{"id":34154,"date":"2017-11-21T17:57:24","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T22:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=34154"},"modified":"2021-06-02T21:29:36","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T01:29:36","slug":"new-orleans-saints-week-11-film-analysis-mark-ingram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/11\/21\/new-orleans-saints-week-11-film-analysis-mark-ingram\/","title":{"rendered":"New Orleans Saints Week 11 Film Analysis: Mark Ingram"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Orleans Saints<\/a> running back\u00a0Mark Ingram<\/a><\/strong> has been playing the best football of his NFL career over the last six games. Since week six, Ingram has averaged 106 rushing yards per game at 5.63 yards per rush, and scored eight touchdowns. He’s done all of that while sharing the backfield with breakout rookie running back\u00a0Alvin Kamara<\/a><\/strong>, who has added 376 yards rushing to Ingram’s 636 in that span.<\/p>\n

In the Saints 34-31 comeback win over the Washington Redskins<\/a> on Sunday, Ingram had only 11 carries (his fewest since week two), but he made the most of each attempt. 87 of his season-high 134 rushing yards against Washington came on three runs. One went for a touchdown in the first quarter, while the other two set up Wil Lutz<\/a><\/strong> game-winning field goal in overtime. Here’s a breakdown of those critical Ingram runs from week 11.<\/p>\n

New Orleans Saints Week 11 Film Analysis: Mark Ingram<\/h1>\n

36-Yard Touchdown Run, 0:43 Remaining in First Quarter<\/h2>\n

The Saints lined up<\/a> in a single-back formation with two tight ends to the right, and a receiver split out on each side. Before the snap, quarterback Drew Brees<\/a><\/strong> motioned wide receiver Brandon Coleman<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0just behind the tight ends as a reaction to Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger<\/a><\/strong> moving closer to the line of scrimmage. This adjustment was a big factor in enabling Ingram to break loose.<\/p>\n

Washington over-committed to a potential run up the middle, and the Saints offensive line easily sealed off the defensive line with zone blocks to the left. Coleman blocked Swearinger, who would have otherwise had a clear shot at Ingram as he cut right and ran outside of right tackle Ryan Ramczyk<\/a><\/strong> and tight end Michael Hoomanawanui<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Left guard Andrus Peat<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0pulled from the other side and targeted linebacker\u00a0Zach Brown<\/a><\/strong> for a block, but Brown had been caught out of position by Ingram’s move. As Ingram reached the second level, he sidestepped the free safety and had a clear path to the end zone from there.<\/p>\n

20-Yard Run, 8:54 Remaining in Overtime Period<\/h2>\n

No longer playing catch-up, the Saints were able to give Brees a break and get back to the ground game on this drive. Washington’s linebackers shifted<\/a> to the strong side prior to the snap, which proved to be a costly mistake. The defensive line was already heavy on that side, and following the linebacker shift, Washington only had two front-seven players on the weak side.<\/p>\n

Ingram took a hand-off to the left and initially angled outside, setting up cut-off blocks by Peat and left tackle Terron Armstead<\/a><\/strong>. When Ingram cut inside and hit the hole, Peat used his defender’s momentum to the outside, and drove him about four yards away from his running back. Ingram ran right where Brown, the weak side linebacker, would have been if not for the pre-snap adjustment. Fullback Zach Line<\/a><\/strong> easily neutralized Brown as he tried to get back into place.<\/p>\n

Coleman and tight end Josh Hill<\/a><\/strong> made key blocks downfield as Ingram broke a tackle, and picked up more yardage. He was taken down at the 41-yard line, putting the Saints just one yard outside of Lutz career-long field goal distance of 57 yards.<\/p>\n

31-Yard Run, 8:09 Remaining in Overtime Period<\/h2>\n

On the next play<\/a>, the Saints lined up with Coleman and wide receiver Willie Snead<\/strong><\/a> split out to the left. Before the snap, Brees noticed that cornerback Bashaud Breeland<\/a><\/strong> (lined across from Coleman on the outside) came closer to the line, and motioned Coleman into the slot. Breeland followed, and Brees faked a hand-off to Line before tossing it to Ingram on a sweep to the left.<\/p>\n

Most of the Redskins front-seven reacted to the fake to Line, and the Saints offensive line sealed off nearly all of them. Coleman picked up linebacker Ryan Kerrigan<\/a><\/strong>, and Snead managed to block cornerback Josh Norman<\/a><\/strong> while cutting off Swearinger. Ingram was untouched for the first 20 yards of this run, and cut inside to shake a tackle to pick up 11 more yards. Wil Lutz nailed the game-winning 26-yard field goal on the next play.<\/p>\n

Ingram is on pace to finish 2017 with 1289 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns at 5.2 yards per carry; all potential career highs. New Orleans currently leads the NFL in yards per carry (4.8), rushing touchdowns (15), and ranks third in yards per game (144.0).\u00a0While Both Ingram and Kamara deserve a lot of credit, these three plays really exemplify how dominant the Saint offensive line has been this season. They’re the reason why this type of rushing performance has become a weekly routine for New Orleans.<\/p>\n

Main Image:<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>