"Probably the public generally, and especially that part of the public not particularly familiar with the football rules, will not appreciate at first glance the full effect of the recommendations of the football committee of the Athletic Association of Harvard Graduates, as made in their report. Entirely aside from the suggestions for more strictly enforcing the rules and making brutality too expensive a risk to be profitable, there are a number of important changes suggested in the technical part of the game.
"The formation of a neutral zone between the two teams, as wide as the ball is long, will tend to keep the teams far enough apart to enable the officials to distinctly see every motion of every man in the line, and the fact that the minute a player puts any part of his body into this neutral zone he may be penalized for offside play will do away with much of the rough contact now possible in the line of scrimmage.
"Of course every football man will readily realize that the permitting of the forward pass is a radical departure and will be open up possibilities that are difficult for any one to forecast until they have been tried in actual play. Probably the forward pass will not only result in weakening the defence--in forcing them to play some of their line further back; but it will have a tendency to prevent men in the line from crouching, as they do at present, as it will always be necessary for a player to get quickly be necessary for a player to get quickly to any spot to which the ball may have been passed.
"In the clause opening the offence the coaches and captains are given a free hand to develop any kind of a fast running attack, the only limit which has been placed being to guard against a preponderance of mass plays, by requiring any additional players who are placed back of the scrimmage line to be at least 5 yards back, and by increasing the distance to gain from 5 to 10 yards.
"Abolishing the punt-out will place a premium on touchdowns made near the middle of the goal-line and a premium on skill in kicking goals at difficult angles, and eliminate any possibility of roughness on the part of the defending team in attempting to interfere with the punt-out.
"Widening the distance between the goal posts will increase the tendency to try for goals from the field, and make goal kicking at difficult angles a little easier.