Evening star., 1938-10-19
PASS|NGPR0V|NG
ST|RR|NCFACT0R
This Combined With Wealth
of Clever Runners Gives
Needed Versatility.
Nv DREW MTDDJETON
BY DREW MIDDLETON,
Associated Press Sports Writer,

HoooSidtCu lCoS OpOl " WTlJeTs
NEW YORK, Oct. 19.-No one
knows just what's responsible but after
four weeks the 1898 football season
has become the most brilliant oSens-
lively since the war.
Remember those scoreless ties that
sent you home wishing you'd spent the
afternoon with good book? Scores
have been rising with long dashes for
touchdowns sprinkled literally over
the gridirons.
The coaches are baffled "It's got
me-" admitted Jim Crowley, teams
that aren't supposed to be SO hot on
offense are running wild. Everyone's
got passer and at least one fair run
ner. I thought my team at Fordham
had a good attack. It's just average,
I guess"
Wealth of Good Passers.
Crowley's right. There is bumper
crop of passers. Bill Patterson OF
Baylor. Dave O'Brien Of Texas Chris
tian, Harold Van Every of Minnesota,
Everett Kischer of Iowa State, Lanny
Hollins of Vanderbilt, George Stirn-
weiss of North Carolina, Bill Paulman
of Standard, Wilmeth Sidat-Singh of
Syracuse, Sid Luckman of Columbia
and Gil Humphrey of Yale are throw
ing the ball as its never been thrown
before
Ossie Solem of Syracuse points out
the reason. Look on any vacant lot
or city street. The kids are throwing
the ball, not kicking it."
With the increase in passers comes
an increase in backheld versatility.
All of the above hurlers can run, too.
The day of the speciality back is
fading. Michigan. which once built its
oTense around the left halfback, now
has everybody running with the ball
but the quarter.
Passing Now Real Art.
Passing. which was hit or miss
side line for 20 years, is as finely in
tegrated and balanced as a costly
watch. Spot, cross over, alley and nat
aerials and their innumerable varia-
tiors loom big in the technique of the
game.
Defensive strategists are up to their
ears in plans to stop the alr-ralds'
The five-man line hasn't bulked large
in their calculations thus far. Ihe
6-3-2 and the 7-1-2-1 defensive allgn-
ments, generally the most adaptable,
are the more popular. Coaches note
a trend toward less blocking in the
line by the offensive team, blocking
which is saved for the secondary OH
those all-or nothing touchdown plays
that pull the fans shrieking to their
feet.
Apparently the masking OF pass
plavs has made a fast-charglng line
less effective against aerials unless the
offensive line is notably weak. Play
riggers such as Colgate's Andy Kerr
and Stub Allison of California have
mapped out singularly successful aerial
defenses.
Kerr's Strategy Works.
Kerr stopped Luckman-and Colum-
baby pulling guard and tackle
out of the line to defend in the fat
as soon as the ball was snapped. Luck
man was bottled up.
A pronounced trend toward discard
ing lateral passes is seen. Several
horrible examples, notably Vim
Eichlers toss that gave Syracuse the
ball and the Cornell game, serve to
warn coaches of the lateral's penalties
for misuse.
But the fans shouldn't worry about
this spectacular plays demise. What
ever happens, the first weeks of the
season have given them their most at
tractive football, have given defensive
strategist their stiffest problem of a
decade,