Evening star., 1960-07-20
ATCHISON'S. A 7 S.
ANGLE
It's Up to Mike Now
By LEWIS r. ATcHlSoN

MIKE NIXON WAS WEARING daak suit bow tie and
worried look when he and the rest of the Redskins coach
ing staff departed for the clubs Los Angeles training
Camp He talked like man who needs couple of days
grace to raise the rent money guaranteeing to come up
with it. The tone of his voice indicated the months work
in California won't be like day at Disneyand
Friends of Mike ervently hope 1860 good year for
him. The Soft-spOken former University of Pittsburgh
haback knows he is the spot although nobody bames
him for last years SO record At press luncheon
here Owner George Marshall declared Mike has the horses
this time and if the Redskins don't Mike must shoulder
full responsibility Only yesterday "old Faithful sounded
on again in California, this time shattering the Rams
hopes with one press statement
This of course part of the buid-up for the Rams
Redskins exhibition August 10 and is not to be taken
seriously Every year Marshall claims the championship
for his team but somehow the word gets to
the other clubs.
NIXON HAD GOOD REASONS for last years dismal
showing. He inherited only squad when Joe
Kuharich left for Notre Dame to please too
many people virtually allnew coaching staff didn't
quite jen and the club was haunted by its old bogeyman
quarterback problem. Changes have been made.
This 1860 squad is predominantly Nixon group
Thryone of the 4S men scheduled to report
by Mike He could use strength in certain positions
but there's chance he may come up with sleeper or
tWoand not the kind that cuttered up the premises last
year Mike felt there too much complacency in SO
I'VE tried to eliminate many as we could without
hurting ourselves, he said, leaving the impression that
it was not clean sweep With 39 record it easy
overs are men who'll help the team
All hands will discover that he business from
the start this year. -
We're going to work harder and do lot more
scrmmagng said the man, who surprised everybody by
ordering contact work after the Redskins dropped their
opening to the Cardinals last season. "Weu have
first Scrmmage Wednesday and every afternoon
after that we'll have rough work-pass ofense or
defense-with full gear"
MIKE is DISCARDING the hand down strategy
he got from Kuharch including the signal system The
oHense will feature hankers and slot backs with more
passing
We're not going to try to punch out yard or two
running the ball. he continued We're going for the long
gains and forget ball control Only after think we
game well in hand will be play it safe"
Nixon knows the defense must improve before the
Redskins can use their ofense Too many teams
wouldn't let them play with the ball last year. He's
ntrusting the defense to Bill McPeak top assistant and
LaVern Torgeson, veteran linebacker who made his
coaching debut with the team last season.
Abe Especial Delivery Gibron one of Paul Browns
meSSage-bearng guards in his salad days. will handle the
offensive line, and Tiny Tim" Timeraro, another Brown
coach of bygone years. will tutor the ends and backfed
Once he got Gibron from the Chicago Bears where
Abe sought refuge player last year. and Timerario
from Penn where the team shot out under Steve
Sebo and his staff Mike got busy plotting the 1860 strategy
He expects to go all the with it, though certain
party will be looking his shoulder asking questions
ONE MAJOR DECISION Mike has reached is to put
player at one poSuoA and keep him there. We're going
to put boy in one place and he'll have to make it
or not at ALL" he amplihed.
This should mean the end of the shuttle system that
thoroughly confused majority of last years squad.
Nixon is counting Ralph Guglielm to come through
at the vital quarterback spot vacated by Eddie eBaron
Smooth as he was little Eddie couldn't throw from the
pocket The Redskins had to trckery to get him
in position to heave the ball it was rare day when
he threw it the heads of secondary Mike thinks
Eagle Day, who doesn't look tall his 6-foot book
listing spell off Ralph, and that rookie Jim ST. Clair
will develop eventually into dropback passer like Norm
Van Brocklin of the Eagles.
Nixon hopes that Ray Krouse and Bob Tonef at tackle
ana Andy Stynchula, from Penn State, and Art Cob,
second-year from Pitt will give the Redskins defen-
SVe MT He's got his fingers crossed hoping lnebackerS
IKE Bill Roehnelt, Dick LaSse and Jim Eifrid will
through for him, and that the secondary will improve
III large order But Washington fans will have their
fingers crossed for Mike He deserves have winner