Evening star., 1946-09-29
Improved Pittsburgh
Will Face Redskins,
Not Yet al Best

JOS SIdlllI lobcSt Sllpe, II1P Ue6l
shortage ano the high cost of
breathing will DE of slight import to
Washingtonians today The big
problem is, can the Redskins lick
the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Ma
tional League debut at Griffith
Stadium? The kickoff is scheduled
for 2 pm.
1t should be typically colorful
Redskin opening with 33621 GUS
toners. a Sellout crowd, in the pews
Secretary of State Jimmy Byrnes
one of the Tribes StauncheSt sup
porters, will miss it, but Chief JUS
tice Fred M. VinSon. Attorney Gen.
eral Tom Clark, Postmaster Gen
Bob Hannegan, Agriculture Secre-
tary Clifford Anderson and Labor
Secretary Lewis Schwellenbach will
give official Washington good rep
resentation.
Controller General Lindsay War
rem also will be on hand, probably
to take notes on one of the few
Capital operations showing a profit.
Prop men yesterday nailed the
last trapping in place for the gala
event. Barnee's Blue Room swing
sters and the 110-piece Redskin
band directed by Dick Viancour were
= tuned and wound up, ready to play
at the drop of baton. A couple of
football teams will complete the
picture.
Redskins Not At Best.
The Redskins are short priced
favorites, principally because of
Sammy Baugh's passing proWess,
but the team is far from being at
rs best. Frank Atkins absence at
fullback. because of an injured knee,
will not help at all, although Coach
Turk Edwards has capable replace
ments in Sal Rosato and Jacque
Jenkins. 1t is a lack of co-ordina-
ton and timing. more than injuries,
that are the teams biggest draw
backs.
Redskin bosses have their fingers
crossed, hoping the team survives
today and next weeks game with
Detroit. BY then they figure to have
the bugs combed out of the offenSe
and to have the defense properly
adjusted. 1t is a comforting thought,
however that National League lead
ers agree that only a super human
eleven will escape with less than
two losses in league competition this
season.
With Akins' exception, the Skins
have their full offensive power to
hurl at the invaders and with the
CHIPS down everything goes. Indian
Jack Jacobs and Jimmy Youell, two
good punters and passers, will see
action only if, and when, the Skins
get the lead. Until then Baugh will
guide the attack.
Tribe to Use Ace Backs.
The Skins twin touch of INT.
Steve Bagaras and Dick Todd. may
be used together to blast the Steel
ers loose from few points But Will
bur Moore has been re-yulcanized
and is ready to go. Ditto for Bob
DeFruiter. Either could kayo the
Steelers' hopes. You'll probably see
Dick Poillion, Jim Gaffney and Al
Coupee, to, before the shouting is
over. All together, they add up to
one of the finest backfield aSsort-
ments the Redskins ever had.
Pittsburgh, tutored by DR.. Jock
Cntharlonl M 1nnoar r,oou La
garded as the leagues doormat. The
doctor, returning to football after
several years in the Navy, is stick
Ter for good football manners and
this Steeler outfit knows its tackl-
ing, blocking and ball carrying busi-
ness. Redskins mistakes will be cost
ly
In Bill Dudley. Pittsburgh has one
Of the circuits finest runner backs
and a fair paSser Merlyn Condit,
who played with the Redskins last
year and arrived in the Smoky City
via the Los Angeles Rams, is a
good kicker and hard runner. Cen
ter Chuck Cherundolo is a veteran
o. seven years service in the loop
and has the savvy that make oppoS-
ing line plays tough and unproft-
able.
Line Play Could Decide.
Line play we'll may decide the is
sue today and the Skins may have
an edge in that department. Five of
the starting Steeler linemen are
rockies, while Bill Ward and John
Steber at guard are the only Skins
who haven't had a taste of major
league experience If the Tribe for
wards click they'll give any team a
bad afternoon, even though Edwards
must depend on rockies for relief
work.
Pittsburgh opened its league sea-
son with a victory over the Chicago
Cardinals in the rain and mud last
Monday night, while the Redskins
have won three and lost two prac-
tice scalping parties. All teams will
begin league play this week end,
with the New York Giants and Bos-
ton colliding Monday night at Bos-