Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • Page 25

C-1 GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE Scoreboard TV listings C-2 C-4 C-5 -C-5 -C-6 Kid bits Death notices-Classified ads- ndary Packers' pass coverage needs to be more aggressive, Meyer says Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1983 SPORTS Steve Dils. That isn't exactly an all-star cast. Among the quarterbacks the Packers have faced, only Washington's Joe Theismann ranks among the top 11 in the league in passing stats, "We aren't doing the job in the secondary we need to and that '8 almost an understatement," Coach Bart Starr said earlier in the week. "We have to improve.

We aren't reacting to the ball the way we should, although you can't say it's just the secondary. "They need a pass rush and support from the linebackers." Finding a solution, however, is not as easy as pin-' pointing the problem. And nobody knows that better than Defensive Coordinator was to avoid giving up the big play. Allow the short-and medium-range passes, but don't get burned by the bomb. "That has been the philosophy since I've been here," said Meyer.

"I think it's more discouraging to get beat for a 60-yard touchdown pass. I think it's a hell of a lot more discouraging to have that happen than make them try to go in chunks down the field." Meyer also made the point: "There was nothing wrong with that philosophy the past two Nobody was bitching about the defense the last two years." The statistics show that the Packers finished 10th and 12th in the NFL in pass defense in 1981 and '82, respectively. But with their sad showing so far this year, Meyer admitted it probably is time to change, despite his inherent beliefs. "I think we're going to try and be more aggressive," he said. "We realize we're probably playing things a little too cautiously and are going to try to be more assertive challenge them a little bit." This might mean giving receivers less cushion on shorter routes and perhaps even calling for more bump-and-run techniques.

But Meyer indicated that going to an all-out, aggressive style of coverage like the Los Angeles Raiders would be suicidal for the Packers. "I think if we had a great pass rush," he said, "we could take more chances. But how many sacks do we "We realize we're probably playing things a little too cautiously and are going to try to be more assertive challenge them a little bit" John Meyer By CLIFF CHRISTL Of the Prett-Gaitfte The Green Bay Packers have only five interceptions in eight games. They've allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 61.5 percent of their passes and rank 23rd in the league. They rank 25th in pass defense.

Lack of a pass rush is one reason for those dismal statistics, but so is porous coverage. The secondary hasn't been playing any better than the team's much-maligned defensive line. The defensive backs only have three of those five interceptions. And look at some of the quarterbacks they've played against: Archie Manning. Cliff Stoudt.

Scott Brunner. Jack Thompson. Eric Hippie. have?" So the Packers apparently will be searching for a happy medium. And they will attempt to inact that strategy with the same starters.

This means Lewis will continue to play as the nickel back, according to Meyer, and the other four starters Mike McCoy and Mark Lee at cornerback, Johnnie Gray at strong safety and Mark Murphy at free safety will remain the same. "I just don't make change for change sake," said Meyer. And he hasn't been convinced that Iiewis deserves to become a starter. "He's got to clearly win the job," said Meyer. "What Continued on C-2 convinced that a change in strategy will work, but he has reached the point where he is going to at least give that a try.

The top priority in the secondary in the recent past more than I'm worrying." Meyer isn't convinced that changing personnel in the secondary is the answer, despite the presence on the bench of first-round draft pick Tim Lewis. He also isn't John Meyer. While it might seem like he is content playing a pat hand every week, he says that isn't the case at all. "I am concerned," said Meyer. "I can't worry any Former Packer great Mike Michalske dies 12 MJr --mSmT I August (Mike) Michalske, who anchored the Green Bay Packer line during the championship seasons of 1929-31, died this morning at a local hospital.

He was 80 years old. Michalske, who lived In De Pere, was the first guard inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame. He was enshrined in 1964. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" because of his durability during a 12-year pro career, Michalske was noted for his exceptional quickness. He was an All-American at Penn State before joining the New York Yankees of the old American Football league in 1926.

The Yankees joined the NFL the following year and Michalske played two more seasons for them before joining the Packers in 1929. The Packers won the NFL title in each of Michalske's first three seasons. He was named to the All-NFL team in 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1935. Michalske retired after the 1937 season. He was one of the eight original inductees into the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame in 1963.

"He was a tremendous football player," Continued on C-2 i v. V. 7 te -v Mike Michalske AL dominates All-Star squad V-. AP Loirphoto Five members of the "Dirty Dozen" work out in the Oak- Olympic rowing team. The rugby buddies decided to try land, Estuary in hopes of making the 1984 U.S.

out for the team after doing well in a bathtub race. Olympic hopefuls began in bathtub NEW YORK (AP) Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves, one vote shy of unanimous selection, was one of only three National League players named today to The Associated Press' major league baseball All-Star team. Although American League players dominated the team, no Milwaukee Brewers made the squad. Murphy, the league's 1982 Most Valuable Player, received 95 of a possible 96 votes to nail down one of three outfield positions. Murphy, who batted .302 in 1983 with 36 home runs and 121 runs batted in, also was the top vote-getter in last year's selection.

