Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-17
VANDY COACHES PUZZLED
PROGRESS TO DATE IS FAR
FROM PLEASING TO THEM
End Pcsitions Cause worry-Ccuter
shifted to winE-DcfectS
Arc t:lnring.

| NASHVILLE. TENN, October To-.
| Although the Vanderbilt football war
rtors have unuuestionably made some
i slight Improvement In both individual
and team play, the glarinS defects in
| tho offensive work OF the forwards and
| tho failure to develop Il capable run
ming mate for Captain Cohen have be.
come so pcrpleNing N problem 10 the
coaches that the proSrOss made is
! ovcrshaduwed by the faults that are
yet to be overcome. UP to the present
time no real strong team has been on
| eountsrcd on the schedule, ana the
showing of the candidates against the
foes, who have proven unexpectedly
weak. can hardly be correctly gagged.
Confronted with the failure OF all
the end candidates. McGugin has up
SGT the line and shifted Pryor williams,
n freshman. from center TO end, Civ
ing the snapper back position to Roger
asset Is his strneEth and weight and
an earncstness that has enabled him
thus Tar To grasp tho fundamental
principles Of the game. although he Is
utterly lacking In the science OF end
play. The constant shifting in tho
makeup OF the eleven and tho ncccs-
s!ty for drilling the rudiments OF foot
ball into the candidates has retardeN
all efforts to perfect team play or to
work out any methods OF open play
with which the Commodores in times
past came 10 be successful.
In the games SO far nothing but
straight football has been ATTEMPTED
and against forward passing the eleven
has looked wocfully weak, for the ren-
son that no opportunity has been or
Tered 10 the coaches 10 give attention
TO defense for the airline device so
hammerinE the fundamental principles
or the game into the newcomers De-
tensirly the forwards have shown
some improremeet in blockins and
poorly supported in their efforts TO
advance the oval. two-thirds of the
gains that have been made by the
Commodorcs having been Il result of
circling the tanks.
Prospects in the backheld for
shifting. without seriously weakening
the attack are somewhat brighter,
since Fricl. product 81 the Ashland
tkyp High School: Floyd from the
Middle Tennessee State Normal, ana
Kay, from Hawkins's School. have dis
played All encouraE inS neetness of foot
and steady Improvement in their
play Around Hubert Wigs. MuGugin
is hopeful OF building up speedy and
shiity set of backs, and while he
dreams no dreams for this year is
expecting TO mould tho new material
next season. into squad that may I've
able TO carry out his plans for Il come
back Save for Rabbit Currey, who
this year IS heavier and, if anything,
faster than ever, and who has forsaken
HIS hnbit Of running away from his
interference all the hackfeld candi-
dates are untried Tommy Zerfoss is
bidding for place. as is Bob Turner,
on last seasons squad. hut Turner
seems unable to get himself in motion
until he has succeeded in passing the
line of scrimmaEe.
While the Nandy coaches are facing
n huge undertaking in getting results
from green hackticld, their chief
worry is with the big forwards De-
fensivcly they are fair enough, but Of
fensivcly. In all the games up to date
they have shown little strength in
opening holes
Although the progress Is ted.ously
slow, Commodore supporters are
pleased with the general condition OF
affairs. and while no predictions are
being made for "A successful showing
against any OF the big elevcns on the
schedule, some hope is entertained that
the string of defeats will not be lonS
AS 1t was last year.