Early Days For Offensive Linmen

According to Walter Camp in his book American Football (1891), offensive lineman should possess certain qualities because, during that time, football players would play both offense and defense. In the early years of football, the qualities that a coach should look for in a football player were as follows: The End or Rusher The end rusher must get into condition early. Unless the end rusher does, he cannot handle the work that must fan to his share, and the effect of a poor performance by the end is to produce disorder at once in the proportion of work of the tackles and halfbacks. When his own side has possession of the ball, his play, like that of any other man, must be governed by the character of the intended move, and the knowledge of what this move will be is conveyed to him by the signal. The nearer the play is to the end, the greater is the assistance he can render. There is no limit to the amount of work an end may perform in this direction. A good end should be able to toss his man back so that he cannot interfere with the play. The end is responsible for the area from the outside of the line to the sideline to the touch line. (Camp, 1891, p. 43) The Tackle While blocking may not be the most important duty; it is certainly the one which will bear the most cultivation in the tackles of the present day, for the ones who are really adept in it are marked exceptions to the general ran. The real accomplishment of a tackle depends upon the man's unflagging perseverance and study. A good defensive lineman cannot possibly be blocked every time in the same way, a good defensive lineman will soon become aware of the method and will be able to avoid the attempt. Dashing violently against a defensive lineman just as he is starting to work once or twice, and then he will make a false start to draw this charge and easily slip by the man. In blocking for a run, the case is very different and depends upon the point of assault. If the run is to be made around the right end, for instance, by the left halfback, the right tackle must block very slowly and long. That is, he must not dash up to his man the instant the ball is snapped and butt him aside, for the runner will not be near enough to derive any advantage from this, and the opponent and runner until the latter puts on steam to circle, when it his duty to engage his man sharply, and thus let the runner pass. In blocking for an inside run upon his own side, he should turn his man out or in, as the case may be just as the runner reaches the opening, being particularly careful not to make the break to early, lest the opponent reach the runner before he comes to the opening (Camp, 1891, p. 34). The Guard A man, who is slow, while it requires less agility than that of the tackle, can never satisfactorily fill the position of guard. When his own side has the ball the guard must block sharply until the quarter has time for receiving the ball, and, at any rate, to begin the motion of the pass. The blocking of a guard is much less exciting in its requirements than that of the tackle. Not that he must not block with equal certainty, but the act requires no such covering of two men as often happens in the case of a tackle. The guard forms closely towards the center, and then follows his man out if he moves out, but only as far as he can go, and still be absolutely certain that the opponent cannot pass between him and the snap? back. When blocking for a run, (of course much depends upon where the opening is to be made), and a guard must be governed accordingly. A guard may not move about so freely and must face his man more squarely then a tackle, for the guard must protect the quarterback first, while the tackle considers the half only. Previous to the snapback’s playing the ball, it is the duty of the guards to see that their individual
opponents do not succeed in either kicking the ball out from the snap? back’s hand or otherwise interfering with the play. This is quite an important feature, and a center should always feel that he is upon either hand a steady and wide-awake assistant who will neither be caught napping nor allow any unfair advantage to be taken of him (Camp, p. 26). The Center or Snap? Back The man who may be selected to fill the important position of center-rush must be a man of sense and strength. Brain and brawn are here at their highest premium. Putting the ball into play at the right time, and properly, is a great achievement, but it does not free the center? rush from all other obligations. During early progress anew snap-back usually sends the ball against his own legs, or, if he manages to keep him out of the way, is upset by his opponent for his pains. It is no child's play to hold a ball out at arm's length on the ground in front of one and roll it back so that it passes between one's feet, and still preserve a good balance in spite of sudden push of a hundred. and eighty-pound opponent. But that is just what a center has to do each time the ball is down and belongs to his side. The first thing to teach a center is to stand on his feet against any amount of jostling. Then he must learn to keep possession of the ball until ready to play it. The most finished and experienced centers have away of playing the ball just as they are half? straightening as though to meet a charge from the front. As to holding the ball, some centers prefer to take it by the end, while others roll it on its side. The ball can be made to rise for the quarterback if sent on end, whereas if played upon its side it lies closer to the ground. A center ought to practice putting the ball into play with either hand until he is fairly proficient with both hands. A coach should see to it that his center has a variety of men to face, some big, some tricky, and some ugly. If any old players come back to help the team in the way of coaching and among them are some counter-rushers, they can do no better work than by donning a uniform and playing against the "Varsity" center. (Camp 1891)