Evening star., 1941-10-22
Downtrodden Rams
Have Great Backs
In Hall, Drake
Redskins Face Potent
Cleveland Pair in
Tilt Here Sunday
BY BILL DISMER, Jr.


Two backs who could make any
team in the National Football
League will be with the Cleveland
Rams Sunday when they pay their
first visit to Grifith Stadium since
1898 and, with them, you wonder
how Dutch Clark's team could be in
the midst of q four-game losing
streak.
It's a matter OF record that the
Rams haven't won game since
nosing out the Chicago Cardinals,
1916, more than a month ago, al
though they did show signs Of
swapping their slump last Sunday
when they came within a minute
of tying the mighty Packers. Only
Don Hutsons last-minute field goal
beat the Rams, who previously had
marched 81 yards to a touchdown
after stopping a Packer drive on
their 3-yard line.
The Rams greatest stars are con-
trasting types of backs-their all
League fullback. 220-pound Johnny
Drake, and nifty passer who needs
no introduction to local fans; Parker
Hall, who helped Mississippi beat
George Washington here four years
ago.
Veteran Drake Hard to Stop.
Drake, the only member of the
original Rams who entered the
league in 1887, was runnerup for two
individual titles last yesr-scoring
and ground-gaining. He lost the
former crown by a single point to
Don Hutson, while Whizzer White
was credited with "a more yards
than the ex-Purdue star Two years
ago. Drake also was second in scor-
ing only to Andy Farkas who had
to set new record for touchdowns
to beat him out.
Like Drake, Hall was second best
in two departments last year-pass-
ing and kicking. Sammy Baugh's
remarkable punting average Of 81
yards was the only thing that kept
the leagues best booting feat away
from Hall, who averaged 43. while
only Davey O'Brien and Baugh out
shone the former Mississippi sem
sation in passing. Hall threw 1873
passes in the Rams II games and
completed IT. Only O'Brien threw
more passes than Hail. who was
topped in completions only by Davey
and Baugh. Hall was reported to be
slightly injured last week, but he
started against the Packers and
there has been no word that he
wouldn't be in shape to face the
Redskins.
A slight surprise came with the
Rams advance publicity which ad-
vised that Rudy Mucha, their all
America center from Washington
last year, has been converted into
a blocking back. 1t appears that
Clark thought Mucha's 228 pounds
might be used to better advantage
In the backfle1d.- especially as he
has three pretty good centers in the
veteran Bill Conkright, John Haman
from Northwestern and Bin Rieth
from Carnegie Tech. Conkright,
who intercepted five passes in the
Rams first three games, Is the start
ing ball-snapper.
Has Line Averaging 2I5.
With such guys as Drake and
Hall around and a Cleveland line
that will average better than 2l5.
the Rams undoubtedly will be
threats either on the ground or
through the air. and it i'll behooves
the Redskins to take them lightly.
Maybe that's one reason why Coach
Ray Flaherty ordered a light scrim-
mage this morning such as the one
last week which produced such
gratifying results.
Flaherty's or Turk Edwards big
task, it appears, is smoothing out
the rough spots in the work Of
Rookie Jim Stuart, who hasn't seen
as much service at tackle as the
other freshman, Fred Davis. Stuart
may have to play half the game
Sunday. with Bill Young incapaci-
tated by bad leg, but because
he is a hard worker and learns
quickly the Redskin coaches are
manifesting lot of faith in the
Oregon product.