The New Orleans Saints were dealt with their first obstacle of the 2018 season with the suspension of running back Mark Ingram. As a result, they have spent the entire offseason looking for a viable replacement outside of running back Alvin Kamara.
It goes without saying that Kamara will see an uptick in touches. However, per James Parks of 247 Sports, running backs coach Joel Thomas is hoping one of the other players on the depth chart can help shoulder the load:
“I think it would be a disservice to him,” Thomas said. “We don’t want to run the tread off the back with him early in the season, because [the season is] a marathon, 16 games, and I think we’ve got the talent, offensively and in the backfield, to go ahead and push through this little process.”
Among the primary candidates to assume this role is running back Terrance West. The former third-round pick showed plenty of promise his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. However, he finally settled down with his hometown Baltimore Ravens following a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans.
His best year in as a Raven came during the 2016 campaign when he finished with 774 yards and five rushing touchdowns. He also managed to tack on 34 receptions for 236 yards and a touchdown. Unfortunately, he failed to follow up on his strong year after a calf injury limited him to just five games in the 2017 season.
Despite his recent struggles, West can potentially make for a solid replacement. His running style is similar to Ingram's, which will allow him to hand much of the short-yardage work while the Saints keep Kamara thriving in open space.
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