Evening star., 1938-11-13

DdCklelQ man. lie must DlOck IN
offensive lineplay. and smash up
running plays on the defense. as
we'll as perform like q halfback in
the open field when he catches a
pass.
In my estimation, an ends most
important job is to block we'll On
the offense, an end generally must
take care of an opposing defensive
tackle alone. And when I say
take care Of I mean he must see
that the tackle doesn't smear the
running play. The most effective
block for most purposes is the shoul-
der block. The offensive player
checks his man at the line of scrim-
mage by charging hard against him
with his shoulder and pushing him
out Of the way to make hole for
the oncoming back.
To do this properly, you must keep
your feet always, and keep charging
-churning your feet into the ground
to give continual power to your
drive. And one of the most impor-
tant items is to keep your eyes open
Never shut your eyes. You always
must be able to see where you're
going, and where the opposing
player is going.
If a play is coming over your side
of the line. your blocking duties are
on the line of scrimmage. If you
| are on the weak. or unbalanced side
Of the line you probably will be re-
quired to 60 through the line to
block out one of the secondary de-
fensive men.
| In this case, an end should give
the opposing defensive lineman q
hard brushing block, to check him
momentarily and allow the running
play to get under way, and then
penetrate the secondary to knock
down his designated defensive back
field man. You must always expect
the ball-carrier to get beyond the
line OF scrimmage, and if you have
done your part in removing the Sec
ondary defense, sometimes the ball
carrier will get away for long gains
or perhaps a touchdown. Don't be
discouraged if it doesn't always hap
pen that way. Many times is will. if
you keep pl lgging at the backs
Even if the ball-carrier doesn't
break away. a defensive back finds
it mighty discouraging to be knocked
down time after time.
X 4
Sometimes an end and a wing
back work on defensive man to-
gether. In such cases, unless the de-
fensive man is particularly good, he
watches the rest of that play from
position fiat on his back. In COM
bining their work the two blockers
usually get the defensive man high
and low, so that he is pinched be-
tween them and lands on the ground,
or at least out of the play.
One of the most important factors
IN catching passes is to master the
ability to relax. Don't tighten up un-
der the intensity of the play, because
just as surely as you do, you'll drop
the ball when it's thrown toward you.
And when you are on the receiving
end Of a pass, don't start running for
a touchdown until you actually have
the ball.
That may sound foolish, but so
many times, in their eagerness to
grab the ball and be on their way,
boys make the mistake of thinking
the catch Is cinch, and concentrate
on what they'll do next before they
actually have the ball.
An end going down the field for a
pass must have a good change of
pace, so that he can 60 down fast,
and yet have reserve speed to make
a fast break in a new direction to
evade the defensive back. He must
feint with his body or head to throw
the defensive man off his track, and
get himself out in front.
Some say to catch a pass with your
arms, and some say with your hands,
like basket ball. The best way, in
my opinion, is just to catch it-and
hang on! A lot Of times the ball will
be tough to reach and you won't
have time to think of how you look.
You've got to be able to Jump in the
air at full speed and spear it as an
infielder snags line drive, or wrestle
it away from one or two defensive
men, or even catch 1t while you're
falling. Whatever you do-keep
fighting for the ball. Never give up
fighting for 1t, because you never
can tell when you'll get a chance to
grab it.
Even when you're not supposed to
get pass, carry out your part as q
decoy faithfully, because the de-
fensive man must be kept away from