There are, generally speaking, two systems of line play on defense, one used all over the field, the other usually confined to the space between the two twenty-yard lines. The first is the low-charging system, the second the stand-up style. Their use depends largely upon the natural material available. If the line is big, rangy, and heavy, the stand-up style may be used to deadly advantage. If the material is only of medium weight, the coach would do well to stick to the low-charging method all over the field. The first system is well adapted to the ripping, grinding, tearing, breaking through style of line play so much in evidence at West Point, the second makes it possible to turn the attack back upon itself, to spoil it, bottle it up and tangle it with its own forwards. The stand-up style is valuable when the player can carry his man upstream, although in the other system the same thing is accomplished to a considerable extent. The stand-up style permits of one maneuver that the low-charging style does not - "stalling"; stiff-arming one's opponent and swinging round to right or left. The two styles, as I have said, may be advantageously combined, but it takes a football artist to do it.

One variation of the stand-up system, used by one of the most successful teams in the East, is that of blocking up the line with the bodies of both offensive and defensive players, thus making a solid wall, impenetrable to the attack. The objection to this method is, however, that it allows the play to get under way and the interference for end and tackle runs is not so quickly broken up. In the system alluded to the defensive player chucks his opponent under the chin, straightening him up in the charge, and lifts one of his legs, thus getting him to one side, bound, practically in a helpless position, and choking the line with his body.

In all sound styles, however, the charge of the defensive line goes with the count of "one-two-three" - three distinct motions into the attacking line, ending in the final upstream heave that simply smothers the play.

If the coach has been so fortunate as to have an unusually fine squad he will find his line as finally chosen freighted about as follows: Ends, 165-185 lbs.;Tackles, 185-200 lbs.; Guards, 190-215lbs.;Center, 175-200 lbs. The top weights given do not necessarily imply lack of speed. Indeed, there have been stars at the following extremes: Ends, 132 and 190 lbs.; Tackles, 165 and 2351bs.; Guards, 168 and 230 lbs., and Centers, 160 and 250 lbs. - these on high-class teams, too. But the weights first mentioned are close enough to the ideal. With such a line a coach has a set of forwards that should be able to play any style of defense - to stand up and look over the opposing line when necessary, and to charge low and hard when the situation calls for that system.

Above all things, the forward must use his hands all the time. Some men swing their arms nervously, and then bring them through when the ball is snapped, while others hold one or both arms rigid, behind them, until in actual action. There is nothing radically wrong with either method so long as the forward gets his hands and arms into the play the instant it starts. He has his opponent at a great disadvantage since the latter, under the rules, when attacking, cannot use his hands or arms, and must block with his body, shoulder, or legs. Furthermore, the defensive forward, by swinging through with his hands, can stagger his opponent before the latter can get in the full strength of his charge across the neutral zone, this zone, by the way, being one of the greatest of aids to the defense-Should the offensive forward be playing extremely low, the defensive player would do well to pull him over on his face and go on through him into the play, whereas should the opponent be playing on the customary plane, or a little too high, every effort should be made to lift him, to straighten him up and carry him back into the play. Since most teams use line men in the interference, this carrying back of the protecting forward will tend to smash such interference and disrupt the play, at the same time allowing the defensive forward a chance to tackle the runner with his own legs nicely braced, so that the weight can be used to bend back the upper part of the runner's body and put him down toward his own goal. High tackling in the line, when the men are strong enough to bend the runner over backward, is hardly a serious fault. On the other hand, should the runner be one of those short, stocky backs who run like rabbits, very close to the ground, the defensive forward would do better to smother him as quickly as possible, pinning him to earth. A great deal rests with the individual brain work of the defensive forward, who should do his utmost to "fox" his opponent into an awkward position, wherein his balance will be insecure. There should be every attempt to deceive the enemy as to which side the crash will come, and as to whether he is to be pulled over or carried back.

The work of the center on defense has been treated at some length in a previous chapter. As a general rule the position of all the forwards save the center should be with the outside foot - the foot farthest from the center - on the line, the other foot braced behind, both toes toward the line, and the whole body, with the back straight, at right angles to the line of scrimmage. The inside, or both hands, should be on the ground, save when the forward is playing the high, or stand-up defense. After a brief glance at the formation assumed by the opponents, the eyes of the forward should be on the ball, and he should start his charge the exact instant the ball is snapped. He can keep watch of his opponent out of the tail of his eye, and he should never let the ball disappear from view until the' conclusion of the play.

Defensive guards play a shade outside their opponents and drive them across the play should the latter be aimed directly at center, while if the play goes outside of the guard position, it is a wise plan to charge through outside the attacking guard and into the runner or his interference. Should the play go wide of his position the defensive guard should charge through and follow it in the hope of making a tackle from behind. When the stand-up defense is used the guard should stiff-arm his man and swing around behind his own line to support the threatened spot. These directions hold good in the case of a balanced formation of the line. The defensive shift to meet the attacking shift is treated at length in a subsequent chapter. Above all things the guard must follow the ball so closely as to make sure that no crisscross or delayed pass will coax him out of place so as to compel him to leave an opening in his own position.