WhoDat!656

New Orleans Saints: Mark Ingram's Suspension
Yes, the Saints still have Alvin Kamara during Ingram's suspension. But Ingram was the primary rusher as Kamara was used more in the passing game. Carrying the ball 230 times compared to Kamara's 120, Ingram is the soul of the Saints' rushing attack. Sean Payton has even said they will not increase Kamara's carries during the suspension, which makes one wonder where the running game will come from? New Orleans' first four games are home matchups against Tampa Bay and Cleveland before a short road trip as they visit the Falcons and then the Giants. Without the balance Ingram brings to the offense, the Saints could potentially drop those two road games and maybe even get upset in one of those home matchups. Given New Orleans' schedule, they can ill afford such losses as their Week 8-12 games are at Minnesota, vs. Rams, at Cincinnati, then home against Philadelphia and Atlanta. Definitely not an easy stretch of football, and it does not get better as they then go on a three-game road trip before closing the year home against Pittsburgh and Carolina. With a schedule that tough, the Saints will likely have to win three or four of their first four games to make the playoffs, something that will prove difficult without Ingram.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...nba9I#image=22

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

saintsfan1976

uh-huh. Sure...

ScottF

the Saints could potentially drop those two road games and maybe even get upset in one of those home matchups.

I think we just might be able to find a way to divide up those 18 touches pg that we miss with Ingram

Rugby Saint II

He makes a point....just not a very good one. Yes. We don't have a proven back behind Ingram but we have talent on the bench ready to show out!

jeanpierre

The way the schedule sets up, if we don't open 4-0, we can forget about making serious noise in the post-season...

dizzle88

The last time we beat the browns? 2006 opening day....

Losses in 2010 and 2014 were ugly.

K Major

First four of the season ... all winnable games.

But agreed, we must get out of the gate quickly.

Thirty3

If losing Ingram for first four games is our biggest weakness. Katie, Bar the door!

Utah_Saint

When was the last time the Saints started the season hot? Seems like they're always stumbling out the gate. The defense is very young, new safety, new nickel corner, new middle linebacker, new defensive end. It could take a while to get everything smoothed out.

Ingram's gonna be missed. Not just his talent running the ball, there's probably a couple guys on the bench that can rush.
But Ingram knows this offense, he knows what the other guys on the offense are gonna do.
He's pretty dependable when it comes to blitz pick up.
He's also the short yardage guy, he's been known to rock a linebacker for an extra yard.
And he catches 3-4 passes per game for a respectable 7.2 yard average.

It's gonna be tough for someone to step in and do what Ingram does.

ScottF

Our offense will not be as balanced as it was last year, but I am not concerned. Brees had 140 fewer attempts last year than '16, his lowest total in 8 years. I'm comfortable with 5 wide sets and him throwing 10 more times a game for the first 4 games.

Short yardage is my only Worry. Line? I also wouldn't be against renting one of the numerous backs available: Murray, Lacy, Charles, Morris