence
Is not 50 afraid of short gains, and therefore
does not have TO spring 10 the support Of the
first Ene OF defence 20 sharply as IL used 10 do
Third, because tha second line of defence Is
Undoubtedly this year IN planning the attack
a coach VIII lay great stress on the forward pass
ana TIC Kick, because they are the only TWO new
rules that favor his Gttacb. Without them the
balance or power would he completely IN favor
OF the defence. The new rule that nuts e.,ptl-
ground is an extremely important rule.
Now let uS instance possible play. Suppo~a
the second line of defence was playing close up
70 the first line. Ike il diC last year ana not Ike
X Is playing in the diagram. \ sharp. clover
quarterback on attack would instantly signal
Tor a short kick. He would nal Ike il himself lust
over the heads Of the secondary line Of defence
and his Hnesmen would dash through ana get Il
the instant il nit the ground The quarterback
on defence has 70 play away back and he could
not get 10 IL IN time. BY moving your second
territory against these dangerous little punts
The forward pass bc made one in each
scrimmage by the attacking side only. II cannot
ne made over the line OF SCrimmaRe within five
yards Of either side Of centre II II hits Tho
ground before it hits a player Of either side f;
goes u the defending side ~ that spot II can
only be made by q back field player and can only
be called 10y back field player or an end rusHer
II can be made anywhere IA the field of play e.-
cept. as has been said, over the line Within five
yards of centre.
TAere are a number of good plays that can be
developed from the forward pass. SO in forming
your defence II has 20 be taken into cousidcra-
ton
The quarterback. who is generally a swift opcu
field runner and ii sure catcher and tacBler plays
about thirty yards back on defence.
Just how far back he Will play is very i'm
Tortant this year.
Why
Because he must be able to get 10 every kicked
nan IN the territory not covered by the second
nne OF defence before the opposing end rushers
whose side is kicking, can get there. Neither
must he let the kick sail on over his head
Remember that the ends are on-side the very
instant the ball hits the ground, aud their