Quincunx and Keppie\'s hypothesis

[Cesco]

Per your illustration, for your final disposition of the fighting array you have the entirety of the Roman army on line, with no gaps, in close fighting array of 2.5 Roman feet per man (the exact width of the scutum I might add).

What would happen when the orders were given to open ranks to the six feet of space a soldier needed to fight effectively with sword and shield, per Polybius? Would the entire army just open up further to the left and right? Which maniple was the pivot point for the rest to move from? Would the new array be twice or more the width?

According to the Taylor's paper, opening ranks would not involve to double the front of a maniple, but were the ranks to be doubled...
I really recommend to read THIS http://www.academia.edu/727113/_Not_so_d...an_armies_
and THIS http://www.academia.edu/3394799/Roman_So...ing_Paper_
It is very interesting expecially if read with the text of the Epitoma rei militari ( I. 26)!