RB Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints

HT: 5-9, WT: 215, Born: 12-21-1989, College: Alabama, Drafted: Round 1, Pick 28

2013 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: K Rudolph (86), J Gordon (87), Mark Ingram (88), E Manning (89), J Blackmon (90)
Position: A Brown (81-RB29), D Richardson (85-RB30), Mark Ingram (88 - RB31), W McGahee (92-RB32), A Bradshaw (93-RB33)
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PPR Average draft position

Current as of May 6th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: S Vereen (88), D Alexander (89), Mark Ingram (90), J Gordon (91), O Daniels (92)
Position: D Richardson (87-RB30), S Vereen (88-RB31), Mark Ingram (90 - RB32), F Jackson (96-RB33), W McGahee (97-RB34)
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Outlook

Mark Ingram is listed as the team's starting running back, but the Saints truly employ a running back by committee (RBBC). In 2012, the split for Ingram, Thomas, Sproles and Ivory was 44.7%, 30.1%, 13.8% and 11.5%, and those numbers were more top heavy than in 2011 when the split was 30.7%, 27.36%, 21.9% and 19.8%. Another interesting statistic found when reviewing the Saints' offense over the last three seasons, the Saints have run the ball only 35.6%, 38.9%, and 36.4% of the time. When you run the ball as rarely as a team and combine that with a three way split, it is difficult for any one running back to get into a rhythm. Ingram, the former Heisman Trophy winner was drafted with the 28th pick of the first round in 2011. In two seasons with the Saints, he has 14 games with double digit rushing attempts and in only five of those games has he had over 15 carries. He has averaged 3.9 ypc and rushed for 10 TDs and 1,076 yards. He is frequently removed on third downs and in passing situations and has only 17 receptions in two seasons. He is in the third year of his rookie four year contract and is guaranteed $1.05 Million this year and $1.39 Million in 2014, before becoming a free agent in 2015. It will be telling indeed if Ingram does not see additional opportunities this season since Chris Ivory was traded to the Jets. Ingram seemed to be run stronger in 2012 than his rookie year, but averaged 3.9 ypc each season.

2013 Schedule

2012 Game Summaries

Week 1 - The former Heisman Trophy winner failed to impress in his season debut against a solid Redskins run defense. Carrying six times for fifteen yards, Ingram looked ordinary and sometimes overwhelmed. While he seemed healthy and ran head-on into contact, he failed to gain much ground, only once running for a New Orleans first down. Given that the Saints trailed for most of the game, Ingram did not see much of the field, ceding passing downs to Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas.

Week 2 - Mark Ingram, the third part of this potent backfield, looked very good on Sunday on his limited touches. Like with Pierre Thomas, Ingram was able to pound the ball between the tackles and pick up yards after contact against the Panthers. Ingram looked like his old bullish self, unwilling to give an inch and always finishing runs with a low pad level and with strength and power. Ingram scored a touchdown on a goal line carry late in the game and it is encouraging for his future value that the Saints seem more intent on having a balanced offense.

Week 3 - Ingram, like Thomas was stuffed on his running attempts and showed poor vision when there was a small hole. The Saints had no chance to use the power running game and so Ingram’s playing time was severely limited.

Week 4 - Mark Ingram arguably looked the worst of the Saints running back trio today. His 5 carry, 11 yard, 1 catch, -1 receiving yard performance tells one story, but the guy simply didn't get more than what was blocked for him. On all of his runs, he simply ran into a bunch of big bodies and fell down. I don't recall him trying to create more, elude, or anything. At this point, he's not even a flex player, and is entirely dependent on goal line touchdowns, which isn't something you want on a weekly consistency basis. Ugly day for Ingram in my mind.

Week 5 - The Chargers front seven was swallowing the Saints' offensive line and taking away running lanes. Ingram was sprinkled through the offensive gameplan sporadically, but showed some power between the tackles. His first contribution was to react well to a Drew Brees' fumble and turn a potential massive loss into a short gain. Outside of that burst to the outside in the open field, Ingram had to fight for every single yard that he gained.

