Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-08

of the standard methods and the sys-
tens used by coaches and he is pref
ty fair Judge Of whether a player is
doing his job and. whether the at
tack or the defense Of team is
based on proper lines. He learned
much last season and this year he has
matching up of the running play and
the so-called aerial game OF the
forward pass. He knows now why
tho threat Of the forward pass keeps
the backs from supporting the line
too strongly on a running game and
these backs, who hold of in fear OF
tho forward pass. He also knows the
triple threat Of kick. forward pass
and run. from what is known as the
kick formation.
Tactics Eagerly Studied.
During a trip through the west. the
writer was pressed with questions all
the time as to Just what the eastern
teams were doing in the way Of tao
tics, and upon his return to the east
found that coaches and players alike
in this section were studying with
avidity the western and southern
methods.
Having seen the bulk of the impor-
tant teams in action. it is fair to pass
some comparative judgment on the
various methods, how players are
taught and what the coaches are try
ing to reach in the way of a perfected
game. First, let US consider the for
ward pass. The Princeton Harvard
contest at Cambridge was conclu-
sive demonstration Of the fact that
the forward pass is no longer a hit
or-miss play. but an actual weapon
of assault that cannot be disregarded
by any team that wishes to play, per-
feet foot ball.
Princeton never would have tied the
score and put itself in the lead with
out it. and Harvard would have been
obliged to leave the field defeated had
1t not resorted to this weapon in the
fourth period. The forward pass en-
abled it to tie the score. 1t was quite
manifest that both these teams were
more proficient in the use of this
weapon of attack than in ability to
defend against it..
West Leads In Aerial Game.
The defense against it in the middle
west. while by no means conclusive,
is stronger than that exhibited by
eastern teams. But 1t is no wonder
that the defense to forward pass
consists largely in familiarity with
the play. Probably the west in
dulged too largely in the forward
game played. through season after
season had the effect of correcting
any tendency to extreme nervousness.
Many an eastern team in the last
few years has been thrown into a
panic when its opponents began to
throw forward passes. 1t is much
easier to learn to throw forward
passes than it is to keep steady on
defense when they are being thrown
by opponents. It is easy to UNDER
stand. therefore. that in almost any
institution where the forward pass
has been used freely for some sea-
sons the scrubs who are later going
TO make varsity players become SO
familiar with it that they act auto
maticauy against it. This is the true
pass. Most eastern defense has been
weak because the backs have tried
TO do several things at once-mark
the runner coming down the field to
receive, or the man slipping through
the line for that purpose; then trying
At one and the same time. to intercept
the pass and catch the runner II he
gets the ball. Teams do not reason
about 1t. but are still fmbued with
the old idea OF getting the man.
Futile to Play the Man.
Now. as a matter of fact. there is no
earthly use in playing the man. -ex.
cept SO far as the direction and dis
lance of the pass are, concerned. The
rules are very emphatic on this point.
The probable receiver. Of forward
pass-and there may be five of these
men who are eligible-may not be.
m.erIered with in any way after he
has crossed the line. of serirhmage.
and il he is interfered with it lis the
same as il the forward pass were
completed. Hence we can eliminate
absolutely the idea Of checking. this
man. second. the forward pass al
ways mas a definite warning given to
the opponents before the ball leaves
the hands Of the passer. for this
passer must be at least five Yards
back OF the scrimmage lire. There
are only two wavs. therefore of get
ting the pass of. One is where tho
man stands back. as in kick formation.
more than i've yards. and the other
ID where he stands closer to the line
tnan nve yards and then runs o.
circles back at least that distance.
he is at least five yards back.
Nine-tenths Of all forward passes
made give plenty Of warming, and in
every case OF forward pass the
men in the backfield can see the
man who is making the pass and
see the direction in which the bali
is travelling. because once it leaves
the hands there Is no change pos
sible in its direction.
All told. the west does use the
than does the east. But the east is
learning. = -
Where the East ExceIs.
Now. on the running attack and
the defense, the east still has some
advantages to Offset the vests
greater familiarity with the aerial
play Eastern lines have something
OF the edge in power and charge.
projecting an opening for their back
Held. and on defense in crowdinR
runner up toward the middle In
preventing the catastrophe Of
wide-end run and in the greater wis
dom OF not waiting until the fourth
down to punt. In other words. they
do not take as big risks. and. while
conceding some gains. show greater
safety and make more use Of the
power of every man in the line.
All the systems. east, west and
south. are beginning to conform. how
ever. and good team in one section
now certainly is good enough to give
a good team in any other section
west or south. which TO-DAY relies
upon one style Of play alone. is NOT
a good team. There must be a
blending of the various methods and
definite reasons for the use of plays.
and very little left to lucky chance.
A decade ago 1t was the exception.
when any team, except those coached
by Warner. used the direct pass in
stead Of putting the ball through
the hands Of the Quarterback. To-
day so much has this method spread
that most teams use direct pass at
times.
Use of Shift Plays General.
Several years ago a team using
shift plays stood out as an excep-
ton. whereas today some form Of
shift play. either in the line or back
field. Is used by practically every
team. A line divide or a split in
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