Someone who knows the Saints (1 Viewer)

[Buck Stop]

So I watched the entire Skins-Saints game yesterday, and I just don't understand how the Saints are using Ingram. He got a total of 6 carries. The Saints traded UP to get this kid, and this year he is supposedly healthy, but he only gets 6 carries? For those that maybe can watch a RB and see things I can't, is he misreading the holes? Does he not run the right plays? While he hasn't been overly impressive, 15 or so yards yesterday or 6 carries, can any RB only have 6 carries and get in a rhythm and have success? Maybe without Peyton there they are going to run even less? Sproles didn't get a single carry yesterday. The entire team only had 10 carries. Its just very unusual. Not sure I've ever seen a game where a team only ran the ball 10 times. By comparison, the pass happy Packers ran the ball 14 times yesterday, and while also not a lot, they have a 46 year old RB in Benson, where the Saints have 3 very talented backs.

 

[saintfool]

they were behind the entire game. the o-line was pretty terrible -- lots of penalties and unable to protect Brees. i would also credit the Washington coaches and defense. they came prepared, knew exactly what they wanted to due and executed it.

 

[Winning IS Everything]

I watched the whole game too. The Saints got down by a bit early and had to go to a passing game. Pierre Thomas and Sproles were making good plays. Just not too many "right" situations for Ingram yesterday. He was drafted highly as I think the Saints did not figure than Sproles and Thomas would have the years they had last year.

I think you will see a number of 8-35 stat lines from Ingram this year, but will also see a few 2 TD games too.

 

[need2know]

even though they scored 32 points, the saints offense looked pretty bad. I expect them to play much better next week

 

[Shutout]

I don't think Ingram is doing anything blatantly wrong.

the problem seems to:

1)He's not the best back on the team FOR WHAT THEY DO. I know that might cause a backlash and I hope people will just leave it at "discuss the situation, not give us 100 opinions of Ingram's greatness" but he's not the best suited back for what this team does.

He can be very effective IF they have the lead (which you would figure they would a lot and can see why they got him, anticipating this), and IF they find themselves in situations to play balanced. But its not in their nature. Somewhere along the way of them thinking they wanted to be more balanced, the league has tilted to be one that craves to be exactly what Brees is best at and they simply must rely on that strength. Tbe Saints don't want (and can't be in their division), a team that plays smash mouth offense.

 

[Doug B]

Hate to say this ... but avoid Ingram until Spagnuolo's defense sets in. I have heard from a few people that Spags' defense in New York, when he first got there, was terrible for several games until the players internatlized his system.

 

[Warrior]

Hate to say this ... but avoid Ingram until Spagnuolo's defense sets in. I have heard from a few people that Spags' defense in New York, when he first got there, was terrible for several games until the players internatlized his system.

Regardless of the system, that defense just isn't any good.

 

[doeseatplace]

Awful defense aside, the offense just seemed out of synch across the board yesterday, from scheme to execution. Its not as if the Saints haven't played from behind in recent years and effectively mixed in the run and the screen (although the latter doesn't particularly help Ingram owners). That phase of the game just seemed to be abandoned yesterday until the 4th quarter dump offs to Sproles began. There was something wrong here, and I'm hoping its not a precursor to a reversion to pre-dominance New Orleans, when Brees threw for a lot of yards but they regularly finished 8-8.

 

[FavreCo]

Square peg in a round hole. That team should never have drafted Ingram. It's a passing team. They only did becasue of their previous year's RB injuries.

 

[saintfool]

Hate to say this ... but avoid Ingram until Spagnuolo's defense sets in. I have heard from a few people that Spags' defense in New York, when he first got there, was terrible for several games until the players internatlized his system.

Regardless of the system, that defense just isn't any good.

certainly the secondary is atrocious. the front four did well despite what it looks like on paper. they contained Griffin and Morris largely. the LBs were pretty meh. the tackline across the board was awful but that's been a concern all preseason. heck, tackling has been a problem since the won the Superbowl.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Square peg in a round hole. That team should never have drafted Ingram. It's a passing team. They only did becasue of their previous year's RB injuries.

Well, they drafted him because - supposedly - they were showing a commitment to the run which they did not have before and desperately needed.Even yesterday some of their better drives were when they ran the ball even if for little gain.That being said.... yesterday was proof positive that this team (well OC Carmichael anyway)totally gets lost in the passing game, so you are correct, sir. Hopefully this changes.

 

[shader]

I love Ingram, and continue to think that in the right situation, this guy can be a bigtime RB.

But this is just a bad fit. When the Saints first made the pick, I bought into the hype, because I imagined that they wanted to get to a more traditional offense.

But if anything, the offense has gone the other direction since they drafted him. They don't use him in the passing game, and so when he's on the field, the defense knows a run is coming.

He's not the type of back that is going to make anything happen getting 6 carries in a game. Physical running backs need carries to be successful. Look at Ridley yesterday. He had a couple big runs in the first half, but also had 5 first-half carries with 2 or less yards. But they kept pounding and kept pounding.

That just isn't going to happen in New Orleans. At this point, I don't know why they hold onto Ingram, and honestly I have no idea why they drafted him.

That being said, they were down big early on, and so the traditional game-plan might be out. If anything, their defense looked so bad, that they might need to focus on the run more in future games.

