Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-08
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON
Star staff Writer

Star Staff Writer
Few experts really expect the
Giants to be deposed as East
ern Division champions in the
National Football League, and
none anticipate the fall of the
Packers as kings of the Western
Division. OF the two, the Giants
seem the more vulnerable.
The Eastern Division shapes
up as a wide-open race, with
breaks likely to play a major
role in the outcome. The Steel
ers, runnersup last year after
winning six of their last seven
games, are a serious threat to
the Giants, and Dallas and st.
Louis are dark horses who could
scramble things. Even the Red
skins might get into the picture
with the addition of a top
flight running back.
Old age, and the accompany
ing risk Of injury, pose the
biggest problem for New York.
To team that might have been
recruited at a home for the
aged, Coach Allie Sherman
added 33-year-old Hugh
McElhenny of Minnesota. Nc
Elhenny, one of the best in his
salad days, only carried the
ball 20 times last year and can't
be more than spot player.
Alex Webster and Frank Gift
ford are feeling their years. Up
front New York also has old
timers like Little Mo" Mod
zelewski and Jim Katcavage.
Another oldSter is Sam Huff,
who backs up the line. An in
jury to any one of these key
players would be a Gripping
blow.
Quarterbacks Scarce
On every pro club the focal
point is the quarterback. A team
without a good one simply
doesn't win. Most teams in the
East, the Redskins and Giants
excepted, have problems here.
The Giants have Ralph Gu
glielmi to back up Y. A. little,
and if not great, 'Goog' is ex-
perienced. The Redskins have
George Izo and Galen Hall be- ,
hind Norman Snead-no record
holders, but consistent men.
At Pittsburgh Coach Buddy
Parker must rely on Ed Brown
to fill retired Bobby Layne's
shoes. The Cardinals are put
ting their eggs in Charley
JohnSon's basket, following
Sam Etcheverry's defecture.
Dallas is banking on Don
Meredith to take over Eddie
LeBaron'S spot gradually in
stead Of sharing it. The Eagles
are satisfied with Sonny Jur-
genSen and King Hill, but the
Browns have problems with
Jim NinowSki and Frank
Ryan.
The Browns also have one
Of the two new head coaches
in the league in Blanton COL
lier, one-time assistant to de-
posed Paul Brown. Don Shula
Of the Colts is the other. Har-
land Svare, the new man on
the hot seat at Los Angeles,
isn't counted because he took
over from Bob Waterfield last
season.
Cleveland, even with mighty
Jim Brown to lead the offense,
doesn't seem to have enough
to climb back on top-espe-
cially with questionable quar-
terbacking. The Browns also
have problems in the line that
will occupy Collier and his
assistants for the first half, at
least, of the campaign.
The Eagles, trying to re-
build their offensive line, also
need a big, healthy back to
augment their running attack.
Coach Nick Skorich's men
started slowly on the exhibit
ton tour. blowing their first
two games before whomping
the Redskins. The 41-l3 VIC
tory over Washington could
have been misleading. Dis
dainful of the Redskins run
ming, the Eagles simply con-
centrated on getting" the
quarterback and generally sue
ceeded.
Form Reversal
Pittsburgh's comeback last
year was due In a large mea-
sure to John Henry Johnson's
form reversal at fullback. The
old warhorse was second to
Green Bays Jim Taylor in
ground gained and planted the
ball behind the enemy goal line
seven times for one of his best
years.
One reason for Johnson's re-
surgence might have been
rookie Bob Ferguson from Ohio
State. Some said Johnson
wanted to show che youngster
how an old pro did it. This year
John Henry may have sitter
competition because Ferguson,
after a year of uncertainty, is
reported ready. Give the Steel
ers passing to go with this one