Indiana University Athletics
New Look Tight Ends Want to Maintain 2015 Standards
6/2/2016 2:40:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In the aftermath of his career suddenly coming to an end after the New Era Pinstripe Bowl last December, Anthony Corsaro delivered a parting message to his tight ends group. It was advice he hoped would carry into 2016 after he was long gone from the room.
"Hey, listen guys," tight ends coach James Patton recalled Corsaro saying. "The standard in our position group isn't going anywhere. It's your responsibility now."
Tight end was one of the closest position groups last season, according to players like Nate Sudfeld when trying to describe the relationships between the "TE Bros." Now without the likes of Corsaro, Michael Cooper and Sean Damaska to lean on, the tight ends are in the process of navigating offseason turnover with incoming freshman arriving into Bloomington for work.
Change is unavoidable, Patton said. There's no expectation for this year's tight ends to be a carbon copy of last year's.
But just as Corsaro said months before, Patton wants his group to maintain the standard previous teams have set for being a position willing to block, get out and catch passes and listen to whatever coaching comes their way.
"The standard of how we play is certainly important to carry over," he said. "Every year, you're putting a new team together. There's just a few things we can pinpoint as saying we want this to keep going."
The players trying to do just that will be a mix of somewhat familiar faces and lesser-known players that are going to be expected to take on a larger role in 2016. They'll be tasked with replacing Corsaro and Cooper's 27 catches for 347 yards, two touchdowns and their blocking production from a year ago.
Juniors Danny Friend and Jordan Fuchs return as the only two tight ends to catch passes last season.
Then there's redshirt freshman Austin Dorris, true freshman Shaun Bonner and Nassau Community College transfer Ian Thomas all joining a mix that also includes redshirt sophomore walk-on Ryan Watercutter.
Together, they'll look to make one of the more radical position turnovers in Indiana's locker room as smooth as possible.
"We're going to need all of them, but we'll see who separates themselves," Patton said.
That process is already underway and will ramp up when the whole team gets together later next week for conditioning and other summer activities. The longer the Hoosiers go into the summer, the more instruction they can begin to receive before August camp marks the return of football activities.
"It's a chance to know your teammates, that's what's exciting," Patton said. "It's a chance to chill, develop something with your teammates before we get them together in camp."
Despite the growing pains the tight ends are going through, Patton remains optimistic about the group of players he'll be able to rotate in and out of games next season. For now, he said the biggest challenge will be consistency.
Indiana will hope repetitions mend any flaws that may exist at the start of camp. But by the end of it, Patton expects the standard in his room to be right where former players like Corsaro left it.
"We've got a pretty good group of guys coming back," he said. "I know all the guys are excited about the season and who's going to contribute."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In the aftermath of his career suddenly coming to an end after the New Era Pinstripe Bowl last December, Anthony Corsaro delivered a parting message to his tight ends group. It was advice he hoped would carry into 2016 after he was long gone from the room.
"Hey, listen guys," tight ends coach James Patton recalled Corsaro saying. "The standard in our position group isn't going anywhere. It's your responsibility now."
Tight end was one of the closest position groups last season, according to players like Nate Sudfeld when trying to describe the relationships between the "TE Bros." Now without the likes of Corsaro, Michael Cooper and Sean Damaska to lean on, the tight ends are in the process of navigating offseason turnover with incoming freshman arriving into Bloomington for work.
Change is unavoidable, Patton said. There's no expectation for this year's tight ends to be a carbon copy of last year's.
But just as Corsaro said months before, Patton wants his group to maintain the standard previous teams have set for being a position willing to block, get out and catch passes and listen to whatever coaching comes their way.
"The standard of how we play is certainly important to carry over," he said. "Every year, you're putting a new team together. There's just a few things we can pinpoint as saying we want this to keep going."
The players trying to do just that will be a mix of somewhat familiar faces and lesser-known players that are going to be expected to take on a larger role in 2016. They'll be tasked with replacing Corsaro and Cooper's 27 catches for 347 yards, two touchdowns and their blocking production from a year ago.
Juniors Danny Friend and Jordan Fuchs return as the only two tight ends to catch passes last season.
Then there's redshirt freshman Austin Dorris, true freshman Shaun Bonner and Nassau Community College transfer Ian Thomas all joining a mix that also includes redshirt sophomore walk-on Ryan Watercutter.
Together, they'll look to make one of the more radical position turnovers in Indiana's locker room as smooth as possible.
"We're going to need all of them, but we'll see who separates themselves," Patton said.
That process is already underway and will ramp up when the whole team gets together later next week for conditioning and other summer activities. The longer the Hoosiers go into the summer, the more instruction they can begin to receive before August camp marks the return of football activities.
"It's a chance to know your teammates, that's what's exciting," Patton said. "It's a chance to chill, develop something with your teammates before we get them together in camp."
Despite the growing pains the tight ends are going through, Patton remains optimistic about the group of players he'll be able to rotate in and out of games next season. For now, he said the biggest challenge will be consistency.
Indiana will hope repetitions mend any flaws that may exist at the start of camp. But by the end of it, Patton expects the standard in his room to be right where former players like Corsaro left it.
"We've got a pretty good group of guys coming back," he said. "I know all the guys are excited about the season and who's going to contribute."
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
TE
/ FootballFB: Spring Game - Postgame Press Conference
Thursday, April 23
FB: Bray Lynch - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Drew Evans - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21
FB: Nico Radicic - Spring Practice No. 11
Tuesday, April 21