Evening star., 1951-10-19
Single Wing, Double Wing, 7 or SpGt-T,
Football Termino|ogy Isn't Too Difficult

Difficult
stationed just outside his own end
in majority of cases. outside
the end on that side of the center
where four linemen are aligned.
8. The left halfback (called
''tailback" for obvious reasons) is
farthest back from the center,
with the fullback to one side and
closer to the center. The quarter
back Cor blocking back is in
position to block for the ball car
riers.
Strength-This formation. has
great power to the strong" side
tthat side on which four linemen
are situated beyond the center)
It is a versatile one, from which
any sector can be attacked by ball
carriers, and from which an ex-
cellent passing offense can be
used. The position of the wing
back is such that he can assist
in blocking, as a pass receiver, OF
IN running around the opposite
end on reverse plays (plays which
start in his direction, but strike
to the other side when he is
handed the ball by the original
CARRIER. The Pittsburgh deep re-
verse" is one of the most famous
and devastating plays known te
football.
Weakness - The Fundamental,
weakness of this formation is to.
ward the side of the line on which
only two linemen are positioned
beyond the center. This, it |.
called the weak side" Against .
properly balanced dfense it is ex'
tremely difficult to gain groune
in that direction. However, if tn,
defense has shifted too far to tn,
strong" side Of the offensive line
q team equipped with sount
I"weak-side" plays can raise havoc
Key player-The "tailback." O
left halfback. He must be tn,
most versatile player in the back
field. A dangerous runner an.
passer and, before the days o
free substitution. a good kicker
1t is the run-or-pass situation
when the ball goes to the tail
back" which freezes the defen
sive players for the split secont
necessary for success.
Jock Sutherland, the late Pitts
Eburgh coach, attained notabl
successes with this formation, uset
currently by many college teams
Double Wing Formation.
| Characteristics-1. AS suggeste.
by its name. this formation cal
, be quickly identified by the posi-
. ton Of two blackstone placed jus
, |outSide each end, but OCCASIONAL,
directly behind or just inside tn
ENDS.
I 2. The fullback is general,
stationed two to four yards bacl
of center and directly behind tina
position. with the quarterback t,
his right and closer to the line
(The line may be either balanced
or unbalanced)
! Strength-This formation, sci
dom seen today, is a superb on,
from which to forward pass (be
cause the two "wingbacks" car
quickly dart into a receiving posi-
Ition). generates hard-hitting play
into the line (if the fullback is ,
big, quick player. and is espe
Icially effective (again, because o
the wingbacks at each end) OF
reverse plays aimed anywher,
from tackle to tackle.
4 Single, double and even tripl,
reverse plays have stemmed from
this formation.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY the Achille
heel of the double wing formation
is the area outside the ends. I
is not an easy one from which
to run wide to the outside, sine,
fast and aggressive defensive end
can force plays to develop pre-
maturely. AS a result, devotee
of the double-wing resorted t.
the appendage of lateral passe
with which to break a carrier ou
and around the end.
The late Andy Kerr of Colgat,
developed multiple-lateral pass
ing offense, based on this forma'
ton, which made his teams ia
nous. but it depends on sure
handed wingbacks. since tn,
. lateral pass can backfire whel
used against an alert defensiv
team.
!, Key player-the fullback is tn
big man in this offense-and tha
means both literally and actually
A fast, powerful player in this po
Sition, able to strike quickly OF
direct plunges, or to spin an,
fake handing off the ball befor
he hits the line, sets up" tn
entire attack.
This was the favorite formation
I. OF the great Pop" Warner whel
he coached at Leland, Stanfor,