Evening star., 1952-11-27
Browns PIay-CaIIing
From SideIines Touch
For LeBaron 10 Match
6y Lewis +. Atchison


Eddie LeBaron will be matching
wits with one of footballs smart
est play-callers Sunday when the
Redskins engage the Cleveland
Browns at Griffith Stadium, and
the odds will be against LeBaron
winning. His opponent will be
Paul Brown. Cleveland coach. and
no knuckle head as quarterback
himself.
LeBaron will be at a disadvant-
age, having to handle the ball,
run, pass and kick it as we'll as
map the strategy. Eddie's multiple
chores make it mighty confusing
at times. resulting in costly skulls.
Brown, of course. will observe the
proceedings from the sideline. dis
patching couriers from time to
time to Otto Graham on the field.
It's a pretty good system, as
Cleveland's record shows, al
though most fans would rather
see Graham think for himself.
Stickler for Details.
Brown is a stern taskmaster, a
stickler for details. and not only
knows how to get the most out of
his men but does. He doesn't
follow the usual system of giving
the squad Monday off, following,
Sunday game, and resuming
one-a-day practices Tuesday. The
Browns have Monday and Tues
day off, but drill twice a day on
Wednesday. Thursday and Friday
Some Of these sessions, of course
are blackboard drills, as on all
teams.
Saturday also is different for
the Browns. Most teams have a
light workout Saturday morning
and a meeting at night, but spend
the night at home. In Cleveland
the Browns operate just as they
do on the road. When the half
back kisses mama goodbye Satur-
day afternoon, he's gone until
after Sundays game.
In Bed by 1880.
Brown orders a light workout,
after which the entire SQUAD
checks into a hotel for the night.
They have dinner together,
meeting. and then go to the
movies in body. All must be in
bed with lights out by 10:30, and
Brown insists on checking to make
sure the players are in bed. It
sounds rather strict for group of
grown men, but it has paid hand
some dividends in Cleveland.
Brown doesn't see the players
until the following Wednesday,
when the routine begins all over
again. Absence may not make
the heart grow fonder, but it helps
keep the players respect.
Unhappiest Redskin player, per-
hapS. is Halfback Charlie Justice,
who hasn't played enough to keep
warm since fracturing his wrist in
the Los Angeles Ram exhibition
game. 1t was a doubly bad break
for Choo Choo, who found Harry
Gilmer in his place when he re-
turned to action and. thus far,
hasn't been able to dislodge him.
"Gilmer's been going too good
to take him out" Coach Curly
Lambeau said. "but there's moth
ing wrong with Justice. Well use
him, but Harry'S a double threat
with his running and passing abil-
ity."
Justice looks forelorn and for
gotten in the dressing room after
each game. and you get the inn
preston that he won't want to
come back next year if he isn't
going to see more action. He's
the best punter on the team, if not
the most consistent. He was mad
enough to chew leather last Sum
day after getting off a weak punt
that travelled some Is yards and
went out of bounds on the Giants
A.
The Giants loss of Frank Gif-
ford for Sundays game at Pitts
burgh is a serious blow to the
New York club. But Coach Steve
Owen has a feeling the rookie
from Southern California won't
be missed if Fred Benners turns
in another top-flight quarterback
ing and passing job and the line
functions as we'll as it did in the
second half against the Redskins
Owen says the Giants started to
move on offense after he put
Johnny Rapacz at center, freeing
Tex Coulter for his old tackle job.
At the same time Owen put Bob
Patton at the opposite tackle "and
for the first time got some good
blocking in the line" Coulter had
been playing center while Rapacz
was out with injuries.
Owen also said the Giants
stopped the Redskins with a 5-1-5
defense, which was not only ef-
fective against passes but against
the Washington clubs running
AIy