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Preface - Written for coaches, players, and fans, this book deals with two of the "P's" immortalized in the "Punt, Pass and Pray" system of Michigan's famed coach Fielding Yost, but passes lightly over the third. This approach is not intended to slight the sideline prayer before the opening whistle; but professional football players seemingly would rather put their trust in General Grant's precept that the Good Lord is on the side with the heaviest artillery. Only today the dictum would be "with the heaviest air arm," for certainly no army and no professional football can win without it.

01. Forward Pass - The art of throwing a football from one player to another over the line of scrimmage coincided, roughly, with the debut of the horseless carriage, and in some quarters it was almost as much derided. Syracuse, for one, would have none of the forward pass until Yale (or was it Cornell?) taught the Orange better.

02. Ball Throwing - I shall discuss the art of throwing a football under three main headings: the grip, delivery of the ball, and setting up to pass. Grip and delivery are the mechanics of actually throwing the ball—of getting it up into the air. Setting up to pass, on the other hand, refers to getting into position to throw the ball; and these fundamental movements (which must become fully automatic for the passer) are part and parcel of the various pass plays.

03. Pass Defenses - Thus far, this book has been a rather single-minded account with em­phasis on the offense, particularly the skills in throwing a forward pass. So, for a change, let's look at the other side of the picture and I will try to document my answer to the question the gentlemen of the press invariably ask a graybeard like myself during an interview, "What is the biggest change in professional football since you entered this ever-changing game?" Invariably I reply that the biggest change in football since 1949 has been the emphasis placed on defense.

04. Beating Defenses - As a means of frustrating the passer, the zone defense has become a perfectionist's dream within the last few years. From a defensive standpoint, to make the zone a success you must be able to rush the passer with four men. This is not easily done in the National Football League, except by the Colts who use a 4-3 zone approximately 70 per cent of the time.

05. Passer Protection - In order to understand fully how we protect the passer, the reader must first know our basic reason for using given numbers. I do not intend to take up the running game in this book, but I believe the following para­graphs are necessary to help the reader understand our basis for determin­ing the direction of attack.

06. Pass Routes - Running the individual pass route is the most important phase of the passing offense. An end or any other receiver must be able to beat one defensive man when covered singly. Quarterbacks set their teams in vari­ous formations with the purpose of trying to force the defense to cover at least one receiver with a man of their own.

07. Other Routes - Coaches in professional football have accomplished a great deal in ex­ploiting the pass offense, partly because of the skillful integration of the pass routes of ends, flankers and remaining backs.

Diagram 32 illustrates several different pass routes which the remaining backs can run in various plays that the quarterback may call. These routes can be run to the strong side as well as to the weak side, as shown in the diagram.

08. Receivers - Any discussion of the passing attack would not be complete without reference to some of the magnificent receivers of modern times who have made the quarterback's lot a happy one. As the saying goes, a quarter­back is no better than his receivers, although at the same time, you can also turn that phrase the other way round. For years, I had the privilege of working with two of the best—Elroy (Crazy Legs) Hirsch and Tom Fears, both of Los Angeles Rams.

09. Quarterback - Throughout my long passing career, there has been at least one group of opponents for whom I have held the utmost respect. They are the de­fensive halfbacks, the quarterback's arch-enemies. Without good defen­sive halfbacks, no team can succeed. In fact, if a team is deficient in the secondary, the chances are it will languish in the cellar, no matter how brilliant the rest of its array.

10. Kicking Game - No treatise on punting would be complete without a low bow to a unique, round little man by the name of LeRoy N. Mills, who, more than a quarter of a century ago, introduced a system of kicking that threatened to revolutionize the ancient art. Mr. Mills, a Princetonian who played football around the turn of the century, was long before my time. But, I have heard so many older players arid coaches talking with awe of the man that I had to investigate his techniques and read the book he wrote on them, Kicking the American Football.

11. Punting - Since every punter kicks somewhat differently from the next, he should take the stance that is most comfortable to him. The stance should be such that the kicker will have proper balance and control. This is important because he may have to reach out to either side or jump for a bad snap from the center. Keep arms and hands flexed and in a relaxed position.

12. Play Caller? - This is a burning question that puts me squarely on the hot seat. It created a crisis in my career that led to my detachment from the Los Angeles Rams, the result of a difference of opinion with coach Sid Gillman as to who should call the plays on the field—he or I?

13. Your Opponent - The most important thing a modern football player as an individual, and players as a team, should know are the men they are to play against each week. I have never known two players to be exactly alike. For example, Ernie Stautner of the Steelers and Big Daddy Lipscomb of the Colts play the same defensive tackle, but use different techniques.

14. Do It Again? - I suppose that every performer in every realm of professional sports is asked the same question, namely: "If you knew what you know today, would you do it all over again?" There is also the variation of that ques­tion: "If you had a son who wanted to be a professional football player, would you let him do it, or wring his neck?"

Glossary - Strong Side—The side occupied by the tight, or closed end, and the flanker.

Weak Side—The side of the spread end, away from the flanker.

Weak-Side HALFBACK-Offensively, he is the halfback to the side of the spread end.   Defensively, he is the safety man to the side of the spread end.

Spread End—The end spread away from his tackle eight to twelve yards.

Tight End—The end lined up two to three yards from the tackle.

THE END