Evening star., 1941-09-23
Line Improved, Team
Is Deemed Better
Than Last Year
Ends, Tackles Stronger,
Centers Ruted Best
In Pro Grid Loop
By BILL DISMER, Jr.

Dy DAoNALAty
With their greatest weaknesses OF
1910 apparently eliminated by proln-
Using new talent, the Redskins rolled
into town and onto American Uni
versity's football field this morning
to begin final preparations for open
ing their National League campaign
against the Giants here next Sum
day.
Because Griffith Stadium won't be
available to them for practice until
Saturday, last years Eastern cham
pions will use A. us gridiron
through Friday. They already have
established permanent living quar-
tiers again at the Fairfax Hotel.
Three new ends, a pair of tackles
and guy like Ki Aldrich have COM
bined to create the belief that the
Redskins may come up with the
best line in the league. In place OF
Charlie Malone, who was at the end
of his rope last year without know
ing it, and Sandy Sanford, this
years training produced two &C
knowledged stars of major institu-
tions, Ed Cifers of Tennessee, and
Frank Clair of Ohio State, and
third, Joe Aguirre Of st. Marys OF
California who, some Redskins
believe, may develop into the best
of them all. Weighing 220 and
and standing fraction over 6-foot
8, Aguirre is the biggest end on the
squad.
Strongest in Middle.
And, instead of Turk Edwards.
who ended his long career in pre-
game huddle at the very outset OF
last season, and Bob Fisher, a totally
valueless tackle throughout his only
year in the loop, the Skins this year
will have Fred Davis, 240- pound
stalwart from University of Ala
bama, and Jim (Red) Stuart OF
Oregon, some Is pounds lighter than
Davis but destined to be a great pro
tackle, according to Redskin bosses.
It's in the middle of their line,
however, that the Redskins appear
to be the strongest they ever have
been. For with the acquisition OF
Ki Aldrich, it has been possible to
convert Vic Carroll into a running
guard. the position he formerly
played even better than the manner
in which he held down snapper
back duties. There's no other club
in the league which possesses such
three outstanding centers as Aldrich,
Bob Titchenal and either Steve An
drake or George Smith-whichever
one of the latter two the Redskins
retain-and Carroll's shift one posi-
ton to the right gives the team five
exceptional guards. No complaint
ever has been heard of the play OF
the other guards-Steve Slivinski,
an all-league selection last year;
Dick Farman, Glen Stralka and
Clyde Shugart.
Valuable Trio.
New backs weren't plentiful In
camp, for the simple reason that the
Redskins didn't figure they needed
them, but in Ken Dow of Oregon
State, Jack Banta of Southern Cali
fornia and Cece Hare of Gonzaga,
the Tribe brought home trio who
may prove valuable. None OF them
stands as tall as feet. Hare, at Sill,
being the tallest. But Dow and
Banta know how to hit the line or
skirt the ends and Hare has won
praise for his blocking. Banta also
kicks, but he is the only one of the
three who does anything but run
and block.
AL Kruger, an end throughout
his college career at U. S. c., Will
give the Redskins another wingback
If he makes good in that position.
The Redskins would like to capi-
talize on his exceptional pass-catch-
ing abilities, but there Is genuine
skepticism that he can block well
enough to stick in the league.
But wingbacks are something the
Redskins aren't worrying much
about-not with veterans like Ed
Justice, Wilbur Moore and Ray Hare
around. Moore, incidentally, re-
turned to Washington feeling much
better than when he left Colorado
Springs and it now appears as if the
Redskins might be 100 per cent phy-
sically perfect by game time Sum
day. Frank Filchock's shoulder was
baked and taped in Chicago yester-
day, easing his pain considerably,
and Titchenal, the other member of
the sick bay is up and about again
after an attack of flu.