Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-10
BY j. w. Heisman.

NNE OF the very earliest things a
y football player should learn
properly to do is to hustle
down the field under punts and tackle
the man catching the ball,
This is very important depart
ment Of the gridiron game and one
that takes a great deal of time and
practice in order to attain proficiency
The ends are the ones who are de-
pended upon most for getting down
field and taCkling the receiver They
should be fast men and good, sure
taCklers. AS soon as the signal for
punt is given the endmen should leave
the rest Of the rush line and go well
out toward the boundary lines The
idea is to go down the sides Of the
field and thus outhank the catcher.
The ends start down the instant
the ball ia snapped, and they should
run at top speed nearly all the way.
They should not look back to see
where the ball is going, except a very
fleeing glance over the shoulder
when the attitudes and postures of
the man or men receiving the catch
are such as to render ii difficult to
tell just where the ball is going to
land ordinarily a close study Of the
receivers while going down will indi-
cate, after little practice just what
part of the field the punt is going to
and who is going to try to catch it,
HAVING done your fast sprinting
Al at the start, YOU will probably
get reasonably close to the receiver
before the bali comes down. This
win enable you to slack up somewhat
J, toll
OF him, and set yourself on good bal
ance, SO AS either to be able to tackle
him the instant the ball strikes his
arms. or TO respond to his lodging in
case you are still a little too far away
from him.
Now, the rest of the rush Hue-eX-
Cept under certain special kick torma-
tons blocks steadily in the line SO
the opponents can not get through to
block the kick. until they hear the
SOUND Of the kick, when they in
Stantly drop their opponents and
sCurry on down the field after their
ends as fast as they can go. But
whereas the ends went down on the
outer edges of the field these other
men 90 down more nearly straight,
The ends continue to STAY on THE
OUTSIDE Of the receiver, and turn in
toward him only when they are sure
that they have outtianked him.
Ii an end runs right straight az the
receiver 1t is generally an easy matter
for the latter to dodge to the outside
Of the taCkler and bring the ball all
the way back up the field along the
side line What the ends must do is
to keep the receiver turned in TO the
middle Of the field, for, coming up the
middle rapidly, are the other i've
rush unemen TO help out on mailing
the runner
NJ t.ANWHlLE the backs are sta
W toned about half way back be
tween the line ana their punter, and
out toward the sides; they block on
4ll opponents who manage to work
their way through the rush line. The
punter himself should hold the bali az
long as he safely dare before putting
his foot into f. as this will give his
ends time TO get down the held ahead
OF the ball
After the kick has beer safely pro-
jeGted the backs should also so down
raj idly and back up the tacklng of
the Nuemeu, The punter however.
should run squarely over 70 the side
10 which the punt went ana back the
ban up. o.. the same time looking out
for possible immediate return of
f... HHru. .'r EafGng3 $50 r. Uvut TO-