Cornell's air attack figures to be a stiff test for Harvard's struggling pass defense.

"We have to fix up our passing defense," Fried said. "The defensive line and linebackers have been doing a great job, but the whole secondary feels that giving up 290 yards a game is an unacceptable performance."

But Fried said the defense should be prepared for the challenge.

"We think Neil Rose is a great quarterback, and we go against him ever day," he said.

Murphy said the Crimson defense will play a variety of coverages to attempt to slow down Rahne.

"You have to give him different looks," Murphy said. "We're going to see how he handles all of those things and not let him develop a feel for what he's doing."

On the bright side for Harvard, Cornell's passing offense has already been slowed down once this season. Rahne struggled against Bucknell, which was able to pressure the Big Red quarterback into three interceptions.

Murphy said the key to Bucknell's success was that it created pressure using only its defensive line. If Harvard has to blitz to get to the quarterback, the secondary will have to play single-coverage against the Red's talented receiving corps.