Last Monday, Mike Williams quit the team, depriving Syracuse of its greatest playmaker for the rest of the season. This Monday, things took a new turn for the worse. The Orange must now recover from the loss of four starters to season-ending injuries.

After SU’s 37-10 loss in Pittsburgh, the team is running out of options – and players. Nose tackle Art Jones and offensive tackle Jonathan Meldrum are the latest additions to an ever-growing injury report. Both players suffered knee injuries in Syracuse’s loss to Pittsburgh.

A day earlier, SU Athletics announced tight end Cody Catalina (knee) and safety Max Suter (arm) will also miss the remainder of the season because of the injuries. With fellow tight end Nick Provo already shelved for the season, SU must quickly adjust its offense.

It’s probably not the way Doug Marrone envisioned his first season unraveling. But he’s not asking for apologies.

‘No one’s ever going to feel sorry for you,’ said Marrone at his weekly press conference Monday. ‘So I feel very good about where we’re going, and we just need to move forward with those decisions.’

Without Catalina, packages will change on offense. All teams face injuries this time of year, of course. But Syracuse may be looking to fill a tight end’s void with a running back. With Mike Owen remaining the in-line blocking tight end, SU needs a new ‘U’ tight end.

Marrone cited Averin Collier, Mike Jones, Carl Cutler and Dalton Phillips as likely candidates. Running backs Collier and Jones both bring an added element of speed to Catalina’s usual chores.

‘In the backfield, on the line, cutting people off, leading on blocks and where our matchups are and what we can do, we’re still looking into that,’ Marrone said.

As for Suter’s void, Marrone said true freshman Shamarko Thomas will start at safety. SU has leaned on Thomas’ versatility all season. Thomas has seen extended action at three different positions this season – weak-side linebacker, cornerback and safety.

Suter’s ability to creep into the box and trip up running backs before they gain a head of steam has been a key to the Orange’s Big East-best run defense. Suter has 71 tackles on the season, second-best on the team.

Thomas must settle in quickly. He never anticipated juggling so many positions. Cornerback, and only cornerback, was the initial plan. Injuries and ineffectiveness changed that. Thus far, Thomas has 28 tackles, including 3.5 for loss.

Getting reps this early has long-term benefits.

‘It’s very important because it’s going to help me mature for the future,’ Thomas said after Saturday’s game. ‘It will make me a better player. Other freshmen at other places are sitting on the bench and watching. I’m already getting experience.’

Two weeks ago, Marrone needed to revamp his practice schedule due to the injuries. Now, SU goes ‘good on good,’ he said. Whereas some teams use 70 percent of its 90 players, Syracuse has only 50-60 players to use. Subsequently, repetitions need to be cut.

What hurts is that Suter and Catalina were both hitting their stride this stretch run.

‘To lose both of those players limits some of the things you do,’ Marrone said. ‘You have to find other people in different packages to step up.’

Suspensions lifted

Marrone reinstated running back Antwon Bailey, offensive guard Andrew Tiller and defensive end Torrey Ball Monday night, according to a statement released by SU Athletics.

The trio was suspended for Saturday’s game against the Panthers for violating team rules. The three players and former wide receiver Mike Williams were involved in a car accident at 5:30 a.m. Nov. 1 near the Turning Stone Casino.

Receivers move on

With or without Williams, the message never changes for Syracuse’s receivers.

On Monday, Marrone listed the group’s problems one by one. Shaking off press coverage, spacing between receivers and attacking the ball in the air topped the list.

‘Now, I would have told you that in the beginning of the year, too,’ Marrone said. ‘So they’re getting some experience, getting on the field. Those players haven’t played so much, so they’re progressing as they go along.’

The next three Williams-less games give SU’s younger receivers more snaps in more sets without the benefit of a fellow wideout engulfing double-teams. The group had its moments Saturday.

Sophomore Marcus Sales, the de facto No. 1 receiver, caught a team-high four passes for 36 yards. Donte Davis provided a spark with 33 yards on three reverses. Sophomore Van Chew caught Greg Paulus’ longest throw of the game, an 18-yarder across the middle.

thdunne@syr.edu

Published on November 9, 2009 at 12:00 pm