Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-12
.GR|D|RON COACHES awake.
MENTORS START EVOLVING
new PLAYS FOR FOOTBALL
Hope TO Enhance Scoring Power OF
Elevens In Biy Games OF
ScnkOn.

Especial TO The Times D.spatch.1
NEW YORK. Oct. 11.-Now that the
football rules have been Interpreted,
coaches everywhere arc trying 10
evolve trick and freak plays whereby
they hope to enhance the scoring pow
or of their clevcns in the big games
OF the season. AS matter Of fact,
II was not necessary for them 10 wal,
for the annual Interpretation meet
ing or the solons in this city.
NO drastic chagcs have been made in
tho playing code for the last couple ot
seasons. but Eridiron mentors like TO
wait for official defining of the rules
neaole going to work on plays which
are out Of the ordinary
Just what may be expected this sea-
soh IN the way Of unusual plays can
not be- any at rades Tnsrs
from the stereotyped style OF straigh;
t faUoa Win Thi9 mo, seem5 70 be san,a
throughout tho country. However /,
would not be at all surprising If some
method OF advancing the bail.
ros,s NAY sa sGo1pF Coach ss. raieA
and Glenn Warner. NJ Pittsburgh, those
Two exceedingly versatile strategists.
thing out Of the ordinary int in this re-
spect. Scarcely season passes that
ono OF these two tacticians does not
springinE something radically differ
ent from anything, ever before at
Win the 0n rules sf'a ahe same a. tbey
have been for the last several years
and with 70 much excellent material
cnt colleges and universities. it is
reasonable to assume that the coache 5
VIII attempt to increase the versatility
or attacks with some new plays.
CamounaEe, OF course, can be looked
for In all departments OF play. Early
scrimmages and games indicate a gem
eral tendency on the part OF gridiron
s fsHers Il, to tty TO coneea far as pos
sending one or more Sacks lungins
a apiin ia the line or splitting on tackle
in a. another angle.
Problem OF Interference.
Since the rules no longer permit the
interference TO advance before run
ser. the work OF protecting the man
with the ball has to be done from side
or rear once the runner passes tho
rush line Because of mis-; the backs.
o1tier than the man with the ball, can
tention Of the opposing defense. The
delayed pass plays a prominent part IN
this system OF attack. and. for that
reason, IT Ia more or less OF risky
ball >'''
II the opposing defense Is on the
alert and is quick TO diagnose plays.
the Chances are many that the delayed
PASS, when once detected, will result In
the attack being smeared before 1t is
iully under way, and loss will result
However. some OF the elevens are using
this style OF attack with unwarrantei
regularity. The best results arc OBJ
tanned from 1t when 1t Is used only oc-
cas!onally and then supported and aid
90 by the element of surprise.
OF course. the forward pass will have
its PLACE In the rspertoire OF offensive
deveioped and pertee,ed Sy "e eoa cfen 81 81
the las: few years that 1t has become
generally accepted and moro or less
substantial and reliable way OF ad-
rancing the ball.
Short Pass I. Used.
The degree OF risk attached to Il has
been mininized TO a great extent and
whereas few years ago the forward
pass was resorted 10 only in the case
OF an extreme emergenc:'. II has be-
come a regular part OF the attacking
program Of all teams
However. the old Ions pass hurled
with more or less abandon and tossed
in genera! rather than a definite d.
rection. has been abandoned. 1t Is sell
dom. employed now. and IL Is probable
hat It %,li be s,s seen en-, bn' little ON
lar. but the element OF luck enters into
IL too much
Tie new and shorter pass, thrown al
rcctlS over the line or at sharp angle
is far more effective. The pass itself
seldom exceeds ten or fifteen yards
now and consequently the chances that
IL Will succeed are materially increased
With a capable man to toss the ball
and players we'll schooled and coached
in the knack OF catching 1t. while on
the run or quickly getting under way
when once the ball Is clutched in their
arms, there are few more effective
means Of gaining.