Losing a big time player on a football team groomed for a championship can be a huge deal but when the player has the irreplaceable skills of tight end Cornelius Ingram the loss can be devastating. With Ingram out for the season with a blown ACL, the Florida offensive coaching staff has to regroup and perhaps go in a few new directions. No doubt about it, some players are going to have to step up and make a bigger mark than maybe they expected in 2008.
Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen was all giddy in the off-season talking about ways to use Ingram in his offensive plans this year. Ingram’s unique combination of size, strength, speed, and quickness make him a huge mismatch when he’s healthy but now Mullen has to find a way to compensate.
“It changes a lot [and some] people are going to have to step it up,” Mullen said about the game plan and using such an important component this late in the pre-season. “[Ingram] was such a versatile player for us. Riley Cooper better step it up … some of the other receivers need to step it up. You still have Aaron Hernandez and Tate Casey.”
According to Mullen, Ingram was a big hit because he played tight end and there just aren’t many on the roster to even try and do the things he was able to do.
“He is really hard to replace because he was a tight end, now we are down to two tight ends,” he said. “His ability to be an attached tight end and block people is what we are really going to miss a lot.”
Tight ends and fullbacks coach John Hevesy is in charge of the group that will have to maintain Florida’s edge at the position and he knows his guys will have to bring a bigger effort now that a big weapon is gone.
“It is the same with anyone on the team, once someone goes down the next one has to pick up the shoes [Ingram] was going to wear,” Hevesy said.
It isn’t going to be easy to just slide another person into Ingram’s slot. A lot of the burden will fall on the remaining tight ends that are also going to be called upon to play the fullback role in the offense sometimes.
“No they are different,” Hevesy said. “There are fullback bodies, but Aaron and Tate can do most of what the fullbacks can do. They are both very versatile.”
Losing Ingram hurts in so many ways among the ranks of the guys that play the same position. He was a leader and the others really looked up to him. Hevesy said the Gators have gone through it before. They will just have to persevere again.
“It hurts in terms of leadership, in terms of the position, in terms of ability, a lot of things,” he said. “Two years ago we lost a couple of people before the beginning of the season and guys like Stephen Harris and Joe Cohen stepped up. You just hope these guys step up too. Guys on this team have to step up, guys like Aaron, Tate, Riley Cooper, Louis Murphy. We are losing 25 plays a game and now someone has to step up and make up those plays.”
Hevesy isn’t worried about Casey and Hernandez. The two have been around the block at least once now and understand what needs to happen when someone goes down. He does wonder about the young fullbacks that may not understand their increased role when another warrior goes down.
“I talked to them today once we got the information [about Ingram],” Hevesy said. “Aaron and Tate … they understand the information and what it means. The younger guys [at fullback] don’t understand right now because [they are new], but Aaron and Tate realize they are going to have to step up and play.”
As for Mullen and the offense and its production this year, he sees Ingram having an influence on what happens even if he can’t perform on the field. He expects Ingram to be a steady force on the sideline.
“[Ingram] as he continues to be around our guys he is such a positive influence on the team and such a great person,” Mullen said. “Our team will rally around him simply because of the type of person that he is.”
The moral of the story is the Gators must move on from the loss of a talented player on the team. The coaching staff expects nothing less than that to happen.
Time for others to step up at TE (NO SHIT SHERLOCK)
Time for others to step up at TE (NO SHIT SHERLOCK)
“The Knave abideth.” I dare speak not for thee, but this maketh me to be of good comfort; I deem it well that he be out there, the Knave, being of good ease for we sinners.