Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-13


and stock tips, but q surprising
amount Of football is inter-
woven.
Take Rod Breedlove for ex-
ample. This win be his season
year" In pro ranks (the year
he should come into his own as
alinebacker). Experienced,
capable and dead serious about
his work, the former Mary
lander win sit down anytime
with q teammate to hash over
o situation that developed on
the field or simply to talk foot
ball. And he is q better player
for it.
Breedlove isn't the only one
OF this mold. Walk quietly
through the corridors Of Dray-
er Hall during sack time" fol-
lowing lunch and you'll hear
football talk echoing from q
number Of rooms. The squad is
interested because it feels that
1868 may be q big year for the
Redskins--if they don't go0f
off. Smart players seldom make
boo-boos, and the more q fell
low knows the less likely he Is
to make mistake.
Coach Bill McPeak calls
sBreedlove one Of the "six or
seven best linebackers" in the
league. It's high praise because
you'll see three Of the best
Bill George, Larry Morris and |
Joe Fortunate performing for |
the Bears at D. c. Stadium |
Thursday night. Green Bay
probably has the three very
best in Dan Currie, Bill Fores-
ter and Ray NitSchke. and sew
eral more are scattered among
other clubs.
It gives Rod q mark to meas
ure up to.
TITS like Coach willsey told
u.s." Breedlove said: "'An sde-
quate defense Is not enough to
in this league. It must be SUI
perlative.'"
Breedlove's side Of the line
should be superior this year.
Joe Rutgens is at tackle, Andy
Stynchula at end, Breedlove
Is the right linebacker and
rookie Lonnie Sanders Is the
wing man.
This could develop into q
''no-man's land" for enemy
ball-carriers. The only weak
ness Is Sanders inexperience,
and Breedlove knows what the
Michigan State youngster is 60
ing through.
1T takes time" Rod said.
Playing right linebacker is
more Of q habit with me now.
] don't have to stop and think
of what / should dot comes
instinctively. I should know
what each team usually does in
certain situations this year and
not make physical errors"
Breedlove's major assignment
Is to stop running plays from
going around his corner. He
must move up and make the
tackle or turn the runner in to
give Stynchula or Rutgens a
shot at him. He also has i'm
portant duties on pass plays.
Last year the Eagles gave
him trouble at Washington, the
Steelers at Pittsburgh and the
Cowboys outfoxed him on a
certain play at Dallas.
Clarence Peaks got loose for
Q long run In the Eagles game
because ] got beat" Rod re-
called. HE lined I'D behind
the fullback, with the halfbackl
behind the tackle and up close,
anc the end split to the weak
side. Tim Brown, the halfback,
cut me down and Peaks got
away for a good gain"
At Pittsburgh, End Preston
Carpenter gave him trouble.
Deep In their own territory,
the Steelers used a wide end
run around Carpenters side to
extricate themselves from trou-
bic, and 1t seldom failed.
At Dallas, Breedlove had a
great first half, several times
pulling down runners from be-
hind on the opposite side of the
field. This didn't escape the
Steelers' upstairs coaches at
tention, and at halftime they
diagrammed q play to take adj
vantage Of Rods enthusiasm.
The Cowboys faxed a play away
from him and snapped q pass
into his territory.
Ut was q mental error on
my part" Rod admitted. Your
first responsibility Is your own
territory" But Breedlove bal
anced the books with q couple
OF fine performances against
the Giants and showed marked
Improvement throughout the
second half Of the campaign.
-
~TaS Anderson Of the Caro-
tnals and I had q pretty good
day." Rod said with q smile.
He gets off the ball real quick
and comes In low. II q blocker
ties up your legs he's got you. I
find It easier TO play against
q big fellow like Ron Kramer
Of the Packers. He's so big
70 feet 3. $3.50 he can't get
low"
Breedlove has observed that
some ends have q tendency to
put one foot back Just q little
when they're coming straight
at him with q head-on block.
When going down for q pass
they stand with feet parallel !
for an even start, which helps
them luke" or feint the de-
tense. And they have a ten
dency 10 keep their fingers
loose.
Carpenter has the most even
stance I've ever seen.s Breed !