The Washington times., 1937-10-20
Safety Man
Ignores
PuntS
PASS ALWAYS
BY HARRY COSTELLO


different game than collegiate !
football.
In the first place, your profes-
sional team doesn't make any dis
tinction between a 7-6 defeat and
a 37-6 defeat; they're one and the
same. because in the book OF the
professional a defeat is a defeat
and the 7-6 loss counts as heavily
against the team as 37.6 loss.
There's no such thing as moral
victory in professional football.
The pro game differs consider
ably from the collegiate in matters
pertaining to offense, and, because
of these differences, naturally the
defense Of the pro team is much
different than that of the college
eleven. /
In the last several games played
by the washington Redskins, spec
tators have been at a loss to &C.
count for the failure OF Cliff
Battles, and other backs, to play
deep for punts of the enemy.
CLOSE TO SCRIMMAGE
These spectators, accustomed to
COLLEGIATE football, witnessed what
they thought Was the unusual spec
tacle of a smart back&like Battles
being caught close up to his Scrim-
mage line mates as the enemy got
away a punt. AS a matter Of fact
and record, Battles and other Red
skins backs-and the same is true
throughout pro football-are in
structed and directed not to go
deep for punts even on fourth
down, especially if the Redskins
are in front. The reason for this
is that a professional team that
is trailing will not hesitate to peg
forward passes on fourth down.
even if the ball is in its own ter
ritory.
Operating under the premise
that a defeat is a defeat, it mat
ters not whether the final score be
rs or 37-6, the pro team plays
always to win. Consequently, if
the forward pass appears to be the
weapon which will bring victory,
the pro team will resort to the
overhead unhesitatingly, be it
fourth down or first down, or sec
ond or third.
RAY TELLS STORY
Coach Ray Flaherty, of the Red
skins, yesterday at the Football
Writers Association luncheon in
Harvey's, told the story of a Red
skin defeat last year.
1--WE were playing the Green
Bay Packers. The Redskins
were in front, 80. Late in the
third quarter, the Packers came
into possession of the ball down
in their own territory. The
Packers could not gain. Finally,
it was fourth down and some
eight or nine yards to go for
first down. The Redskins an
ticipated a punt. One of our
backs went deep to play for the
punt. The Packers, instead of
punting, tossed a forward pass,
to Hutson. Hutson ran for the
touchdown which defeated us.
Had our back not gone deep for
the punt, chances are Hutson
would not have caught the
pass"
Just how seriously your profes-
sional team takes this game of
football aptly is illustrated today
by the Washington Redskins, and
was shown yesterday, too.
Todoy, despite the fact the prac-
tice gridiron is a quagmire, the
Redskins practiced. Yesterday,
too, they had good. stiff one
hour drill, in the rain.
REDSKINS SCHEDULE
The Redskins now face Phila-
delphia (Sunday), Brooklyn (Oc-
tober 3D, Pittsburgh November
1N. Cleveland (November 2D,
Green Bay (November 28) and the
New York Giants December 81
in a row. They cannot afford to
have a letdown, and careful prep
arations must be made for each
game in turn.
: Coach Flaherty made his plans
for the Philadelphia game last
Sunday night. He's sticking to
them, rain or shine, and those
plans call for a few surprises. for
Bill Hewitt, Dynamite Dave"
Smukler and those other Eagles
come Sunday.
Present indications are that sew
eraI hundred Washington fans,
possibly 500, will make the trip
to Philadelphia for Sundays game.
Jack Espey, general manager of
the Redskins, will complete ar
rangements for any one desiring
to make the trip. Most Of those
going up to Philly plan to see the
Georgetown.P Pennsylvania game of
Saturday, to take in the big
Georgetown alumni "doings" of
Friday and Saturday nights, and
then to witness the Redskins
Eagles game of Sunday.
Special low railroad rates, with
ticket accommodation, are in or.
der for the weekend.
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