The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-14
.Y0ST LINE
HAS CLASS
Secondary Defense Is
Again Shown Weak
on Passes
" JAMES SCHERMERHORN. JR.

OIl L asses
BY JAMES SCHERMERHoRN. JR.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. Oct. IA
The game that Michigan played
against Marietta yesterday after
noon- gave the Wolverines some.
ing 10 think about.
Michigan won, Is To 8, but the
victory was not wholly satisfactory.
The same fault that perme6ted
the Mt. Union game OF last week.
was present Wednesday, when the
hitherto unknown school worked
nine out OF % attempted forward
passes, for total gain OF ISL yards,
and this total included one touch
down, the first score against the
Ann Arbor school this year.
The assault OF Marietta differed
from that OF Mt Union in only two
respects. Expected 10 play a
smashing game. they sprang the
unexpected. and worked long
passes. The one difference was that
the passes were long AMI that they
were pulled OF slower. Tie per-
centage OF success was a little less,
but the average gain was greater.
each attempted pass averaging over
eight yards.
This weakness N the secondary
defense. whose inability to block
the passes was at times ludicrous
was In direct opposition to the
strength of the forward wall. which
played one OF the best games OF the
year. Indeed. had II not been for
this line, the Marietta score might
have been considerably larger
Five times in the frs; half and
three times in the second, Marietta
backs tried the Michigan hne-not
counting end runs. In the first half
they gained 10 yards this way. and
lost two. In the second half. they
gained only two yards. and lost
Ave. II is interesting tc note that
In all they gained four yards
through Norton and Cochran. and
IL through Whalen and Watson.
They were thrown for a two-yard
loss by whalen, and in the second
half. when Boyd replaced Whalen.
they were thrown for two losses OF
three yards by Watson.
But il was on offense that the
Michigan line did the best work. In
the Marietta game, the tackles and
guards opened holes for total gains
of 2l2 yards. only once letting a
man through to throw the runner
for loss. and once for no gain.
Norton and Cochran were tried
the most times and they came
through well In the first half, the
Michigan backs shot of Cochran for
% attempts for a gain OF los yards,
and one three-yard loss. They tried
Whale and Watson 10 times. and
averaged seven yards 70 a smash.
In the second half. Michigan tried
the ends more, and with less sue
cess. Boyd and Watson opened
holes for gains of courtyard aver
age, while Norton and Cochran
opened three holes for a six-yard
average, and with one no gain.
Three of Michigan's touchdowns
were made through the line. both
carried down the field and over the
final marker The other was
through the agency OF one OF the
two successful passes made TO Ing
ham With one incomplete pass TO
Hildner. the average Of the U. OF
Ms attempts was .es6. and these
were mixed very well with the line
smashes.
Michigan's inability 10 score more
touchdowns was probably due 10
the constant changing OF quarter
backs. Each one tried a different
game, and Rhoem was the only one
/ to get out Of the team the proper
speed and gain. He kept the plays
going at the tackles and shot over
, his one pass with remarkable ac-
curacy and at the right point. The
succeeding pilots were too eager for
the big gains and worked the ends,
where Michigan failed TO gain on
80 per cent OF the attempts.
This game, though disappointing
TO the fans, helped Coach Yost a
great deal The line and quarter
problems were better solved. for
both performed better than ever be.
fore. IL Is the perfection OF Sec
ondary defense that remains before
Michigan will have good team
able to cope with their big oppo-
nents. But II really looks as though
experience will remedy this. The
showing in the second half was far
better than the first. though the
| touchdown came then.
| Ingham proved TO be a find az the
end vacated by Staatz. and snagged
his two passes clearly and oppor-
timely. Hildner. at the other ex-
tremity, got down under passes
we'll. but left his end uncovered too
many times. and mussed up hig only
opportunity 10 get a pass, after hay-
ing the ball In his hands.
Scrimmage r. the order every aft
ernoon until the NJ. A. G. game. and
though II Is question whether