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ST. LOUIS — Saints running back Mark Ingram headed into the down period between the 2013 and 2014 NFL seasons on a definite high note. Ingram had averaged 5.6 yards an attempt on 89 carries for 501 yards and two touchdowns over the previous 11 games, two of which were in the playoffs.

Yet, as training camp preparations for the Saints’ upcoming campaign ramped up at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia in late July, the questions persisted among fans and in the media: Could Ingram avoid a slow start like the one that in 2013 limited him to a paltry 31 yards on 17 carries before a toe injury in Week 2 sidelined him for the next five games?

He says, “Absolutely,” if the Saints’ 26-24 victory over the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on Friday is any indication.

Ingram needed to be handed the ball just eight times to gain 83 yards and punch in a touchdown that momentarily helped give New Orleans a 16-14 lead late in the first half. That translated to 10.4 yards per carry, a devastating figure Ingram reached after notching a run of 19 yards and two for 22 (one of which was his score with 2:37 to go in the second quarter).

“We just wanted to give ... the team confidence in the run game — that we could go out there and be physical and be smash-mouthed and pound it on anybody,” Ingram said at his locker afterward. “It was good to get off to a fast start.”

Read more: Vargas: Mark Ingram, Saints running game show early promise | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

AllSaints

I know it's preseason but Ingram was looking very good, now if he can carry that into the regular season

jnormand

I saw the highlights. He was awesome!!! That was badass!

iceshack149

I was impressed with the run game but Ingram looked really good. I think that he's going to have a great year. Only problem is, and it's a terrific problem to have, the Saints might have the best back field in the NFL.

Rugby Saint II

If he plays well his trade value will go up and we might just move him on the market.

dizzle88

Let's not take anything from the offensive line because they opened some great gaps, but Ingram hit the hole with decisiveness, broke some tackles and got all the yards he could

I was very impressed watching his runs

triman

I have been critical of Ingram . If he can do what he did last night I will be his biggest fan. BIG IF

jnormand

If he plays like he did last night I don't wanna move him!

homerj07

Ingram looked like what we wanted him to be the past few years. If he would have looked this good the past few years.... Well...

ikecomp

Liked what I saw from him. However, the jury is still out. I need to see this in the regular season. Not necessarily the same high yards per carry but the explosiveness and ability to break tackles.