The Detroit times., 1915-11-13
Lack of Weight and Poor Tacklng Chief Handicap
Of Grand Rapids Today Writes Furniture City Critic
Visitors Attack Rank
ed With DetrOit's By
Birchard
The Record of Five Years
BY GLEN r. ORCHARD.

Sporting Editor, Grand Rapids News
What chance has Grand Rapids
Central high against Detroit Cen.
trail today"
To The ordinary fan at FIRST glance
the answer is the stereotyped NO
more'n a rabbit"
TO the critic who has followed the
team closely from the first OF the
season the answer is a fighting
chance"
Detroit is a much weightier team
than Grand Rapids. but IL lacks the
speed OF Grand Raj ids. Detroit has
received coaching OF the highest or
der but so has Grand Rapids. And
the latter has few tricks in store
that should prove sorely surprising
70 the metropolitsns.
As Detroit has laid of the passing
game all season there is lttlesr ea-
son to doubt tAat IL Will resort 10 the
aerial route quite frequently. For
this game Coach Upton has perfect
ed what be believes 70 be a real de-
Tense. This defense has worked ex-
tremely we'll against the reserves in
scrimmage and. ii it runs 10 prac-
tiCe form IT. the big game.
Detroit should &c successfully
blocked
Extensively. from a play stand
point, there is no reason 10 doubt the
teams being on par or with odds,
II any. on the local crew. This latter
because OF the weak showing OF
Grand Rapids so far this season and
a rather secure feeling that pervades
the Detroit camp relative TO the final
outcome of the game.
So much for good points.
Grand Rapids mas one fatal weak
ness. II is poor tackIins
Without doubt the poorest
lunch OF tacklers mat can be found
on any OF the big state teams is
tha, on the Grand Rapids muster roll.
Considerable attention has been
paid 10 this department, but due 70
lack OF facilities and soft ground 70
work on, there has not been the
necessary time spent or this all-im.
portant work
Ohlsnd. Mathesnn- and Wander
Nicer have the right Idea-getting
the man low and hard The remain.
I ing members 80 far have simply
been grabbing at opponents with the
ball. Grabbing in a football game Is
about as productive OF results as
reaching into a fair grab bag. The
! grabber Is generally stung.
We have neglected 10 mention one
I prospective tackler. That is Barry
Stuart In scrmmage he has been
doing extremely well. but from a
real game standpoint he is yet TO
receive The test,~-due to a several
weeks layon 10 nurse an injured
wrist.
There is the question OF weight 10
he considered. Detroit outweighs
Grand Rapids about II pounds 70
man. This extreme added weight
may be used to pound one particu
lar spot in the local line until it
waivers and then gives way.
= Coach Upton has worked UP a
good defensive line that may be
found pregnable only OF tackle.
Another question arises. and that
is. can the lighter local forwards
hold hack the heavier Detroit line
until tho speedy Upton backs have
got under way. n it can then De-
troit viii hnd the battle carried 70 II
with q vengeance.
Each team offers a star In the
kicking department Hendrian and
Steketee will do the booting The
latter has been smashing he leath-
or through the pests from the 30 and
ioyari lines consistently in the last
two weeks practice and upon his
trustg right foot many points may
b. decided.
Bat In a nutshell the Furniture
City line must hold 10 give the backs
o chance To get in motion, II must
sckle low and hard. and II must
keep o hundred weather eyes open
on Hcpdrian and Moceel. Huston
must pay particular attention 10
every move Of straw. Pal Booth
must take good care Of Peacock
and Matheson will have to be on the
alert a all defensive times agains,
Boville
ono thing 70 certain. there Is no,
Grand Rapids player but what BE
lleveg his team g. going 10 win. and
fhcy arc ably backed In this respect
hy Coach Upton.