Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-07


Consider the conditions under
which the quarterback must de-
termine and call his plays. His
players are huddled around him.
An official stands close by, glanc-
ing at his wrist watch every few
seconds to remind the quarterback
that he has only 80 seconds to call
the signal.
Just when our quarterback's brain
Is working the offlcial may interrupt
his mental operations by sticking his
head into the huddle and urging him
to hurry up. Or the other players may
argue with him about the kind OF play
to be called.
Players Argue Too Much.
The worst seasons my team ever had
were 1921 and 1922, and one reason
was that whenever an advantageous
position on the field was reached some
players would not let the quarterback
do the thinking but constantly argued
with him In the huddle.
Discovering this broke up the prac-
tice by calling the assistant quarter
backs Mexican generals" likening our
team to q Mexican Army, in which
every man was general, but the dam
age had been done.
Coach Stage had this same trouble
last year when Chicago was right up
to the wisconsin goal, with good
chance to score touchdown and take
the lead, as the Badgers had scored, but
missed the try for goal. The Maroons
could not agree upon the play and were
penalized twice for delaying the game,
which set them back 10 yards and sent
their golden opportunity glimmering.
The quarterback whose mind works
clearly in such short time and under
such disadvantage has something deep
In his nature-call it intuition, habit,
instinct or selective imagination. Some
have 1t and others haven't. have
known players who were exceptionally
bright In their university classes but
lacked this quality.
Few Repeat Plays.
There is q lot Of difference between
theoretical and practical generalship.
Strange as 1t may appear it Is often
hard to get a quarterback to repeat a
play which has worked for good gain.
why didn't you throw to so-and-so
again?" I asked one OF our pilots last
season. "You knew we sent him in to
receive passes, for you threw to him
once for a good gain"
well, I was going to try it again
but / was afraid they would be on to
it." our man answered.
A smart quarterback never would
have assumed that his opponents would
be on to it. He would have made
them prove that they had the play
solved before he stopped trying it.
The real quarterback has been taught
by his coach or has figured it out
himself to think In terms Of individuals,
not plays. This policy assumes, of
course, that plays have been devised
to 1T various halfhacks. Thus the
quarterback viii say to himself, "Il
call on Jones next time" instead Of
thinking. this Is good time to use
He will know the answer TO the most
important question of all, which is,
"What man shall call on In q pinch?"
That answer Is, ''the best man." but 1t
is surprising that some quarterbacks
will not tell you that II you ask them.
Difference In Quarters.
Some quarterbacks have been great
kickers, runners and paSsers. Walter
Eckersall and Wallie Steffen Of Chicago
were men Of this type. "Potsy" Clark
the greatest quarterback we ever had.
Clark was great runner who was
likely to break up game himself. His
happy. humorous disposition was q
marvellous factor for harmony and
morale.
On the other hand there have been
many fine quarterbacks who had no
special talents as players, but were
worth their weight in gold because they
could usually be depended on to make
few mistakes and to force the other
team to earn every yard it got.
Irwin Uteritz of Michigan and Bob
Fletcher of Illinois were men Of this
class. Fletcher, small bodied, courage
Gus, had a mind for foot ball and the
personality that is necessary for the
best results from your followers. Lead
ership depends upon the respect Of
those you lead, and quarterbacks must
merit this respect
The quarterback is not mere puppet
f9r the coach, as some persons think.
After the game starts he is on his
own, and unless he has been taught
to express himself his team will face
disaster.
The coach may sigh forgreat runners
and strong tackles. but he knows well
that to get the best out Of his material
there must be real quarterback to
guide 1t.
Copyright, 1929. by North American News
paper Alliance)