Evening star., 1938-12-24
Reserve Eleven
Nearly as Keen
As Regulars
Has Right Combines
In All Departments,
Says Trojan Coach
BY GRANTLAND RICE,


will have to be on guard against
the speed that is coming from How
ard Jones modern Trojan machine
where both line and backfield strike
with lightning effect.
I can't recall having looked at
more fast. big men on one squad
than Southern California can send
into action. The average weight Of
the first team is around 200 pounds,
and there isn't a numbering athlete
in the group. They all can move in
a hurry. The second team is almost
on par with the first, just as the
case was at Pittsburgh year ago.
l have been watching Coach Jones
and his staff speeding up the Trojan
attack and defense for several days
and l can advise Wallace Wade and
his strong Duke team that they have
quite job ahead on Pasadena turf.
This is one of the fastest teams
I've ever had" Coach Jones told me.
1T is big and rugged-but after all
this is the age of speed. I have at
least four backs who are as fast as
any I've seen, and there is all the
speed any one needs along the line
and out at the ends"
There are six sophomoreS and four
juniors on his replacement eleven,
so you can figure the Trojan pros
poets for 1899.
The Speed Factor.
This Trojan speed factor counts
in more ways than mere ball carry
ing. 1t counts in rushing the passer
and rushing the kicker. It counts in
pass interception and in returning
kicks that happen to be trifle be-
Eond an ends guarding range. 1t
counts in every form of defensive
play.
Using this speed in every available
way Jones also has worked excep-
tionally hard on sharp, decisive tao
king and hard blocking. He always
has been firm believer in the
fundamentals. blocking and tackling.
and these were two of the main
details that upset Notre Dame. A
f1ock of fast-moving, 2O0-poundere
can do lot of jolting when trained
and developed along these lines.
This Southern California outfit is
balanced almost perfectly, after
slow early season start.
The line matches the backfeld
and Jones has six ends almost on
par, at least three of them we'll
over 200 pounds and over feet
IN height. These ends all are fast.
Ihe end play in the Notre Dame
game was given the purple award
by experts as the finest of the wear,
II played big part in bottling up
Notre Danes exceptionally fast
backs. 1t smothered Californias
attack completely.
After watching this Trojan SQUAD
at work should say that Dukes
best chance is the use of an effective
passing game. I haven't seen
running attack all fall. with the
possible exception of Pitts star
quartet. which might make any
| neadWay against this Trojan de-
tense. 1t is sWift-moving. powerful
and alert. 1t isn't likely to be
drawn out of position. There is no
power around that can move 1t to
any extent.
Passing and high-class deception
are the only assaulting moves that
might break down this defense that
suddenly found itself down the
| stretch
One of the Best.
Howard Jones isn't given to many
words. He isn't any too quick on
the optimistic trigger But he told
me today he thought this present
Trojan squad, as it happens to be
at this point. is about as good an
all-around team as he ever sent to
the Rose Bowl.
Well certainly have no alibis If
Duke can beat us" Howard said.
I'VE have just about the right
combination of what is needed. We
were terrible against Alabama. We
improved only a little against
| Oregon. We were far from our best
against Ohio State. But we have
been coming along to reach our peak
against California, U. c. l.. A. and
Notre Dame.
Il am not fooling myself about
Duke. I happen to know what a
fine coach Wallace Wade is. I also
happen to know the defensive
strength it takes to 60 through
nine games and not be scored on.
We know that only high-class foot
ball can beat Duke. But still don't
think we ever sent team into the
Rose Bowl any better than this
present squad is"
This is something when you re-
call that against two strong Pitts
burgh teams and Tulane the Rose
Bowl Trojans ran up more than
100 points, which is scoring de luxe.
Strength Evenly Balanced.
Jones outstanding stars include
big Smith at guard-Hoffman at
fullback. known as the answer to
a coach'S prayer"-Lansdell, his
brilliant quarter-Banta and Ander-
son and Jones, two of these on the
second team-all of his six ends
but above all an even balance in
team strength, whether you take
the first or the second team.
I must say that Duke will need
much more offensive strength than
it showed against Pittsburgh to
beat this Southern California round
up, so we'll equipped physically and
so we'll drilled in the fundamentals
of hard football-blocking and
tackling. Dukes defensive strength
is too we'll known. But between
this date and the Rose Bowl test
Duke will have to locate a much
stronger attack than it has shown
all year to match the offense that
Southern California will send to
the field.
After watching this Trojan team
(See FOOTBALL. Page A-I50