Evening star., 1954-11-15
Statistics

i ----------
can play winning football came
through yesterday with the Red-
skins finest team performance
OF the season. They held the
Steelers to an overall total Of
246 yards while piling up 414 on
their own account to kill the
Steelers' faded title hopes. It
was Pittsburgh's third straight
| defeat.
Kuharich revamped the lineup
yesterday and also revised his
strategy in a successful comeback
after last weeks 62-3 slaughter
in Cleveland, which was sup
posed to take all the starch out
OF the team. The only count
Joe could be faulted on would
be in making his move too late
in the season to prevent the
Redskins from having a role in
the title race. Yesterdays tri-
umph did move them out of the
cellar and it might have pointed
the way for better things next
season.
Steelers' Strategy Battles.
But it would be interesting to
know why the visitors didn't
throw more passes against de-
tense that in seven previous
games had shown more flaws
than chicken thief's alibi-
especially when passes produced
Pittsblrgh's only touchdowns.
The Steelers threw only three
times in the first period and
four in the third. But four COM
pletions in six attempts covered
E68 yards and earned a touch
down in the second period, and
IN the fourth the Pittsburghers
went SO yards for their second
score on six out of eight throws.
What happened to their aerial
game in between needs some ex-
planning. Coach Walt Kiesling
left the park without waiting
for his athletes to dress, and a
semi-hystertcal functionary in
sisted that no reporters be al
lowed inside to talk to the cha
grined, silent players.
Redskins Control Ball.
Gene Ronzani, Pittsburgh's
backfield coach, thought the
team that walloped the Red
skins, 37-7. in their first meet
ing this year didn't have the ball
often enough to get it's passing
game organized. The Steelers
had 81 offensive plays, COM
pared with 70 for their hosts.
Ronzani. found talking to
friends outside the dressing
room, didn't think the absence
Of Tackle Ernie Stautner or
Halfback Lynn Chandnois, both
injured, made that much differ
ence. But the loss of Linebacker
Dick Flanagan and Tackle Tom
Palmer, both out for the season
following knee operations, didn't
help any, either. The one-time
Chicago Bears star, later head
coach of the Green Bay Packers,
couldn't explain the Steelers'
collapse.
In truth, the dressing room in
cident, plus Kiesling's absence,
indicates the clubs morale has
blown sky high and that there
might be dissension in the ranks.
| With the San Francisco Forty
Miners. New York Giants and
Cleveland Browns among their
last four opponents. the Steelers
gave the impression that they'll
be lucky to finish fourth in the
Eastern division.
Caught Out Of Position.
J Kuharich thought the Red
| skins play vindicated his pass
patterns. which hadn't been too
effective until yesterday. Joe
blamed q doing back for per-
mitting Jim Finks to complete
his first touchdown pass to
Johnny Lattner. It was a sit
uation calling for a man-for-
man style and the Redskins mis-
takenly played a zone and was
caught yards out OF position.
But Kuharich, using Fullback
Rob Goode In q new role as q de-
fensive man, was more than sat
isf1ed with his performance. Joe
thought his lines rushing and
|; the secondary's alertness forced
the Steelers to quit the air and
run the ball. even though the
losers two scoring drives seem to
indicate otherwise.
Goode replaced Rookie George
Rosso and made every inch Of his.
6-foot-4 frame count In batting
down passes the shorter Rosso
couldn't have touched. The
tanned Texan made two sensa-
tionaI one-hand saves both la
heled touchdowns once landing
on the nat Of his back. He was
outstanding on offense. too, reel
ing OF one 50-yard gain in ac-
tsee REDSKINS. Page C-3.)