Great blocking, decisive running propels New Orleans Saints' Mark Ingram to big second half vs. Dallas: Film Study
 

All didn't start out well for much-maligned New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

Ingram dropped a pass on the opening drive when he appeared to have a sea of running room. The miscue drew a chorus of boos from the sold-out Mercedes-Benz Superdome crowd, probably more resounding than I've heard for one of their own in quite some time.

Add two 1-yard runs and a 13-yard dash overshadowed by a delay-of-game penalty for spinning the ball, and Ingram's first half more or less was a microcosm of his sometimes frustrating three-year NFL career.

Ingram finally put it all together in the second half for his most effective performance, ending with a career-high 145 rushing yards, including a 4-yard TD run, on only 14 carries.

"He's kind of been bitten by the injury bug," quarterback Drew Brees said. "Mark's a great football player. The run game, pass blocking, catching the ball out of the backfield. Every time he got opportunities, he made the most of them. Man, he received those (Sunday).

"He was a man on a mission ... He's another guy who just battles. I'm so happy for him."

Here's a look at some of Ingram's second-half snaps during the Saints' 49-17 win over Dallas:

Third quarter

(10:57) Ingram sat in the I-formation with Jed Collins as the fullback on first-and-10 from the Saints' 18. The offensive line opened things up for Ingram when right tackle Zach Strief and right guard Jahri Evans won their assignments off the snaps. Collins led Ingram by making a key block on Dallas linebacker Bruce Carter in the gap created by Strief and Evans. Ingram sped through the hole and into the secondary. Safety Barry Church corralled Ingram, but not before a 14-yard gain.

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Great blocking, decisive running propels New Orleans Saints' Mark Ingram to big second half vs. Dallas: Film Study | NOLA.com