The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1910-10-07
Old Formations Into Discard.

Chicago, Oct. Walter ii. Ecker.
sail writes, concerning the new foot
ball formations
The radical changes in the football
rules governing play during the sea-
son which opened officially today will
in all probability have a serious effect
on the attacks which have character
lied the style of ground gaining plays
in the past.
The rules have been changed to
such an extent that formations which
were considered to be the strongest in
teams category of offense now must
be discarded and others which never
were considered of much value must
be worked up and perfected to the
ground gaining strength OF the old for
nations.
Under the old regime When an of
fenSive team needed one or two yards
on third down to make the necessary
distance the full back generally was
called upon to make a buck on or Off
the tackles, and with the half backs
and quarter allowed to push or pull
him the chances were he would make
a first down.
Coaches Depend on Tackle Play.
The coaches depended mostly on the
concentration of this attack to make
the needed distance. and if the tackle
and end on the attacking side of the
line did their work, the play was good
for the required distance, except pos
sibly when team was inside of it's
opponents ten yard line. The Sec
ondary defense then was pulled up
closely behind the line and often re-
pulsed the attack.
Many games have been lost through
the foolhardy selection of plays by
the quarter back or the player calling
the signals, sending player around
the end or some other formation where
the chances were against his making
the required distance for first down.
On plays of this kind and when dis
lance is needed, concentration of at
tack is the keynote of success and
the quarter always should be careful
to give his teammates plenty of time
to get set for the play and also should
be sure that every member of the
team has the correct Interpretation of
the signal.
Hard Work for sinemen.
With the push and pull of the man
with the ball eliminated more work
than ever is going to fall on the Shout
ders of the linemen. The success of
n inn
from tackle to tackle and a number
which are directed just outside of the
tackles will depend on the linemen
for their success or failure In other
words, the forwards must be taught
to meet the charge on their opponents
and buck them in whatever direction
the play is sent.
In other years a lineman could hold
his position and when the concen-
trated attack of three or tour of his
teammates hit him, the impetus was
sure to gain some ground, but this
season it is certain the impetus of
one man, starting from position not
over five yards back of the line of
scrimmage, cannot gain much against
teammate who is charged by his OPP
ponent.
The success of line plunges this
year is sure to center on the forwards
getting the charge on their opponents
and If the quarter back or the player
running team finds that IL is impos-
sible to gain ground by this system of
attack, he Immediately should find
other means of attack with more
ground gaining results.
Strong Point Of Eleven.
AS far as offensive play is concern
ed, the bulk of attack this season is