The next highest vote-getter also was from the National League Montreal Expos outfielder Andre Dawson. Dawson drove in 1 13 runs while hitting 32 homers and Continued on C-2 All-Star voting FIRST BASE Eddlt Murray. Boltlmsrt (SI); CKll CooMr, MllwoukM () RodCartw, Colllornlo J) SECOND BASE Lou whltoktr, Dtlrsll (Ml; Manny Trlllo, Montreal (3); Julio Crul, Chlcooo Whllo Sox (2); Oamow Oorcla, Toronto Tommy Horr, St. Louli (2); Frank Whlto, Konsai city (J); Jim Oonlnor, MllwoukM (1); Oavov Loom, Oakland (1); Jot Morgan, PMIodolpflla (II, THIRD BASE Mlko Schmidt, Phlladolphla Wad Boost. Boston (33); BUI Madlock, Plltlburgh (15); Ptdro Ouorroro, Lot An-Btlts (7); Dorrtll Evant, San Francisco (I); Paul Molitor, Mil waukftt (1).

SHORTSTOP Cal Rloktn Baltimore (UVi); Dlcklt Thon, Houston 13Vi); Robin Younl, MllwoukM (); Alan Trammtll, Detroit (6); Oiilt Smltn, St. Louli (3); Rolotl Ramlret, Atlanta (1). OUTFIELD Dolt Murphy, Atlanta (t5l; Andn Dawson, Mon-trtol (9)1; Jim Rlct, Boiton (76); Davl Wlnfltld. Ntw York Yonktvt (7); Ron Klttlt, Chicago While Sox IS); Lloyd Mosebv, Toronto (31; Rickey Henderson, Oakland (3); George Hendrlck, St. Louis Jose Crui, Houston (1); Ken Griffey, New York Yankees (1); Terry Puhl, Houston I Lonnle Smith, St.

Louis (1). CATCHER Lonce Parrlsh, Detroit 3tl; Carlton Flsk, Chicago White Sox (25); Ted Simmons, Milwaukee (12); Terry Kennedy, tan Diego 171; Bruce Benedict. Atlanta IS); Gary Corter, Montreal (SI; Tony Peng, Pittsburgh (1); Jody Doyls, Chicago Cubs (1); Darrtll Porttr.St.Loultd). DESIGNATED HITTER Oreo Lutlnskl, Chicago White tax (ill; Hal McRoe, Kansas City (17); Don Baylor, New York Yankees It); Jim Rice, Boston 12); Rod Carew, California (II, CUM Johnson, Toronto (1); Ted Simmons, Milwaukee (1); Carl Yastrtemskl, Bos-Ion (II. RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER LaMarr Hoyl, Chicago While tax Jack Morris, Detroit (141; John Denny, Phllodelpnlo (111; Mario Soto, Cincinnati (fw); Steve Rogers, Montreal (9); Rlchord Dotson, Chlcooo White Sox 121; Storm Davit, Baltimore (1); Nolan Ryan, Houston (1 LEFT-HANDED PITCHER Scott McOregor, Baltimore ('i); Ron Ouldry, Ntw York Yankees (21); Steve Carlton, Philadelphia 13); Mike Flanagan, Baltimore (3); Larry McWIIIIamt, Pittsburgh (3); Dave Rlahettl, New York Yankees (3); Allee Ham-maker, San Francisco (2); Flovd Bannister, Chicago White Sox um.

RELIEF PITCHER Don Oulsenberry, Kansas City (1314); Jttst Orosco, New York Mets (S'i); Rich Gossage, New York Yonk-ees (3); Lee Smith, Chicago Cubs (1). SAN FRANCISCO AP) This Olympic dream began in a floating bathtub, an omate French antique paddled by middle-aged businessmen in a charity race dubbed the "Bathtub Regatta." They were rugby buddies who decided over a round of beers after doing well in the bathtub that it would be fun to try out for the 1984 U.S. Olympic rowing team. They didn't know a racing shell from a kayak, but they figured what the heck, they had a year to learn before the team trials. Not surprisingly, everyone they mentioned the idea to laughed in their faces.

Crews take years to develop. None of them had ever rowed in his life. They were too old, too heavy. They'd never get a coach. They didn't have a boat or a place to train.

Undaunted, the "Dirty Dozen," as they began calling themselves even though there are 10 of them, went ahead with their unlikely venture. They exercised before sunrise and learned to row in an old barge on a lake. Two members were still wearing leg casts from rugby injuries, but they didn't miss training. After a day in their offices, they gathered for another two hours in the evening, running up the steep steps of the University of California in Berkeley, working out on rowing machines. No one is laughing at them now.

Seven months after their first oar strokes, these would-be Olympians show signs of accomplishing the near impossible. Last Sunday, they competed in the Head of the Charles races in Cambridge, and had the experts shaking their heads. The working together as a team," he says. "And I wanted to do something that would get me into real good physical condition." Tony Machutea, 42, also works at the real estate firm, but he's a high school physical education teacher and athletic director on leave for a year during the Olympic project. He coached four of the younger members of the Dirty Dozen when they played football in high school in the early 1970s.

