Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 278, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 November 1912 — WORK OF PUNTER NOT HARD [ARTICLE]

WORK OF PUNTER NOT HARD

Under New Rules Kickers Are Called on Less Often to Boot—Feature Almost Eliminated. Punters are likely to be put out of their jobs If the early football games of the season can be said to accurately forecast the action of the new rules. From all over the country there is agreement on this one point in connection with the radically changed regulations—punting has virtually been eliminated. Now a team can keep the hall, and make gains, hence there is no reason to surrender it by a punt, says the Milwaukee Sentinel. Instead there is recourse to the forward pass which means big gains if it works, and should it fail, carries no penalty severer than a lost down, unless, of course, the ball should be cleanly caught by the enemy and be carried for a big gain. This lack of punting may be said to be the most notable change worked by the new rules. It was a reform that was desired, for in the last few years the defense had gained strength to a point where the offense had little chance to. make consistent progress against a team of anywhere near its own caliber. Hence there was the constant use of the punt. Two tries, a petty 1 gain and then a punt. That was the program. The football authorities sought to do away with this condition. They weakened the defense. The forward pass was made, legal any-: where on the field, the number of downs was Increased from three to-, four. The removal of the restrictions on, the forward pass makes it a play thatIs likely to be used all the time, and; compels the team on defense to play a more open game in order to guard against a surprise. With the defense thus opened there Is a better chance for fleet backs to run the ends, or for heavy plunging backs to hit the line for small gains. The added downs makes this style of. play the more successful since withJ four chances to make ten yards, the* comparatively small average of only two and one-half yards to plunge suffices to hold the ball.

During the three or four last seasons, the coaches ran around breathless to find punters, and to develop their distance kicking ability. Now the punt comes so comparatively seldom that the importance of the punter is much reduced. The abolition of the onside kick also does away to a large extent with the need for a . man who can punt accurately. Only for the field goal kicker is there still a strong demand, and unless later games bring some change it is likely that in this department the use of the skilled toe will have its best development.