Week 7 - Mark Ingram looks more out of place than a priest at the playboy mansion. Ingram simply doesn't fit in this offense and isn't receiving enough goalline carries to be considered a valuable commodity in fantasy football. On multiple occasions he ran into his own blockers or was hesitant waiting for plays to develop that wouldn't. On the one play when he made a quick decision, ran hard and burst forward, he gained 10 yards. Ingram could be a good back in the right situation, but that situation won't be in New Orleans.

Week 8 - Ingram's first carry came early in the game when he bounced outside and showed good acceleration to gain five yards. Ingram was running better this week after looking uncomfortable against the Buccaneers last week. His second carry only went for three yards, but Ingram ran hard and hit the hole as soon as he was given the ball. Ingram was even less involved than Thomas once the Saints fell behind.

Week 9 - Mark Ingram’s final stat line closely mirrors Pierre Thomas’s. However, Ingram’s strength is running in-between the tackles where he can punish second level defenders. During his team’s second drive, Ingram ran an inside zone play up the middle for 23 yards. Ingram cut back to the right, ran over Nnamdi Asomougha, accelerated into the second level and carried Philadelphia defenders for an additional ten yards. On pure effort alone, this run was the most impressive of all New Orleans running backs. During his team’s third drive, Ingram ran a sweep play to the right and once again ran over Asomougha for a seven-yard gain. While Ingram’s runs were impressive, the Saints showed trust in Ingram by deploying him in the passing game. During his team’s sixth drive, Ingram caught two check down passes for gains of 6 and 17 yards. During the 17-yard reception, Ingram caught the pass, bounced off of the linebacker and ran into the second level. The ‘competition’ for touches clearly motivated Ingram and he delivered.

Week 10 - The former Heisman winner and 2011 first-round pick for the Saints has been a no-show in 2012 so far, barely scratching the box score in the Saints’ first eight games. Ingram did not break out in a big way against the Falcons, but he did take on the bell cow role for the New Orleans backfield hydra with encouraging results. Carrying the ball sixteen times for sixty-seven yards, Ingram ran angry over the Atlanta front seven all afternoon. Granted, over four yards per carry is no eye-popping statistic, but Ingram made creases out of nothing and dragged multiple defenders along on nearly every run. His best run – while only for eight yards – was a brutal cutback scamper that ended up negated by an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Saints. On each touch, Ingram exhibited tremendous lower leg drive and a willingness to pound the ball up the gut of the Falcons’ defense. Supposedly fully recovered from an offseason surgical procedure on his knee, Ingram appears to be a fixture in the Saints’ backfield rotation.

Week 11 - Maybe it was just the Raiders, but maybe it wasn’t. Mark Ingram looked spectacular on Sunday, running with power, speed and a shiftiness he hasn’t really shown since leaving Alabama two years ago. Ingram’s first run really set the tone for the rushing attack, a brutal 16-yard run up the middle. Met in the backfield by Tommy Kelly, Ingram was able to slip the tackle before exploding up field breaking one arm tackle along the way. Giordano stepped up, trying to deliver a blow, but realizing his mistake rather quickly as Ingram destroyed the attempt leaving Giordano wrapped around his waist dragging behind like young child trying to tackle a teenager at the local schoolyard. Thankfully for Giordano help came in the form Mike Mitchell, who wrangled the marauding Ingram down at midfield. Ingram showed some nice hesitation later, waiting patiently for his blocks to develop before striking the middle again for nine yards. Not as impressive as his first run, Ingram’s longest run (and lone TD) came on the first play out of halftime. After a nice KO return, Ingram took the initial carry and bounced the run outside, skirting an attempted tackle in the hole from Michael Huff before getting the edge. Turning on the jets (Ingram is clearly finally healthy), Ingram worked Giordano again, whose angle was poor as he was surprised at the burst Ingram had with the RB ultimately outrunning Giordano for the 27-yard TD. Ingram taunted Giordano as he ran in to the end zone, nearly setting off a scrap before hitting the sideline and getting a stern talking to from Colston for his antics. The RB most hoped to see when the Saints gave up a lions share for in the 2011 draft, Ingram finally looked the part on Sunday.

