Evening star., 1949-08-10
New Redskin 0ffense
Forming as Whe|che!
Displays Imagination
BY stoff Correspondent Of Tn. stor

BY stof Correspondent Of The stor
LOS ANGELES. Aug. 10.-Billick
Whelchel is beginning to emerge
from Redskin practices as clear
sighted football coach blessed
with imagination.
Today he had Sammy Baugh in
the end zone catching placement
kicks instead of holding the ball,
and there are hints that Harry
Gilmer may be relieved of the
burden of calling the plays when
he takes over the quarterbacking
duties.
Dan Sandifer took Baugh's
place holding the ball for the
kickers in a switch regarded as
further indication that the old
singer will take things easier this
season. The change also indi-
Gated that Whelchel Is tinkering
with ideas of strategy that will
clothe the. new Redskin offense
with more deception than the
worn pitch-and-punt style of a
year ago.
Whelchel evidently feels he has
the material to make the trick
stuff go and intends to make the
most of it, but he scoffed at sug-
|gestion that he was easing Baugh
out of the picture by putting
Sandifer in his place. The thin
man gave up his punting chores
to Dick Poillon last year and to-
day it was a strange sight to see
him in the end zone catching
kicks for the first time in his 13
years with the club.
Billick Wants Insurance.
II want to be ready for any
emergency, that's ALL" said
Whelchel. explaining Sandifer's
trial. Sam will play. He'll hold
the ball for placements but it's
better to be prepared in the case
we need a replacement and
think Sandifer can fill the bill"
Gilmer tees up the pigskin in
practice but Whelchel has voted
assigning this task in actual games
to him or any other quarterback,
with the possible exception of
Baugh. He reasons they're de-
fenseless targets for big ends and
linemen with mayhem in their
hearts.
The admiral thinks Gilmer
might be a more effective ball
handler and passer if relieved of
the duties of calling plays. He
points out that he was no quar-
terback in college. never has
played the T-formation and is un-
tested under fire. Billick thinks
he might even have lineman call
the playa smart lineman. that
is.
This is borrowing from the Chi
cago Bears, who had Guard Danny
Fortmann call the line blocks.
Whelchel has taken the Philadel-
phia Eagle pass defense and
adapted it to his own purposes.
Little by little the man is putting |
together a system that will be part
of everybody's and yet distinctly
his own. |
Opens Way to Strategy.
Having Sandifer hold the ball
for requirements opens up a va
riety of avenues for the Tribes
offense. Baugh himself was sys-
tenn that now will be a part of
everybody's. as it were. Only in
frequently did Sam try a quarter
back sneak and whenever he got
down to hold the ball for kick
the fans and opposition knew it
would be just that.
Sandifer, however, will be en-
couraged to try some trick stuff
from a kick formation. The guy
can run the ball and he can. pitch
passes with either hand. He can
let the kicker boot it, too, but it's
not hard to imagine the strategic
possibilities with Dazzling Dan,
the Ambidextrous Man, holding
down that post.
Baugh may not see action in to-
days scrimmage after banging
into John Adams iron mask.
Adams visited an oculist today
with the idea of getting contact
lenses. But he was persuaded to
take off his regular glasses in
stead. He can't distinguish colors
very we'll at night and the Skins
have. five night games. Eddie
Saenz is making a good recovery
after parting company with his
%4y.ciJc