Evening star., 1938-10-13
F|[CHOCK SCOUTS
DETROIT FOR REDS
Line on Lions New D. c. Pro
Got as Pirate Likely to
Aid in Sunday Tilt.
BY BILL DISMER, Jr.,
Star Staff Correspondent.

DETROIT, Oct. 13.-Little thought
at the time the deal was made was
given to the possibility that they had
obtained more than good quarter
back, passer and blocker when the
Washington Redskins obtained Frank
Filchock from the Pittsburgh Pirates
early this week, but the acquisition
of the old Indiana star has proven as
timely as it was strengthening.
Until Filchock was dropped sur
prisingly in his lap, Coach Ray Flah-
erty was faced with the unenviable
prospects of preparing the Redskins
to meet the Detroit Lions here Sun
day without knowing anything more
about the Lions current style Of play
than he had gained by hearsay and
brief newspaper accounts Of their
games. He hadn't had the opportunity
to scout them this season, and as the
Redskins weren't on the Lions schedule
last year, it meant that he would have
to try and remember what their
general type of play was two years
ago when he last saw them.
Gives Flaherty the Lowdown.
But the hopelessness of the situa-
ton disappeared with the coming OF
Filchock, for Frank, as a member OF
the Pirates, played against the Lions
last month when the Detroiters beat
the Pittsburghers, 1T. Ever since
he joined the Redskins on Tuesday
Filchock has been in conference with
Flaherty at every available moment,
outlining Lion plays and describing
their attack and defense as it was
against the Pirates.
According to the quiet-spoken new
conner, the Lions were lucky to win
for both Of their touchdowns resulted
from Pirate fumbles which were re-
covered by the Detroiters and run to
scores. Filchock also advised Flaherty
and the rest Of his new teammates that
the Lions depend more upon run
ming attack than they do on passes
Indeed, the Lions have thrown less
passes than any other team in the
league and have completed only II OF
them in three games, or an average oi
less than six per game. They have
thrown only 40 altogether. In contrast
the Redskins have tossed 78 and COM
pleted AZ. or an average of 10 game
Yardage Gains Average 1913.
Although Filchock substantiates
Flaherty's opinion that the Lions have
probably the best running backs in
the league with Western Maryland's
Bill Shepherd, Fordham's Fred Vanzo
and the veteran Ernie Caddel leading
the attack, statistics show that only
two teams have lower yard-gaining
records than the Detroiters, who are
averaging only 1913 yards per game.
Flaherty isn't letting the Redskins
read these figures, however, for, strange
as it may seem, the champions still
are a cocky lot and that Giant defeat
hasn't chastened them too much. They
are a little down" over the fact that
Capt. Turk Edwards hasn't pulled on
uniform since last Sundays game
and apparently won't play here unless
absolutely needed. Charley Malone also
is limping bit, but is expected to start
at his usual end post. Outside of per-
sonal sympathies for these two, the
champs are as clipper as ever.
With the addition of Filchock and
the ability of Riley Smith to play for
the first time since the Chicago all
star game, the Indians starting back
field won't be determined until after
Saturdays final workout. Tillie Man.
ton, the jovial place-kicker de luxe
acquired from the Giants via the
waiver route, also is back and, like
Filchock and Smith, more of blocker
than a ball carrier So If the Redskin
ball carriers don't get plenty of inter-
ference Sunday, something will be rot
ten in Detroit.