New Orleans Saints: Effects of Mark Ingram’s suspension
With Mark Ingram now suspended for four games, the New Orleans Saints have a lot of questions to answer. Mostly, how will it affect the team?
The New Orleans Saints took a huge loss this week. All of the major sports outlets dropped a bombshell. Saints running back Mark Ingram is suspended for the first four games of the season after using performance-enhancing drugs. It’s a crushing blow for multiple reasons, but how does it ultimately affect the team and this upcoming season?
It’s important to note how Ingram’s role in the offense shifted. Ingram was used to splitting carries with Tim Hightower and eventually, Adrian Peterson. However, the team using a third-round pick for Alvin Kamara changed it drastically. Ingram and Kamara were the best running back tandem in all the league.
Kamara brought the quickness while Ingram brought the toughness. As a duo, the two changed the offense entirely. It went from being incredibly pass-heavy to run-heavy with the two leading the way. Ultimately, their chemistry on and off the field took the Saints to new heights.
Without Ingram, the team is going to struggle. As good as Kamara is, he can’t do it all on his own. He’s only in his second year and still has some kinks to work out. Losing Ingram results in loss of experience and a huge offensive presence.
With the Saints a contender this year, this is a huge setback. Maybe Kamara can manage it on his own, but it won’t be the same. Their offense played incredibly well with those two in the backfield. Any shift in that could be disastrous if not handled properly.
The other issue I foresee is the team’s defense losing a bit of its sting. Last season, their defense was one of the best in the league. Not only did they add solid players, but they weren’t on the field as long as the run game helped control time of possession. It helped them strategize in those moments and work together better.
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Losing Ingram will affect the defense just as much. It’s disheartening to see the Saints dealing with this. Ingram is such an integral part of the offense, so four games without him will feel like forever. It will come down to what the Saints do and how their offense looks. Regardless, losing Ingram is crushing and sad given the circumstances.