Joining the pair on offense is speedy junior tailback Nick Palazzo,

the team’s leading rusher from last season. Murphy said the team will

continue to rotate two tailbacks, despite the loss of last year’s other

primary back, Matt Leiszler, to a career-ending knee injury. Thus senior Josh Staph, a converted fullback, should see plenty of action behind

Palazzo. Staph had just 14 carries all of last year.

After generally failing to stop any team’s offense last year, Brown

overhauled its defense. The Bears replaced their defensive coaching

staff and installed a new scheme over the offseason. Unlike last year,

experience won’t be a concern, as the unit returns eight starters.

The cancellation of last week’s games will likely hurt Harvard more

than the Bears. Without a game to evaluate Brown’s new schemes, Harvard

will play tomorrow with only a vague idea of what its opponent will do

defensively.

“They are perceived to be a much-improved defense,” Murphy said. “But

we really don’t know what to expect.”