VERY SPECIAL TEAMS

Harvard shouldn’t expect a respite from Cornell’s stifling defense when the Big Red’s special teams unit trudges onto the field.

Though Matt Schindel has been perfect on field goal tries thus far this season, it’s safe to say the freshman hasn’t faced so stiff a kick-blocking challenge in his young career.

Cornell’s opponents have attempted just three field goals in 2004, and—thanks to Joel Sussman—not once has the ball advanced beyond the line of scrimmage .

The 6’4 safety, who missed all of last season due to a back injury but didn’t lose the leap that has made him so effective, blocked two tries at Bucknell in the Big Red’s season opener before adding another last weekend against Towson.

“They clearly have kind of a special kid in Joel Sussman and the unit overall,” Harvard coach Tim Murphy said. “It’s a little bit remarkable.”

ALL SHOOK UP

Wide receiver Brian Edwards—already quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s primary target and the Crimson’s punt returner—will also field kickoffs full time starting this week.

Edwards was inserted for junior Corey Waller midway through last weekend’s win over Lafayette and provided superior field position in his limited opportunities.

“The bottom line,” Murphy said, “is he’s given us some juice at that position and he’s an instant shot of adrenaline.”

Murphy was far less sure as to who would kick the ball off for the Crimson tomorrow.

Despite his success guiding the ball between the uprights, Schindel struggled to crack the 10-yard line on his kickoffs.

“It seems like he’s suddenly got what I guess our special teams coach would call ‘a little case of the yips,’” Murphy said. “I’m sure he’ll settle down, but it obviously put us in a bind field position-wise down at Lafayette.”

His backup Clem McDavid performed equally poorly though, breaking the 14-yard line just once in four attempts.

So who will get the nod tomorrow?

“To be determined,” Murphy said.

GRIMM OUTLOOK

Junior defensive end Erik Grimm will likely miss his second consecutive game due to an injured knee, Murphy said Wednesday.

Grimm, officially listed as “doubtful” by the coaching staff, sprained his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in Harvard’s 35-34 win over Brown on Sept. 25. Again lining up on the outside in his stead will be sophomore Michael Berg, who began the year as a second-string defensive end before briefly moving to defensive tackle.

Berg showed no ill effects from the time spent away from his usual position, recording seven tackles and one sack last week.

“[Berg] has probably been—no, he has been—our most consistent lineman,” Murphy said. “And even though we’re a pretty veteran unit, he being the youngest in the group has probably been our most productive player.”

QUICK HITS

Sophomore running back Clifton Dawson, who has nine touchdowns in just three games, was added to the Payton Award watch list earlier this week. Fitzpatrick was removed, though the 16-person slate will be updated twice more before official voting begins....Junior center Will Johnson, senior defensive tackle Coesen Ngwun, senior guard Andy Smith and senior cornerback Gary Sonkur are all questionable for tomorrow’s contest. Murphy expressed optimism that each would see time, however....Cornell wide receiver Carlos Hill and fullback Eduardo Garcia unexpectedly left the team earlier this week and are no longer listed on the Big Red’s official roster. Hill, a starter a season ago who caught seven passes for 69 yards against the Crimson in the teams' last meeting, had seen his playing time dwindle under new coach Jim Knowles....Entering tomorrow’s game, Harvard has just one turnover in three games, a fourth-quarter Fitzpatrick fumble against Brown. Its opponents have nine, including six interceptions.

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.