Crimson Defense Readies For Columbia's Superman

A pass defense that has given up 421 yards in two games runs head-on into the best passer in the Ivy League Saturday when Harvard meets Columbia. "That Roberts," John Yovicsin has been heard to mutter. "He can kill you all by himself. If we help him along--well--I hate to think about it."

The fellow he was talking about is Archie Roberts, everybody's favorite all-American boy. Ninth in the nation in passing for the last two years, Roberts is apparently determined to be number one this year.

Columbia has scored five touchdowns in two games so far this season. Three have come on passes from Roberts to Roger Dennis, a junior wingback. Roberts has scored the other two himself on runs. In both games he has passed for more than 200 yards and he has completed 26 of 68 passes. He explains apologetically that a sore thumb has kept him below his career record of completing 60 per cent of his passes.

Two merely mortal quarterbacks have made the Harvard secondary look bad even when it was at full strength. Now Dave Poe, number one right safety, will miss the Columbia game because of a concussion.

As you might have guesed, Harvard has been working on pass defense this week. Bobby Leo and Walt Grant are working at defensive halfback, although Yovicsin hesitates to risk using Grant on defense. Jerry Mechling may go at safety (where he played last year), or corner linebacker (where he has played this year).

Last week the coaches worked on getting a strong rush on the opposing quarterback. It didn't work because Bucknell's Bill Lero got his passes off unusually quickly. "The more we blitzed, the quicker he threw," Yovicsin summed it up.

This week may bring more work on the line rush since Columbia's line (only one starter back from last year) is weaker than Bucknell's. But blitzes on Columbia's quarterback are risky. Roberts is a tricky runner, who can weave through holes left by overeager lineman. He has a career average of over five yards a carry. UMass quarterback Jerry Whelchel ran for 68 yards against Harvard two weeks ago, almost entirely on pass patterns that misfunctioned.

Poe isn't Harvard's only casualty. End Ken Boyda (shoulder) and tackle Neil Curtin (knee) will almost certainly miss the game. But here Harvard may be fortunate: Columbia is the only other Ivy team with an injury list as long as Harvard's. End Jerry Hug, top pass catcher last year, captain Ed Malmstrom, a halfback, fullback Arne Jensen, and center Al Strauch, are all on the doubtful list for Saturday, the first three with knee injuries, the last with a hamstring pull