New Orleans Saints: Mark Ingram will thrive in 2015

By Nick Ziegler | Apr 9, 2015

The New Orleans Saints will be looking to rebound in the 2015 season, as 2014 was an utter disappointment for the franchise.

In 2014, the Saints came into the season with expectations of being a Super Bowl contender, and at worst at least the NFC South Champions. They were unable to win their poor division or grab a wild card spot, and missed the playoffs in the NFC.

After the 7-9 season, the Saints have had a lot of changes in the offseason, especially on the offensive side of the ball. In quite possibly the most shocking move of the offseason, the Saints traded their star tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks. Graham is without a doubt one of the best tight ends in football, and has been a beast in the red zone for the Saints, but despite recently signing him to a new contract, the Saints decided to move in a new direction.

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In order to acquire Graham, the Seahawks gave the Saints a nice package including Pro Bowl center Max Unger along with their first-round pick in 2015. While Graham is a great receiving tight end, he is also known for being a poor run-blocker, which is an important attribute for a tight end in the NFL.

Unger will instantly be an improvement for the Saints’ offensive line that has become worse in recent years, and a first-round pick obviously has good value in the draft, and gives the Saints a weapon to improve their team.

In another shocking move by the Saints, they traded second-year wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Miami Dolphins for a third-round pick and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe. Stills really became a good receiver last season for the Saints, as he totaled 931 yards, 63 receptions, and three receiving touchdowns. The move to trade both Graham and Stills shows that the Saints are looking to become more a run-first team, and also try to improve their defense with the addition of Ellerbe.

Dec 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) runs against Chicago Bears outside linebacker Jon Bostic (57) in their game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Brees will always be the main guy in New Orleans until he is no longer with the team, but in 2015, it could be the season we see Mark Ingram have his breakout season.

Ingram was drafted by the Saints in the 2011 NFL Draft after a great career at the University of Alabama, which included him winning a Heisman trophy in 2009. In a pass-heavy offense in his first three seasons with New Orleans, Ingram wasn’t an every-down running back with other talented players like Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas in the backfield as well.

Last season was the first year that the Saints really used Ingram in the role he is best suited for as an every-down back, and he produced with a career-year. In 2014, Ingram totaled 964 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, and 226 carries, which were all career-highs.

This offseason, Ingram re-signed with the Saints, and going into 2015 will be poised for another career-year, as the Saints undergo a philosophy change from their high-powered air attack to a more run-first ideology.

Ingram certainly has a lot of talent, but injuries will be a concern for him and the Saints, as he looks to be an every-down back in the NFL. He hasn’t played in all 16 games in any of his first four seasons. If Ingram is healthy in 2015, the carries should be there for him to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career.

Next: What trades could the Saints make on draft day?

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