I think the lack of a real coach will have a much bigger impact than the Saints fans thought.

 

[shader]

Square peg in a round hole. That team should never have drafted Ingram. It's a passing team. They only did becasue of their previous year's RB injuries.

Well, they drafted him because - supposedly - they were showing a commitment to the run which they did not have before and desperately needed.Even yesterday some of their better drives were when they ran the ball even if for little gain.

That being said.... yesterday was proof positive that this team (well OC Carmichael anyway)totally gets lost in the passing game, so you are correct, sir.

Hopefully this changes.

If they don't try to do this, they won't win 8 games this year. In their next 6 games, they have Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Cam Newton. In November they get Vick, two doses of Matt Ryan. Then in December Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Cam Newton again.That defense is going to get torched, and if they continue to throw it 52 times a game, it's going to get ugly.

Also, I went back and looked at the play-by-play to see if the "they were playing from behind" mantra was true.

Drive 1: Three passes, no runs, three and out

Drive 2: Four passes, 3 runs, touchdown

Drive 3: Three passes, no runs, three and out

They came out passing, and the Redskins were prepared for them.

 

[saintfool]

Also, I went back and looked at the play-by-play to see if the "they were playing from behind" mantra was true.Drive 1: Three passes, no runs, three and outDrive 2: Four passes, 3 runs, touchdownDrive 3: Three passes, no runs, three and outThey came out passing, and the Redskins were prepared for them.

they are a passing team and this is not news. more importantly, the playcalling became even more pass heavy after they fell behind 20-7 in the 2nd. the blocked punt kept them in striking distance but they were airing it out. i agree wholeheartedly that the Skins were prepared. they got Griffin on track and ahead early. they played smart, mistake-free football.

 

[Timmay]

I told myself going into my first fantasy football draft that i wasnt going to draft Ingram this year after the headaches he caused last year. Sure enough, i drafted him in my first draft, and now i am paying the consequences. What hurt even more is that i started him over Michael Bush as my 2nd Flex. I dont like what i see so far this year.

 

[DansRams]

I think this loss helps Ingram. The whole "passing league" thing doesnt mean you can be overly effective over a period on time without balance. NFL defenses adjust. For one game, one season maybe a couple, you can have success without balance. You can also be just that damn good and overcome a lack of balance, but I think the Saints clearly need more balance and will game plan differently next week.

 

[shadyridr]

I think this loss helps Ingram. The whole "passing league" thing doesnt mean you can be overly effective over a period on time without balance. NFL defenses adjust. For one game, one season maybe a couple, you can have success without balance. You can also be just that damn good and overcome a lack of balance, but I think the Saints clearly need more balance and will game plan differently next week.

By handing it off to a terrible RB? Call me crazy but Id rather have the ball in Brees hands for 100% of the plays than Ingram's for 25%

 

[daveR]

I told myself going into my first fantasy football draft that i wasnt going to draft Ingram this year after the headaches he caused last year. Sure enough, i drafted him in my first draft, and now i am paying the consequences. What hurt even more is that i started him over Michael Bush as my 2nd Flex. I dont like what i see so far this year.

Appreciate the insight there, Tim.

 

[DansRams]

I think this loss helps Ingram. The whole "passing league" thing doesnt mean you can be overly effective over a period on time without balance. NFL defenses adjust. For one game, one season maybe a couple, you can have success without balance. You can also be just that damn good and overcome a lack of balance, but I think the Saints clearly need more balance and will game plan differently next week.

By handing it off to a terrible RB? Call me crazy but Id rather have the ball in Brees hands for 100% of the plays than Ingram's for 25%

Ingram is now terrible? I think I will trust Payton's view of Ingram over yours. Thx though. and since you asked me to...you are crazy

 

[shadyridr]

I think this loss helps Ingram. The whole "passing league" thing doesnt mean you can be overly effective over a period on time without balance. NFL defenses adjust. For one game, one season maybe a couple, you can have success without balance. You can also be just that damn good and overcome a lack of balance, but I think the Saints clearly need more balance and will game plan differently next week.

By handing it off to a terrible RB? Call me crazy but Id rather have the ball in Brees hands for 100% of the plays than Ingram's for 25%

Ingram is now terrible? no, he was terrible last year also I think I will trust Payton's view of Ingram over yours.- draft busts happen every year. Payton got one wrong. It happens. Thx though.

and since you asked me to...you are crazy

HTH

 

[ponchsox]

Ingram could be valuable in non-ppr leagues as a Micheal Bush light. Yesterday was a bad game for the Saints as they played from behind the entire game. Ingram will get plenty of scoring opportunities.

 

[da_budman]

If you drafted Ingram as anything more than a very week rb 2 or strong rb 3 you screwed up. Ingram is a fine runninback in a very crowded backfield of a team that likes to pass the ball way more than run it. Factor in that New Orleans played from behind the whole game and the stat line Ingram got was what i would expect. Having said that as long as he is healthy he will ge tthe goal line touches on a posession passing team that should not be behind all that often this year. in short, its one week, dont hit the panic button just yet ( unless you are expecting a RB ranked in the teens ......then thats on you).

 

[shader]

Ingram hasn't had an opportunity to show what he is. Look at Deangelo Williams. Is he a worse player than he was when he was the number 1 rb? No of course not. He just hasn't had the opportunity since that season.