NFL Trade Machine: Mark Ingram To Dallas Cowboys
By Erik Lambert
Oct 19, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Detroit won 24-23. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Power running is what has saved the Dallas Cowboys, but they need more bodies to sustain it. Is an NFL trade for Mark Ingram the answer?
Cowboys can’t expect DeMarco Murray to maintain workload
There is no question that Dallas owes the bulk of its 6-1 record to the incredible pace set by star running back DeMarco Murray. Together with a physical offensive line, he has put together seven-straight 100-yard games and kept defenses away from swarming Tony Romo while also keeping what had been a struggling defense fresh and active. However, fears persist that the success of Murray is coming at a price. Projections indicate he could break the single-season record of 416 carries set by Larry Johnson in 2007. No running back can withstand that amount of punishment and expect to play at his customary level when it matters in the playoffs. That is why the team has to consider finding a second body to help ease the workload.
New Orleans Saints just not proving a fit for Ingram
At present the Dallas Cowboys don’t really have anybody with a similar style to Murray, which means they’d likely have to trade for one. A name that came up recently was Mark Ingram. The former 1st round pick was a Heisman trophy winner at Alabama and helped them win a national championship. It looked like a coup when the New Orleans Saints landed him late in the 1st round, but it didn’t take long to become apparent that Ingram was a bad fit for the offense. The Saints are not a run-first team and don’t feature a power-style attack on the ground. Try as they might, they haven’t found a niche for their young running back, leaving many to believe his days are numbered.
Mark Ingram has a very similar build and style to DeMarco Murray, so he if would fit in anywhere, it would be with the Dallas Cowboys. Everything depends on if he’s available for an NFL trade and how much the Saints want.