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Originally Posted by Mattyk
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Just a not on the article - the first question was "Why must there be seven men on the line?" According to the author (quoting London), it is so that the Defense can identify the eligible receivers. This is just flat out wrong. It was one of the earliest rule changes in the game (as in early 1900's) to prevent flying wedges which were causing player deaths - more than a few of them. Here is an article on it:
CFB Explainer: Seven Men On the Line of Scrimmage - Sunday Morning Quarterback
Just interesting that the author and other players seemed clueless on this. I thought it was pretty well known. Mandating a seven man line and prohibiting pre-snap movement towards the line of scrimmage were the rule changes that fundamentally changed the game
away from being simply a modified form of rugby and were essential to creating the game of football we know today.
Okay, back to topic.