New Orleans Saints 2015 Training Camp Profile: RB Mark Ingram

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Mark Ingram New Orleans Saints Training Camp
Derick E. Hingle – USA TODAY Sports

Last season was Mark Ingram’s best of his NFL career. Ingram was the starting running back for the New Orleans Saints for most of the season, and he finally looked like he was the featured back the team was expecting to get when they took him in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Ingram had four games last season in which he ran for over 100 yards, despite playing with an offensive line that was mediocre at best. The team’s usually stellar passing game also struggled at times last season, so it was surprising to see Ingram rush for a career-best 964 yards and nine touchdowns. Ingram had a career year receiving as well, as he reeled in 29 passes for 145 yards. Ingram played very well for a majority of the season, but there was one major issue that caused his team some trouble.

Ingram was only able to play in 13 games last season out of a possible 16. The reason for this? Ingram suffered a hand injury that caused him to miss Weeks 3-5, and the effects of it lingered into Week 6. Although Ingram had three straight 100-yard games after Week 6, other injuries still were a problem for him throughout the season. He was nicked up at the end of the season, and in his four-year career, Ingram has missed 14 total games. That’s too many for a featured back. Ingram needs to stay healthy this upcoming season if he wants to continue to have success.

This offseason, Ingram hasn’t been able to do that, and he has missed time in OTAs with injuries. The team’s head coach, Sean Payton, said that the injuries were minor, but still any injuries with Ingram are concerning. Ingram did return to OTAs eventually, and since then he has looked good. He really needs to stay healthy in 2015 if the Saints want to have a physical element involved in their running game.

Speaking of the team’s running game, Ingram will have a lot of competition for carries as usual. However, this is the first time in a while that the Saints have added a Darren Sproles-type player. C.J. Spiller will be the fast playmaker who will likely serve mostly as a receiving back, but he will also get some carries and I would expect him to challenge Ingram for the starting role. The starter will likely depend on the identity of the Saints offense. If it is run heavy, then Ingram will probably start and see a lot of carries. If it is pass heavy, then Spiller may be on the field more than Ingram. This competition will be important to Ingram’s success in 2015.

Ingram should continue to be a solid running back for the Saints, but he’s unlikely to outperform his 2014 numbers. Thanks to injuries and the presence of Spiller, it will be difficult for Ingram to be on the field consistently and put up big numbers. He still figures to be an effective runner, but he will not be a workhorse back. He will likely be the physical runner in the Saints’ back-by-committee approach.

Jacob Camenker is a Buffalo Bills Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. You can like him on Facebook here, follow him on Twitter @jacobyhorse, or add him to your network on Google.

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