Evening star., 1946-10-23
Team Play Tells as Skins Win Without Loop PAGER
Tribe Rates Near Top
Defensively;; Figures
10 Improve Much
By Lewis F. Atchison

~ uItuSvNNSh
By Lewis F. Atchison
That moss-covered gag about
Washington being first in everything
but the league is being rewritten
by the Redskins. Prof. George
Strickler's weekly maize of figures
shows the Tribe leads in nothing,
nothing that is, but the National
Football Leagues Eastern Division.
It's the kind Of re-write job Coach
Turk Edwards likes. AS he sagely
observes, leading the league is all
that counts.
Peculiarly, the Tribe is winning,
although it is wearing more patches
than a war-weary inner tube. It's
been nothing but thumbs down,
literally, since the season opened.
First it was Jacque jenkins, then
Wilbur Moore and now Dick Todd.
Todd suffered only dislocation,
however, but the doctor ordered his
thumb placed in cast.
Jenkins, sharing most of the
plunging work with Sal Rosato.
moved within two places of his 18th
place teammate in the leagues
yards-gained department. Jimmy
Youel's fine performance against
Boston pushed him up to third
among the circuits leading punt re-
turner's. But nowhere in the statis-
tics can you discover Redskin
leader.
Team Play Does 1t.
The figures indicate how team
play rather than individual brilliance
has paid off for the Tribe. Defen-
sively, Washington has been one OF
the National Leagues toughest OBJ
stacles. The official figures on this
will be available tomorrow, but it's
no secret the Tribe ranks near the
top OF the list.
Edwards thinks the teams de-
fensive play has been major factor
in its success. The Redskins haven't
overpowered any opponent. They
don't figure to and the front office
doesn't care to, as long as they keep
winning.
After nine games, four of them in
the league, the Redskins are only
beginning to get organized Full
back and right half have been
trouble spots since the start because
of injuries. Guards have been a
problem and ditto for the ends, but
now the club seems to be squaring
away.
The transfer of Clyde Ehrhardt
and AL Coupee to guard has solved
one of Edwards most vexing BRAIN
teasers. Jack Jacobs shift to right
half may be the answer to another.
Youel's performance on defense has
taken more weight off Turks
shoulders. And the gradual but
consistent improvement of the ends
has added to the general improve
ment.
Baugh Second in Pitching.
The Baugh- -to-Bagarus duo re-
mains the Tribes biggest offensive
threat. Sammy Is second to the
Cardinals Paul Christman in the
pitching department. Bagarus.~ is
third behind Jim Benton of Los
Angeles and Jack Ferrante of Phila-
delphia In receptions.
Tortilla Eddie Saenz's touchdown
against Boston got him into a four
way tie for the bottom rung Of the
scoring ladder. He has 18 points on
three touchdowns. Ward Cuff, the
No. / point producer, has only two
six-pointers, but IA extra points and
six field goals for q total o. SO.
One good reason for the Tribes
high estate may be found in the pass
interception figures. Bagarus is Sec
ond to Pittsburgh Bill Dudley with
four. Behind him come Todd and
Frank Seno of the Chicards with
three each. Hooking opposition
throws very often atones for poor
line play that has given away valu-
able yardage.
Whether the Skins can keep their
Eastern crown without lassoing a
single individual title is con-
jectural. Edwards thinks they can.
Team play will win, not any single
individuals work, he says. Last
year Frank Atkins was second in
ground gaining to Phiadelphia's
Steve Van Buren,. We won't see
another of their head-to-head
duels Sunday, because Akins' knee
probably will keep him penned up.
Tribe Should Improve.
Baugh took the passing crown
with a league record percentage Of
passes completed. Bagarus was
third in past receiving. Joe Aguirre
topped the field-goal kickers.
Bagarus was second in punt re-
turns and third in running back
kickods. Time and again their in
dividual performances paid off in
the win column. This year the
work has been more evenly dis
tributed.
The one thing certain is that
the Redskins should improve from
here in, barring more injuries.
The team is only beginning to find
itself. Players seem to be settling
down into the roles they'll play
the remainder Of the season. If
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