New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-22
Running Attack of Crimson
Almost Sure to Break
on Yale's Defence.
TIGERS FURNISH THE
LINE FOR COMPARISON
Grim Football Fight Promised
When Old Rivals Clash at
Cambridge To-day.
BY Herbert.

It's I'D 10 Charley BriCkley once more
or maybe Eddie Mahan. II Harvard is 10
beat the now fully reused Yale football
eleven in their yearly struggle in the huge
stadium at Cambridge this afternoon,
This 'if' is emphasized for the simple
reason that on such football form as is
available the Crimson running attack has
not been developed to a point OF such
power that the Yale defence as shown
against Princeton can be broken down
or ripped apart for a touchdown by
straight rushing.
1t is quite possible, of course. that Har-
wards play against the Tigers was mis-
leading because OF the wet and slippery
field, as Yale gained Just about as much
ground from scrimmage formation against
the same team one week later. Still, and
this is important, in the latter case the
gridron was dry and the footing firm
Under the circumstances. then, the com
parison favors the Crimson. more par
ticularly when il can be said that the
running attack, although more or less i'm
potent and spasmOdc against Princeton.
has carried a punch all the season. II
has been resourceful. varied and. on the
whole. powerful, while the interference, or
Cleaning 'em up" as Mel Webb calls it,
is wonderfully effective.
Yales offence, on the other hand. has
lacked drive and continuity. except for
fash here and there, noticeably in one
series Of plays against Colgate, and while
marked improvement was shown
against Princeton il still lacked the final
ity which will be needed at Cambridge,
O -, ,,l,c 1y,I
with only six yards TO go for a score from
a first down after Ainsworths brilliant
run.
Yale Defence a Stone Wall.
An attack, however, is only strong In
comparison 10 the defence built up TO
meet it. and in this respect Yale is
stronger than Harvard. again taking
Princeton as the line through which TO
make a comparison. The Tigers gained
ninety yards by straight rushing against
Harvard. with the backs Handicapped by
the slippery field and consequent slow
starting. The Tigers gained only twenty
four yards in the same way against Yale,
although favored by dry gridiron, which
insured greater speed in starting and
more accuracy in execution. Princeton
men were OF one accord that the Yale de-
fence was far more compact than that OF
Harvard. and the figures bear them out.
No doubt the Crimson profted by the
lesson learned against the Tigers, and no
doubt the defence viii be more closely
welded and better prepared than was the
case two weeks ago, but conclusions can
not be reached on promises or maybes,
which, by the way is the unfailing reason
why the dope so called, is apt TO lead
so far afeld.
On what has been seen. and making even
some allowances for possible improve
.ment. it looks as II Harvard's stronger
offence would be Offset by Yale's more
compact and possibly more durable de-
fence-that is, 80 far as the running game
as concerned.
The Power Of the Drop Kick.
This brings US down 10 a question OF
scoring by other methods If victory is 10
he won by either eleven, and in my opin-
son Harvard's hope lies in the powerful
beg and cunning toe OF Charley Brickley.
with the brilliant open field running OF
Eddie Mahan TO pave the way for a drop
kick.
Yale is not without strong assets along
these very lines. Wilson may prove quite
as artful. quite as elusive and almost as
East as Mahan in breaking away from the
Harvard tacklers while Guernsey and
Hal Pumpelly, if he gets In the game. as
now seems likely, at least for a time,
must be counted dangerous. mighty dan
gerous. when it comes 70 shooting at the
goal by way of a drop kick.
The Yale men, however, have not
proved TO be such wizards at this partic-
.ular form Of scoring as Charley Briokley,
who is consistent almost 10 the point OF
'sureness under favora bic conditions. This
then. is the reason why. rather than sit
,on the fence. / cast my vote in favor of
Harvard winning after what promises TO
Zoe a struggle between two football giants.
Other questions can be considered. not
Che least of which is the punting, but
every little clew. followed la Sherlock
Holmes. leads right back 10 the same old
point--drop kicking. With this comes the
conviction that Brickley, next 10 Hud-
son. the remarkable Carlisle Indian Of
several years ago. is the master OF this
football art.
Advantage for Yale in Puntins.
Going back a step. IL may be said that
On punting Yale should have slight adj
vantage. as both Knowles and Guernsey.
who are likely TO divide the work for the
Blue, have shown slightly better than
.Mahan or Hardwick. who will do the work
FOR Harvard. There is not enough differ
ence. however. 'on which to do much
banking, more particularly as the Har-
ward ends look stronger than the Yale
pair, which means that Wilson may find
more difficulty I'm running back the ball
than Mahan or Logan.
In other things on which victory may
hang, such as vigilance In following the
ball 20 take advantage OF fumbles, sharp
ness In grasping opportunities, keen STRAIT
egg or tackling. little can be said. The
players on both teams are in good con-
dition from latest reports and keyed up
20 the highest fighting notch, so there is
no telling which eleven will be favored by
the breaks of the game-if breaks there
are.
Yale Strong in the Line.
Captain HOBBY Baker of Princeton,
Eddie Hart, who helped 10 bring the
Tigers up 10 the last two games. and Ed