Evening star., 1952-08-03
Names Mean Nothing,
BackfieId Coach Saws,
In Fight for Jobs
By Lewis F. Atchison
Star Sioff Correspondent

LOS ANGELES. Aug. Fund
amentals will occupy most of the
Redskins time this week as Coach
Dick Todd begins a campaign to
cure sloppy tackling and half
hearted blocking. But as gloomy
as it sounds, it may be a good
omen for the Washington football
faithful.
The Redskins need some luck
to make the deals that will help
bolster the middle of their line,
extensively, and to obtain badly
needed reserves for defensive work.
But nothing will be left to chance
to get a good brand of blocking
and tackling.
The attitude here is that a
player either can or can't measure
up to big league standards, and if
he doesn't, the coaches don't want
him. The "cant's are good only
for cannon fodder.
Neri Insists On Speed.
In backfled practice Coach Jerry
Neri insists that his men run
through all drills at top speed. No
longer does a halfback automatic
ally break stride when he passes
the line of scrimmage in signal
practice. He digs and digs hard
at Neri's insistence for 20 or 80
yards. It's the same when he's
running back intercepted passes"
Neri also believes in showing
his men what he wants done
and woe to him who doesn't follow
instructions.
Names mean nothing to me"
the former Loyola of Los Angeles
coach reiterated today. They've
got to prove they can do the
work"
Dowda Ahead at Moment.
For that reason Harry Dowda
seems to have an edge at this
stage on Leon Heath. the clubs
No. l draft choice a year ago, in
their battle for the fullback spot.
For the same reason Eddie LIE
Baron is no shoo-in at quarter
back. Neri likes lie Baron. The
little Marines spirit is great"
and his performance on the field
is something to see. but he's got
to get his assignment down pat
before he gets Jerry's indorse-
ment.
In the line, Marvin Bass in
sists on fighting spirit. He doesn't
care how his men stop the oppo-
sition, as long as they stop 'em.
Bass also is teaching the brand
of tackling Hap Hardell employed
with his victorious Tech High
School eleven years ago. The Red
skins now snare a runner and,
when possible. pull him down
across their own bodies. It's got
to be clean to look good. but when
executed properly it's mighty ef-
fective.
Todd Arranging Scrimmage.
Todd hopes to arrange scrim-
mage with another service team
this week, when he'll start putting
a team together to meet the Forty
Miners on August II. He used
several backf1eld combinations
yesterday and the smoothest had
Harry Gilmer at quarterback
Johnny Papit at right half, Charlie
Justice at left half and Dowda at
fullback. Bob Sykes also had a
shot at fullback and showed
enough to merit further considera-
ton.
Offensively, Paul Lipscomb and
Lou Karras stack up as the top
offensive tackles, and Rookie John
Kadlec may win a starting berth
with Buddy Brown at guard
Center is still wide open. Jim
Ricca prefers to play defense and
none of the others have shown
much.
With Joe Tereshinski and John
Yonakor available for defensive
ends, Todd has has no worries
there. Offensively he can use
Tereshinski, If Gene Brito is used
on defense, along with Hugh Tay-
lor or Joe Swami or Ben Proctor
The situation at end should be
one of the most interesting de-
yelopments of the next three weeks
with seven pretty good men, we'll
matched, too, battling for the