Evening star., 1949-09-26
Redskins Fleet Backs
Menace Chicards in
Opener Tonight
By Lewis F. Atchison
Stor Sfoff Correspondsnt

CHICAGO. Sept. 26.-The Chi
cago Cardinals, who plastered .
24-10 defeat on the Washington
Redskins in an exhibition game
about two weeks ago, will try to
make it official tonight when the
two teams make their 1949 Ma
tional Football League bow at
Comisl.ey Park. The crystal ball
boys are allowing the Redskins II
points for luck and wagering the
Cards will win anyway, but the
Redskins are talking Of taking
this one.
The Tribe is in fairly good
physical shape for the game,
which marks Billick Whelchers
debut as a pro coach. The admiral
is hopeful" of celebrating the oc-
casion with an upset, although
realizing the odds are against him
with Sammy Baugh not up to par
and two more top men out with
injuries. Fullback Ed Quirk will
not play and Guard Moose Stovan
may be in action only briefly.
But even if Baugh was 100 per
cent sound Whelchel wouldn't de-
pend wholly on his passes. Tho
coach reasons that If his men
can't beat the Cards on the
ground they can't beat 'em. period.
In a word. the Redskins are go
ing to make a run for it.
Dowda Likely Star.
Harry Dowda is expected to
start with Eddie Saenz at the
halfbacks, with Texas Pete Stout
at fullback and Baugh calling the
plays. Dazzlin' Dan Sandifer and
Rob Goode will be the other often
sive halfback combination, with
Leon (War Eagle) Cochran SPELL
ing off Stout. Whelchel believes
this arrangement will give him tho
maximum running and blocking
power.
Any one of the halfbacks could
go all the way with a little block
ing from his teammates. Dowda,
in particular might be a surprise
package. He hasn't been used too
much on offense, chiefly because
needed more on defense, but has
shown he can pick 'em up and lay
'em down with the best Of them.
The lad the Cardinals will bs
on the lookout for as much a.
anyone, however, is little Harry
Gilmer. With Baugh running the
team, the Cards have only 10 men
to watch as Sammy doesn't carry
the ball. but they have no idea
what Gilmer will do. Even Harry's
mistakes sometimes boomerang
into ground-gaining operations.
Some of the Tribes optimism
stems from the return of Laurie
Niemie and Len. Szafaryn, rookie
tackles expected to cut a wide
swath in the league this season.
Another new man in the wigwam,
but a veteran of the league. who
is counted on to help stop tho
Cards million dollar backfield In
John Badaczewski, guard.
It's Up to Redskin Line.
The line may hold the key to
victory. It didn't rush Paul Christ
man enough to stop him in tho
exhibition game at Birmingham.
Ala, and when the Redskin sec.
ondary line failed to cover proper.
ly. the Cards had q field night.
Whelchel thinks he has corrected
this situation by moving his men
into a $50 defensive setup. It
worked against the Green Bay
Packers last week because the
line was aggressive and he thinks
it will work again tonight.
The Cards seem to be up for
the game. They'll have their full
strength available, even though
End May Kutner Is not supposed
to be at his best. With the Cards
hoping to impress home fans
enough to keep the turnstile click
ing merrily the rest Of the season.
the Redskins expect them to shoot
the works.
1t means Charley Trippi, Pat
Harder and the rest of the star
studded Card backfield will try to
run up a score.