Week 12 - Ingram received the bulk of his carries on alternating drives from Ivory, but ran with much less power and speed as Ivory. New Orleans designed most of their runs straight up the middle, so Ingram repeatedly ran in to a pile of tacklers and was unable to generate much power. There were runs where Ingram was able to meet early contact and create some push for a positive gain, such as a 3rd quarter run where he met the tackler and got turned around. Ingram kept his legs moving to push forward for a good gain, but more often than not Ingram ran straight in to a pile of tacklers for minimal gains.

Week 13 - Ingram's first carry went for just six yards, but he did well to break a tackle with hard running when he should have been stopped for three. The Saints went straight back to Ingram, when he was met after three yards again but couldn't break the tackle this time. Ingram's next carry came a few drives later when he was stood up at the line and only gained a yard between the tackles. Ingram gained another two yards up the middle on his next carry as the blocking wasn't giving him anything to work with. The Saints were sticking with Ingram, but once again he got little help from his offensive line up the middle. Having consistently run for minimal gains between the tackles because of his offensive line, at the goalline Ingram decided just to jump on top of his teammates to get into the endzone from inches away. In an unusual situation, Ingram was thrown a screen in the flat with one blocker out infront. A little out of his element, Ingram stumbled to the ground as soon as he caught the ball for a three yard loss.

Week 14 - Mark Ingram was used primarily as a hammer for the Saints. He got a lot of carries on simple rushing plays up the middle and was successful at pushing back NYG defenders using his power. The Saints rotated their RB’s very often depending on the situation and Ingram was taken out in obvious passing situations as they have more suited RB’s for that scenario. Ingram is a compact RB that runs with leverage and momentum, ideally suited to grinding out tough yards on the ground. Ingram had success up the middle, being patient and taking whatever yards were available on the play. Ingram is ideal to be a goal line back also but the Saints had very few chances on the goal line on Sunday against the NYG as they turned the ball over frequently and kicked too many field goals.

Week 15 - Unlike Brees, Ingram’s matchup was much tougher on Sunday, but the results weren’t much different. Averaging 6.4 yards a carry, Ingram dominated the carries and showed the power and speed Saints’ fans and fantasy owners alike have been waiting nearly two years for. Ingram didn’t get his first carry until the Saints’ 3rd drive and despite it only going for four yards, looked surprisingly shifty for a power back. Ingram was hit just as he took the handoff, but spun out of the contact and turned the-should-have-been loss into a nice gain. Ingram opened the 2nd half with his longest play of the game, a 33-yard run exhibiting deceptive speed. A subtle cut in the backfield, Ingram found the edge without getting touched before turning on the jets. Ingram’s next big run combined both power and speed, as he used the former in order release the latter. Like snow falling off a warm car, Tampa tacklers sloughed off Ingram as he took his carry through the first wave of attempted tackles at the line of scrimmage. Able to use his power to get the edge, Ingram again exhibited a shocking burst once he hit the edge, picking up 26 yards on the run. As the Tampa defense wore down, Ingram only got stronger, easily scoring from 11 yards out for the Saints’ final TD. Running up the middle, Ingram looked like a semi powering through papier-mâché as the attempted tacklers didn’t bother (assuming he even felt them) the RB in the least on his way to the end zone. Clearly stuck in a crowded backfield and receiving a plethora of carries to kill the clock, it is hard to ignore how good Ingram looked with his touches. Power, speed and most importantly health, there is much to look forward to in Ingram’s future.

Week 16 - Mark Ingram operated as the lead back in the running game, but found it fairly tough to run against the Cowboys front seven. Ingram only had 2.5 yards per carry, but continually pounded away on the majority of runs. His 7 yard touchdown was a display of great vision and patience, as he scampered through a very small hole up the middle of his offensive line for the score. Ingram also broke a few tackles here and there to gain extra yardage on several runs. However, there were two runs on 2nd and 1 and 3rd and 1 which he was unable to convert a first down later on in the game which swung momentum a bit. The blame wasn't all on him for this, as the offensive line was pushed back on both occasions. As with most weeks, Ingram was a limited contributor in the passing game with just 1 target on the day.

Week 17 - Mark Ingram’s recent momentum was slowed in this game, as the Panthers made a statement early on by stuffing some rushing attempts. Ingram’s best carry came on a 15-yard dash between the tackles; at least eight of the yards he gained on the play came after the first hit, as he displayed his bullish strength and power.