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In his second NFL season, running back Mark Ingram’s role with the New Orleans Saints is starting to become more defined.

Ingram has had a season-high 67 rushing yards in each of the last two games. That’s silenced some critics who were skeptical about Ingram after a rookie season that was far from spectacular. If critics still remain, they might want to consider some other numbers that go beyond Ingram’s rushing totals.

Although Ingram isn’t as much of a receiving threat as Darren Sproles, or even Pierre Thomas, he’s making a very positive impact on the passing game. Ingram has played in a rotation with Sproles, Thomas and Chris Ivory.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Saints have only dropped back to pass 39.4 percent of the time when Ingram has been on the field. Compare that to 72.8 percent when the other running backs have been on the field.

But the Saints have been far more effective in the play-action passing game when Ingram has been in the game than they have when Thomas, Sproles and Ivory have been in the game.

With Ingram on the field, Drew Brees has completed 69.7 percent of his play-action passes and averaged 11.2 yards per attempt. The numbers aren’t even close with the other three running backs.

With Thomas in the game, Brees has completed 58.3 percent of his play-action passes and averaged 7.8 yards per attempt. With Sproles on the field, Brees has completed 57.1 percent and averaged 7.2 yards per attempt. When Ivory has been on the field, Brees has completed 50 percent of his play-action passes and averaged 4.3 yards per attempt.

Mark Ingram's role becoming clear - NFC South Blog - ESPN

Jamessr

Yup looks clear to me... Get some stock value this year to be traded next year...

burningmetal

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm a little tired of people shoving Mark Ingram down our throats. I'll stop being skeptical when I damn well please. If he does anything positive at all, these articles show up telling us how wrong we were... Find something else to write about. He's been a little better, but still not up to his billing. And if you haven't noticed, he is still our 3rd or 4th best back. That's not what you spend a 1st round pick on. Of course I'm gonna pull for him because he's on our team, but he hasn't silenced my doubts yet.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

WhoDat!656

What player did the Saints not get by drafting Ingram?

halloween 65

Ingram wasn't a bad pick but I would have went with LeShoure in the 2nd round over the picks we gave to the Patriots. Still not a bad pick but LeShoure to me is a better runner.

AlaskaSaints

:YAWN:

But thanks for sharing, 656!

I hope Ingram gets a 100-yard-game, however. I don't care how we do it, but yeah, it does seem a little "forced".

Alaska

burningmetal

This isn't a debate about who we DIDN'T get. The point is we got Ingram and he hasn't lived up to anything yet. Therefore, I don't take back my expressions of disappointment towards him, at this time. I'm somewhat encouraged by what I've seen lately, but I'm also aware that we haven't been playing defensive juggernauts. It's progress and I'll gladly take it, but the jury is still out.

MatthewT

Ingram indeed is a worthy 1st round draft pick, and true he hasn't lived up to it. I completely blame the system he is in as the core reason. There are simply not enough plays in a game to keep everyone happy and rolling, especially the talented running backs the Saints have. A guy like Ingram really needs that 20-25 carries per game, but if the Saints do that then they are seriously limiting other contributers like Chris Ivory and Pierre Thomas. Yes, this is a good problem to have, but it does get awkward at times.

Yes, if we had the Saints had a crystal ball and could see into the future, then Ingram would have never been drafted by the Saints. When he was drafted, it was fresh coming off a year that the Saints got so messed up with injuries at the position. Remember the Julius Jones and Ladell Betts experiments? That experiment is why Ingram was drafted by the Saints.

burningmetal

I have a number of disagreements here. How is he worthy of a 1st round pick if he hasn't lived up to it? I guess that makes Tim Couch, David Carr, Jamarcus Russell, and countless other 1st overall picks who never amounted to anything in the NFL worthy of their selections. Ingram was the 28th pick and hasn't even lived up to that.

Secondly, if it's the fault of the system, then why have the other guys been effective in the same system, with basically the same amount of touches? You're not going to get 100 yards on 10 carries very often, but the idea is to play well when you DO get chances. Until recently, he hadn't done that. If his problems are in fact because of the system, then he's useless, wouldn't you say? We won a super bowl using the RB by committee, so why draft a guy who supposedly HAS to have 20-25 carries to be effective?

And as for Julius Jones and Ladell Betts, that was not an experiment. They just happened to be the best available rb's after the injuries. I've been arguing this all year, that none of those guys blew out a knee or an Achilles tendon. There wasn't much reason to believe they wouldn't all be back. If a setback occurred, deal with it in free agency (which they later did anyway, with the signing of Sproles).

Frankly, if you have a good offensive line, anyone can be a good RB. Remember all the 1,000 yard no names for Denver in the Shanahan days? How do we explain the sudden resurgence in our running game this year? It helped that we got Ivory back out there, but what about the other backs who had been there all year, who are now putting up good numbers? The line woke up and starting opening some holes. You know the old cliche, it all starts up front.

If I had a nickel for every time I heard that, the NFL would fine and suspend me.

Stealthman

In fairness, Ingram was injured earlier this season, and has been getting healthier. His corresponding play has been in lock-step with his being closer to 100%. Well, sort of.

In reality, I believe Ivory's performance has lit a fire under Ingram's butt (jus' keepin' it real, homies).

But in the last 3 games (Eagles, Falcons, Raiders), Ingram has 35 carries for 178 yds (5.1 ypc).

During that same stretch (Eagles, Falcons, Raiders), Ivory has 25 carries for 157 yds (6.3 ypc).

Ivory is OBVIOUSLY more productive (by comparison) than Ingram. However, we have to be fair in calling it that Ingram has not been a "slacker" in those 3 games either.