“I think it’ll be a very big and deciding [factor in] how the game comes out,” Tanner said. “If we’re getting pressure on him early and get him rattled, we’ll do well. If we let him get into a rhythm with Szymanski and some of his other guys, it’ll be a long day.
With junior cornerback Gary Sonkur listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game due to a high-ankle sprain, the task of containing Szymanski falls to Tanner and senior Benny Butler.
Tanner has filled in admirably since Sonkur’s injury and Murphy does not suspect that Szymanski will present too many additional coverage problems.
“He’s not going to match up alone,” Murphy said. “When he does one-on-one cover Szymanski, he’ll be able to get the job done, but it’s not something we want him to do the whole game.”
—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.