Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-27

P"DiS VI WI hilB
The play.
There are two requisites in the pass as
Washington and Jefferson works II
They are a thrower with an abnormally
large and powerful hand and receiver
who can handle a rlffe-like throw at a
short distance. Crowell believes that he
has these men--in Halfback Johnny We'll
don and Blackburn at left end.
Instead of arching the pass or making
a long toss Washington and Jefferson
works the play differently. The ball sell
dom travels more than 10 yards, and there
Is little chance of large gains unless the
secondary defense is sound asleep. It is
one of those steady gaining plays, not so
spectacular, but far more effective than
the long, uncertain toss.
McCreight takes the ball on a direct
pass from centre, deliberately pushes II
firmly against his hand and moves out
three steps. Several men are eligible to
receive the pass, but in rs per cent. of
the successful plays made by Folwelps
team, Scroggs has been the receiver.
THE SPEEDY THROW
Instead of throwing the ball at mod
crate rate of speed McCreight draws his
arm far back. as a pitcher does in de-
hvering baseball, and shoots the ball
straight over the scrimmage line with
terrific speed.
Scroggs, blessed with wonderful hands
also and uncanny ability to Judge the
ball, catches it with his hands far from
his body as a ball player catches a ball
He does not catch the ball against his
body as most men do in handling a foot
ball. as it would be impossible to hold
1t in this manner.
This is one of the real features of the
pass, as 1t is almost impossible for an
opponent to catch the ball. If the back
on the secondary defense is coming in
fast to intercept the ball. 1t will bound
Off his chest or perhaps knock a finger
or two out of joint. Scroggs is able to
catch the ball because he is travelling
In the same direction and there is a GER
tain amount of give when the ball strikes
his hands A man coming toward the
ball meets with the same result as a
ball player who fight a hard-hit ball. In
the entire season the baseball pass
as Folwell calls it, has not been cleanly
intercepted by an opposing back.
forward pass of this sort used by
Pitt against Penn would have given the
Red and Blue trouble on its long defen-
sive side and Penn will have to have the
extra back on the secondary defense for
Lafayette. Fortunately for Penn, La
fayette cannot hope to show the inter-
ference Pitt had, and 1t will not be neces-
sary to have the extra back on the scrim-
mage line to break up running plays.
INTERFERENCE VITAL
Lafayette has not shown much inter
ference to date, and as this is a depart
ment which must be developed slowly
there is little chance of Crowell's inter-
ference worrying the Penn defense The
forward pass as used by w. and ]. is
certain to trouble Penn If Weldon and
. Blackburn have perfected it as well as
Crowell believes.
Saturdays game with Lafayette is a
Tar more important one than the public
believes. There is little doubt in my mind
but that Penn will win handily but this
is the last contest before the three big
games of the year with Dartmouth,
Michigan and Cornell, and unless several
fundamental weaknesses are corrected
during the Lafayette game there are
breakers ahead for Penn despite the
crushing defeats suffered by Dartmouth
and Michigan last Saturday.
Penn will have its defense tested
against forward pass and this will be
an important feature of the game, as
no one Of Penn's opponents has shown a
forward pass this season which COM
pares with those which will be used by
Michigan and Cornell. The defense as il
is constituted now is uncertain against
forward passing, but is improving stead
lily, and 1t is likely Penn will soon be as
strong in breaking up these plays as II
was against the running game of Pitt.