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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara is coming off yet another spectacular performance in the team's victory over the New York Giants. However, head coach Sean Payton is ready to get running back Mark Ingram involved in the offense.
Ingram has finally joined the team after serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. According to Luke Johnson of NOLA.com, Payton wants to find the balance between both of his star running backs:
“We’ll figure out the balance,” Payton said. “… It’ll be good for us offensively to have [Ingram] back.”
There is good reason for Payton's approach. The Saints managed to find a perfect balance between Kamara and Ingram last season. They finished the 2017 campaign as the most productive tandem in the league. In fact, they are the only duo in NFL history to each finish a season with more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage. As a result, they were both able to represent New Orleans in the Super Bowl.
It should be a seamless transition for Ingram. However, things have changed quite a bit since his absence. Kamara has solidified his status as one of the most electrifying playmakers in the NFL. More importantly, he proved extremely capable of handling workhorse duties.
The Saints largely relied on Ingram as their early-down back while relegating Kamara to mostly passing situations. However, the latter's success thus far this season indicates that there could be a shift in their roles this time around. Although Ingram is coming off his best season yet, there is no doubt that Kamara is the running back of the future. One would be hard-pressed to imagine that they can repeat the type of historical production they both enjoyed last year.
