"I knew you could play the game, Edwards, if you could once get the hang of making a decent tackle.

And I knew, too, that the trouble with you was that you'd just sort of made up your mind that you couldn't learn, that you didn't understand what I've been trying to show you.

There won't be any third squad after the middle of the week, Edwards, and if you hadn't shown something more than you've been showing in the tackling line I couldn't conscientiously have sent you up to the second." "That was mighty decent," muttered Steve.
"Well, you mustn't take it as a personal favour, Edwards," answered Marvin with a smile, "although I'm glad to do it for you.

You see, I don't want to let any good material get away.

And I think you are good material, and if there was any possibility of your being of use to the second squad I wanted to get you there.