Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-10
Qualities For BaCkfieId Man He Must be Quick Thinker Aggressive, Strong and Speedy Says Sol Metzger-Without Interference Man Carrying the Ball is Helpless

a season when the coach is bending every effort to teach them these es- sentiaIs and during the first practice games especially, the coach is inclin ed to discipline such players by keep ing them of the team which starts these games. Later in order to see them under fire, he sends them in. They are then fresh and with victory already assured (Who cannot play great football on a winning team?) they thrill the crowds by spectacular runs for scores against a beaten and worn out opponent The result is a ha.f-baked back who knows all there Is to know about football Gin his own opinion), but who on the contrary, has both planted the seeds of dissatis- faction in his own mind and given the coach one of the many intricate and difficult problems in handling human nature that he daily meets during a season.
 This problem is one of the most ex- asperating from the coach's stand off the team until he masters the es- sentials of backfield playing in spite of the demands for his appearance by the public and the press as wei as the belief of the boy himself that he is being discriminated against. Any other course but ruins any chance of making this player into good back, while the following of this proper course brings but censure and cIiti- cism upon the coach. Some even do not hesitate to come to the coach with their views they leave thinking diff ferently.
 l. is scarcely necessary to discuss defensive backfeld play, because 1t is primarily tackling, except to say that the defensive back is to a team what a general, wit hhis reinforcement. is to an army the back must sense the attack and meet it before it is under way If it Is a run he must drive into and under it before it reach es the line of scrimmage; if a for ward pass he must "cover' the eligi- a kick he must either catch the ball CT bowl over the ends or tackles who are first down under the kick.
 So varied is modern football offense that most teams plays a rowing center on defense whose duties are like those of defensive back. Some of the best centers get their training for this po- sition by previously playing in the backfeld. Peck, of Pittsburgh, is an example of this.
 On offense all backs must be able to make interference for the modern attack divides the strain of carrying the ball among all four of them. With out this interference the man carry ing the ball is helpless, be he a Ma han, Barrett or a Hastings. Making interference IS nfSt a matter Of quick starting in order to meet the defense before it is in a position to damage the play. The proper method of mak- ing interference was discussed in a former article.
 In taking a position in the backfield on offense a player should stand with his feet, about parallel to the line of scrimage so ne can run forward or to either side with equal speed. His feer should be about two feet apart and he should lean forward with one hand on the ground and get "up on his toes' in order to get under way rapidly. In carrying the ball the runner should secure it in both arms when bucking the line. In plays off tackle and around the end he should secure it under the outside arm so he can use the inside arm to ward off tacklers. all of whom will come from that direction on such plays.
 Copyrighted, 1916, by Sol Metzger)