"We've been palling around for years," Machutes says of the whole group. "You have to depend on each other. The weakest link is going to slow the boat down. Everybody has to train. Everybody has to be there mentally and physically." They train now on the Oakland Estuary, arriving at 5:30 a.m., wanning up in the darkness with stretching exercises and a vigorous half-hour workout before stepping in the boats.

"The estuary can be so peaceful, and that water is like glass," Trant says. "It's just like the world is coming alive and you're sort of watching. You just get so high, such a state of euphoria, even when you're practicing." They row off toward the mouth of the estuary, about eight miles away, watching the sun rise. Coming back, they see the light reflecting off the San Francisco skyline. Pelicans roost quietly in the mudflats.

White egrets fish for breakfast. "It's absolutely gorgeous," says Trant. "You sort of thank God that you're alive. We're going to try our best to make this team, to do what everyone said is impossible. But no matter whst happens, we fl we're winning every day with what we're doing." have the greatest admiration In the world for these men.

They're so gung ho. It's not a lark to them." Rowing Committee chairman Dirty Dozen didn't win, but they performed respectably against some of the best crews in the country. They were invited by the VS. Rowing Association to compete in major races in Europe next spring and were assured they could compete in the trials for the Olympic team's fours-with-coxswain. They plan to enter two fours and a pairs at the trials June 29- July 1 at Princeton, J.

"When I first met with them last spring, I told them they had less than a zero chance of making the team," says Julian Wolf, chair- -man of the US. Men's Olympic Rowing Committee. "Now, after watching them Sunday, my feeling is they have a definite chance of coming through those trials. "I have the greatest admiration in the world for these men. They're so gung ho.

It's not a lark to them. Nobody's ever done this, come out of nowhere, starting from scratch at their age, and go to the Olympics. It's wild." "Go for it, that's what the Dirty Dozen means," says Allen Trant, 58, senior member of the group and a tnortgate expert at the real estate corporation where several of the men work. "1 like the challenge, the excitement of No doubt about it, nuyi id i via i puuuer Krieg to replace Zorn at Seattle Pro grid notes votes to Hoyt's 1 16. Detroit's Jack Morris was third with 38 points.

To be sure, the portly, 28-year-old pitcher, had reason to be uncertain about his chances. Despite a league-leading 19 victories for a third-place team in 1982, he didn't get a single first-place vote for the Cy Young Award, which went to 18-game winner Pete Vuckovich of the Milwaukee Brewers. Hoyt aim failed to make the American League All-Star team either this year or last. This year, he was the ace of a pitching staff that led the White Sox to the West Division crown, their first title of any kind since winning the AL in 1959. They lost the playoffs this year in four games to the world champion Baltimore Orioles.

In 260 innings, Hoyt struck out 148 Continued on C-2 CHICAGO (AP) Although LaMarr won 24 games this season, more than any other pitcher in, the American League for the second straight year, his thoughts about winning the Cy Young Award were clouded with doubt. But there was little doubt among the voters for the award honoring the league's best pitcher. After winning by a wide margin, the soft-spoken Chicago White Sox right-hander described the honor as "better than a dream." "I felt like with the games I won, especially with the streak I had at the end of the season, that I'd be considered pretty heavily," he said after arriving in Chicago Tuesday night from his home in South Carolina. "I figured the only thing that might have stopped me was the year (Royals reliever Dan) Quisenberry had," he added. Quisenberry finished second with 81 and an ankle contusion, according to Coryell.

Plus, Coryell said wide receiver Wes Chandler (bruised kidney) is "very questionable." Starting rookie comer-back Gill Byrd sat out most of this past Sunday's game after twice experiencing an accelerated heart beat. But Coryell said a series of tests by heart specialists gave no indication that Byrd, one of the Chargers' three No. 1 draft choices in May, has a to be beset by injury problems. Quarterback Dan Fouts and running back Chuck Muncie missed last Sunday's 14-6 loss to Denver and are -still hurting, according to Coach Don CoryelL Coryell said Fouts, hampered by a strained muscle in his right shoulder, "can't throw the ball yet," and Muncie (groin pull) "hiss yet to even trot." And Muncie's replacement, James Brooks, is limping badly with a hamstring puU heart problem. The Cincinnati Bengals, who host the Green Bay Packers Sunday, put running back Rodney Tate on the injured reserve list Tuesday and signed tight end Andy Gibler.

Tate bruised his thigh in this past Sunday's victory over the Cleveland Browns. Gibler, a rookie out of Missouri, was waived by the Bengals Aug. 29 after he was Continued on C-2 From Th Awoclafxl Prwi David Krieg, rather than the familiar Jim Zorn, will start at quarterback for Se- attle Srnday against the Los i Angeles Raiders, Seahawks Coach Chuck Knox said Tuesday. originally from Schofield and a fourth-year pro from Milton College, came off the bench last Sunday to lead the Seahawks to 21 second-half points in the team's 27-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his past eight quarters of play, Zorn has completed a mere 13 of 44 passes for 95 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns.

In the first half against Pittsburgh, he completed one pas eight tries. The San Diego Chargers, struggling with a 3-5 record going into the second half of the season, continue.