The Washington times., 1911-02-06
Directors of Washington Ready Outline Improvements Here
JURISTS
DISSECT THE CODE
Revision Without Altering Any of the Fundamental Prin-
cipes of Gridron Contests as Typifsd During 1910
Was the Leading Feature of Session

Once more the intercollegiate football
rules committee has taken up the task
of revising the gridiron playing code.
1t was not expected that any radical
changes would be made by the football
solons this year, as the game as played
In 1910 fully realized the expectations
of its sponsors and the general public.
Several good changes were made In the
one-day session held in New York last
week, showing an undoubted desire on
the part Of the committee to cut Off
some of the rough edges without alter
ing any of the fundamentals OF the
sport as typified in the 1910 code.
However, the forward pass, which in
later day football has become the "old
man Of the sea-" was freely discussed.
In view of the difference of opinion held
this play, 1t is not without interest to
discuss the question from the various
angles It's use last year make possible.
To Open the Defense.
In the first place, the forward pass
was Incorporated into the rules last
year 70. the expressed purpose of open
ing the defense. 1t was argued that the
spreading out of the defense to the ex-
tent that would be required to meet the
always unexpected use Of the pass that
some means would be found to box or
cut inside the ends.
But experience proved that the pass
failed of consistent ground-gaining abil-
ity, for the reason that when inter-
cepted IL was invariably fatal to the
offensive side, and in addition could be
used with safety in the attacking team s
territory. The onside kick, closely al
lied to the forward pass as a line
spreading, open-play- measure, also
failed of its original purpose, for the
very reason that the restriction enacted
to protect the receiver OF the forward
pass-the neutral zone-aIlowed the de-
fensive ends to rush in and hurry the
kick.
Was Near-Effective.
The running onsIde kick came nearest
to being effective, but even this was not
effective enough. The run could not
be made long enough to get the neces-
of the shape of the ball the bound was
uncertain, and all but disastrous when
the kick was otherwise perfect. AS a
matter of fact, the rules required the
restriction requiring the kick to go
too far-twenty yards-and the restric-
ton requiring the kicker to make
his effort at least five yards behind the
line was another serious hdnQlcap.
Now this latter handicap was imposed
to save the tackle, who in the past had
been obliged to look up to see what was
going TO happen, and had been met with
loced mass of interference. There Is
no modern interference that the tackle
cannot handle, even after he has looked
up, and, indeed, his work was less ex-
acting last fall than that of the guards,
who had to stand the brunt OF the run
ming attack.
The tackle is no longer chopping
block, and should be required to shoul-
der his share of the burden.
Restriction on Kicker.
AS a relief measure the committee
was asked this year to abandon the
five-yard restriction on the kicker, and
let him kick as close up under the line
as he dare.
This alone ought to act as a deter
rent to the defensive ends, and If the
same five-yard restriction be removed
from the forward pass, we have at
once re-enforced our two most danger
Gus offensive plays fully so per cent.
If the start of the onside kick and the
forward pass be hidden by the line in
its position, or by a line or back shift,
the defensive ends could not come in so
fast, nor could the backs come up so
close into the all but impregnable de
festive triangle. The tackle then would
not have to stand any more serious at