New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-20

does everything well. And because
passing and kicking, the arms of any
of Mahan is almost as potent an
which the willy Haughton has take
Yale may rise to great heights. The
incentive is there, the spirit is willing,
the flesh even is strong, but in every
analysis the conclusion is always the
same-the Harvard team is more fin
ished. Everything else being equal,
this extra finish. which is nothing more
than the concentrated essence Of team
effort, is bound to measure the differ
ence between winning and losing. On
everything that has been seen this year
Harvard should beat Yale this after
noon.
Exception May Be a Factor.
An exception may be made. One was
made last week Princeton had the
more finished team-the better team, no
doubt, in all that goes to make up
football machine, but Yale won. In
measure, the Tigers fumbled away their
chances. as they had the week before
against Harvard. Mistakes OF the hands
or even of the head may be made by the
Crimson to-day, and, If so, another ex-
ception is quite likely to be noted. Keen
alertness, sharp following Of the ball,
indomitable determination, are striking
characteristics of the Yale men. There
is no such thing as o stand and wait
policy. Tom Shevlin has seen to that.
On a line through Princeton, an an
alysis could be made which would give
the New Haven team an even chance.
Most critics agreed that the running
attack of the Tigers was more powerful
even though not so finished, as Har-
wards in their meeting two weeks ago:
The figures of the game substantlated
this. Princeton's running attack, how
ever, against Yale was not so consecu-
tive, or so we'll sustained as against
the Crimson. ~,
This indicates one Of two things. The
Yale defence was stronger than Har-
wards, particularly from tackle to
tackle, or else the Tigers had stalled off
and could not concentrate so readily.
III the former is true, the Harvard Of
fence which lacked slightly the drive
and cohesiveness. as compared with
Princeton on November 8, may be torn
apart and checked as easily by the
Blue this afternoon. This would re-
solve the game, apart from possible
fumbles. or some individual run Of rare
merit. into battle of drop-kicking,
and in this respect Otis Guernsey
should hold his own with Captain
Mahan.
Harvard's Deceptive Offence.
A flaw in this reasoning can be
picked. Harvard's offence is built on
deception and against team no more
football-wise than Yale, the sleight-of-
hand methods of Watson, the Crimson
quarterback, the unexpected thrusts,
first here, then there, are quite likely
to break down the defences OF Captain
Wilson's men more quickly than sheer
drive and power.
The Tigers showed the Harvard
scouts that Yale's weakness lay in
plays off tackle and around the end.
Princeton did not take full advantage
OF this, but Harvard will. From tackle
TO tackle, the Blue forwards are, strong
when concentrated, but the line loses
much of its effectiveness when
loosened, although this weakness, no
doubt, has been largely corrected since
last Saturday. The tackles are almost
sure to lend more support to their
ends. The wing msn are far below
the standard set by such men as Shev-
lin, Fitzpatrick, and Bomeisler, but no
ends could De expected 10 pear the
burdens put on them a week ago
through the lack Of much needed CO.
operation by the tackles.
Another thing is worthy Of consid'
Grafton. Harvard has more long gain
plays than Yale, and this may mean
much in putting the team within goal
kicking distance. Further than that
the Harvard men have been playing
together much longer, and for this rea
son should be more adept in working
as one and in providing that inter
ference for the runner which means
so much.
So good judge as Dudley Dear
has said that Yale tackling was fai
better than that of the Crimson. II
certainly was harder against the com
mon foe, Princeton, and this may nave
The effect of slowing up the backs, al
though nothing but q stone wall OF
field ankle deep in mud Is likely TO
destroy the effectiveness OF Mahan.
The game to-day must decide pc
tween the individuals, but, on the
whole, the advantage In this respect
appears 70 lie with Harvard, with the
exception, perhaps, Of Cupid" Black
at one guard, White at centre, and
Guernsey. but the last named only on
the question Of punting and drop
kicking. He does not compare with
Mahan IN other respects. In fact, the
Yale coaches have heen forred to