Evening star., 1937-01-26
MANDATORY LINE
ASKED BY Jones
Trojan Coach Would Check
Increase or Decrease of
Forward Wall.
BY FRANCIS J. POWERS.
OS ANGELES. Calf, January
0R-Tvhara In ,,n AlnnaA .aasnn

r OS ANGELES, Calf, January
26.-There is no closed season
on foot ball for a foot ball
- coach. When not actively
coaching. the maestros are busy
thinking or talking Of the game SO,
when Howard Jones Of Southern Cali
fornia and Lynn Waldorf of North
western. outstanding representatives
Of the profession in their sectors, got
together the other evening, the old
game was keelhauled for the better
part Of six hours.
The conversation was largely about
rules and what could be done to make
foot ball q better game-from the
coaching viewpoint, of course. Both
Jones and Waldorf agree that one of
the greatest tasks a coach faces in
these days is building an offense SUM-
GENTLY versatile to meet the numer.
GUS types Of defense now in practice.
Wants Only One Defense Linz.
JONES favors q rule that will make
one sort Of defensive line manda-
tory, whether it be q six or seven
man type. You build an ofYense to
meet a seven-man line and then
f1nd your opponent has shifted TO
SIX" complained the Trojan coach.
"Of course, the situation Is the same
for every coach, but the point I make
Is that the present vogue OF shifting
defense places too great q burden on
the boys. The game is dificult
enough, but when kid Quarterback
Is obliged TO attempt plays against q
defense that will vary from a seven
to six or even five man line with
several arrangements of the secondary
defense, you cannot expect q youngster
to turn in a perfect piece Of general
ship"
Waldorf agreed with his fellow pro-
lessor and Willis o. Hunter, one Of
the Pacific Coasts representatives on
the Rules Committee, could not dnd
any serious objection to the idea
other than that most coaches would
vote In favor Of the flexible defenseS.
Would Revise Pass Rule.
HUNTER concnred In the belief
that something should be done
about the rule on forward pass inter.
ference. which will be one Of the main
sources Of argument at the rules meet.
Ing next month. II is Hunters
thought that perhaps the problem
might be solved by putting q yardage
penalty on pass interference instead
Of giving the offended team the first
down at the point Of the foul, as the
rule now reads. However, 1t In un.
likely such a suggestion will meet with
the approval Of the other rules max.
ers, although it Is generally accepted
that the present penalty Is very I'm.
satisfactory.
Jones and Waldorf also would have
the ball brought in Is yards from the
| stdeltneS on an out-of-bounds play
instead Of the present 10. Their idea
Is that, with a margin Of IS yards
from the sidelines, the offensive team
would have an opportunity for more
varied plays and not be obliged to sac.
rif1ce one down for position - fire.
quently happens.
Suggests Punt Penalty.
THE Trojan coach further believes
that the game might be speeded
up by putting small yardage penalty
on punts out-of-bounds and that such
q rule also would provide more thrills
for the spectators in the way of good
punt handling and returns.
1t was well after midnight when the
coaches were separated and neither
had found time to say anything about
the prospects Of Southern California
and Northwestern. But Willis Hunt
er's head was packed full Of ideas 10
submit to the Rules Committee when