Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-19
Main Football Advance
This Year Along Lines
OF Defensive Strategy

the opposing line with a protection to
the runner, came quite naturally. But
a revolutionary step was taken When
Deland developed the flying wedge.
This was a wedge formed on the run by
two groups of men starting behind 2
on either side of the point where the
ball was to be put in play and converg-
ing at that point.
Other flying wedges. which were
eventually prohibited by the rules, de-
veloped from this as did the flying in
reference perfected by Warner and
Woodruff Of Pennsylvania III which an
entire side of the line came swinging
around into the interference.
Guards Back" at Penn
Then Woodruff developed the
guards back" formation at
Pennsylvania which added greatly TO the
power of the attack through the use
of heavy men. The tackles back" for
nation of Yale followed some time later
and quite revolutionized plays OF this
character.
All these methods resulted in put
ting such pressure on the tackle or
guard of the opposing team as TO prove
a greater burden than any one man
ought to stand in a single position.
iitt writer y slsktSA4ph ina "
be obliged to gain ) yards In J downs
was at first received with ridicule. One
of the main objections was that there
would be no means of measuring the
distance. The writer proposed in ans
wer to this that transverse lines be
drawn Oh the field . yards apart. One
Of the DIRECTORS said "it would make
the field look like a gridiron.'
The rule, however, was passed ten"
t~ativeIy with the provision that il by
the middle of October it had NOT been
proved workable, il should be reseind-
ed. Ry that time the rule had justified
itself and it was evident that it would
save the game.
10 Yards TO Gain
Hence, when the difficulty arose
about the curbing Of heavy interfer-
ence, the writer proposed a 10 yard
rule. thus doubling the distance to be
gained III 3 downs. II tool two years
to pass it but the number in injuries
received in mass plays proved that II
was necessary. In order TO make II
miIder, however, the forward pass IN
der certain limitations was admitted TO
the game. Then the dropping Of heavy
men back of the line was restricted and
the game once more took on Il new lease
of life.
For the last several years the balance
of attack and defense has been a deli
cate but well adjusted thing and it has
been possible to permit the rules TO
crystaiize in Il considerable measure.
The development of shift plays seemed
Ii move of somewhat revolutionary
character although 1t had been gong
on for some time in a moderate way.
As it was perfected it made the job OF
the officials more difficult. The rules
were probably sufficient to prevent its
encroachmcnt on the game but they
have been given additional safeguard
by hard and fast rulings that should
bring the attack TO an appreciate pause
before the ball is put in play,
Aerials Big Factor
The moulding of the forward pass
and the running attack into q general
weapon has been coming along grad
ually but a comparison today with the
attack of a decade ago shows great
advance in these tactics-so great that
had it come suddenly ii would have been
regarded as revolutionary.
The defense has perfected itself well
against running plays through the mid
die of the line and this has forced the
attack out toward the wings. With
this tendency has come development OF
formations which mask the forward
pass and yet make it Il real menace TO
the defense.
Before this season is over 1t will be
quite apparent that no team not equip
ped with the notifications of open and
closed play in which the forward pass
in a factor can hope 10 score consis-
tentIy. The defense is having its wits
sharpened right along by this variety
Of attack and it is meeting it brasely
but not yet conclusively.