Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-06
Evolution Of New Game
an Interesting Study.
Revised Football Has Two or
Three Bad Weaknesses.
Further Reform Must Be Made to
Keen Game al Harvard.

One of the most interesting phases
of the football season ended last week
has been the tactical development OF
the play, the evolution Of the new
game. While passing from spectacu-
lar standpoint the critical weakness OF
the new style of game lie in the fact
that, ground gaining being practically
impossible by any straight system Of
play between teams of nearly equal
strength, resort is necessary to either
kicking or to the Onside kick or
forward pass. Attended as the latter
two are with the chance of losing the
ball at least half the time, if not large
percentage, no team defending it's own
goal dares try the second recourse and
is compelled to kick whenever near its
own goal. Should a wind blow against
them they are practically at the mercy
of an attacking team. which by acct
dent may be able tC once force the play
into their territority and there is no
escape by mistakes Of their opponents.
On the other hand, when a team is
nearer to it's opponents goal than the
rnidfeld, there is little chance to kick
in the sense of the Old-fashioned punt,
but it is forced to rely solely on for
in rare situations they cannot gain by
straight plays. The almost impossible
ity of the end defense Of modern teams
forces attacks from tackle to tackle.
and these are easy to stop short Of the
necessary continuous average OF lO
yards in three trials.
Certainly some relief is necessary 10
change condition where 50 much
II -h.c
perfectly executed plays. such as Yale
used to score on Harvard. may very
easily go wrong. Either four downs
must be allowed within either the %
yard line, or else the distance should
be shortened.
The fact that two of the big games
If the year resulted in no score, in one
Of which Yale showed superiority over
Princeton. and that in the third Yale
and Harvard might very easily nave
been faced with the same result, proves
cOnclusively the need Of som" more de-
cisivc method of attack. The length
ening Of the playing halves. which is
very necessary in view of the greatly
Increased ability of teams to stand the
physical strain of battle and cOnSc-
uuent ability to continue an effective
resistance longer. will do something to
Obviate this. hut that is not c"rain
enough. 1t is probably impossible to Sc
cure legislation. weakening the end de-
Tense, which would encourage end run
ming, the most spectacular % plays.
and produce the desired effect.
The striking uses Of the forward pass
during the year have not been the short
passes Just outside the end which en-
ab1es short. consistent gains to bt;
made. as is necessary to retain pos
session of the ball. but the long passes
used from n quarterback run or double
pass. the ball being hurled IL or 20
yards over the line of Sorimmage, in
surfing long gains when the pass Is
made accurately. but increasing its
uncertainties and danger Yale'S long
passes were practically punts. ana
save that they we're executed with
exceptional accuracy and covered by
the entire team to prevent them touch
ing the ground and thus losing the ball
where the pass was made. they We're III"
most uncertain tried by any team. OF
course their potency when effective was
commensurate with their risk.
The one style Of pass that was in
frequently seen which appears to have
better possibilities than any other was
the one used by Jones of PENNSYLVANIA
against Michigan. This was quar-
terback run which was expected to ad-
vance the ball some five or six yards
and then when the runner was tackled.
to have him pass it on to an interferer
BY variation of double backward and
forward passes of this kind. there is
excellent opportunity for development.
but always with the objection that they
lack certainty.
Taken all in all. the new rules have
certainly indicated the possibilities Of
an interesting game being developed
with a few changes to Obviate the ten
dency to indfvidualism rather than
team effort.