That said, providing the double coverage Plumb demands isn’t always a feasible option given the quality of the wide receiver lined up opposite him.
Chandler Henley, though not as consistent a threat, has wrought almost equal damage this season for the Bulldogs, reeling in 44 catches for 642 yards and six touchdowns.
“Chandler has just a great pair of hands and is a great route runner,” Siedlecki said. “He works extremely hard on the little things.”
Still, despite the quality of its wideouts, Lawrie’s departure has taken its toll on the Yale passing game, noticeably down from last season. In 2003, Cowan racked up 299.4 yards per game through the air, but just 212.1 this season.
“I guess [the loss] of Nate Lawrie has had a more stifling effect on their offense than I would have predicted,” Murphy said. “Hopefully that doesn’t change.”
—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.