Should the Ravens Trade for Mark Ingram?

There's been a lot of talk this week about how the Ravens have struggled to run the ball so far this season. Traditionally, the Ravens have done quite well in this area, but the same efficiency hasn't been there so far in 2018. The Ravens rank No. 29 in yards per carry (3.4) and No. 25 in yards per game (94.4).

So, how could this be fixed?

There is a variety of opinions out there, but Ebony Bird's Richard Bradshaw had a unique solution: The Ravens should trade for New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram.

"There's no doubt the Ravens would be more successful in 2018 if they had a stable running game to lean on, and Mark Ingram is a perfect fix for this issue," Bradshaw wrote.

This is just Bradshaw's opinion. The Ravens have not given any indication of even remotely considering this or any trade, and have confidence in running backs Alex Collins and Javorius Allen rounding into form.

Still, it's an interesting prospect to consider. Ingram, who has made the Pro Bowl twice, is coming off a four-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs. He did have a bright beginning to his 2018 season on Monday against the Washington Redskins, scoring twice and amassing 73 total yards on 18 touches.

"Ingram's between-the-tackles running style and versatility as a receiver gives Offensive Coordinator Marty Mornhinweg the kind of weapon he's looking for in his backfield," Bradshaw wrote. "Ingram would also be [quarterback] Joe Flacco's new best friend as a dump-off option and a guy to move the chains and break the will of opposing defenses."

Ingram's background would also make him an intriguing player to the Ravens' front office. He played his college football for Alabama, General Manager Ozzie Newsome's alma mater, and a school he loves to get players from. In fact, there are six players currently on Baltimore's 53-man roster that went to Alabama. Ingram was the first Heisman Trophy winner in Alabama's history.

If Ingram is such a talented player though, then why would the Saints be willing to let him go? The emergence of second-year star running back Alvin Kamara.

"Kamara could make Ingram more expendable," Bradshaw wrote. "Ingram will be 29 years old at the end of December and is a free agent following this season. Getting something out of Ingram would be extremely ideal for a Saints team with a pretty wide Super Bowl window. This plays perfectly into Baltimore's hands."

Combine his recent suspension with Kamara's ascent, and the Saints very well could be willing to part with Ingram. In fact, New Orleans was reportedly prepared to listen to offers for Ingram this offseason before finding out about his suspension.

Even though Ingram could sign elsewhere after the 2018 season, Bradshaw still thinks it's an option the Ravens should explore.

"Even as a rental, making a move for Mark Ingram makes a lot of sense for the Ravens," Bradshaw wrote. "Ingram would immediately provide Baltimore with a legitimate ace for their lackluster run-game while also providing the team with a more complete identity as a balanced offense."

Quantity Isn't the Issue With Run Game; It's Quality

A popular conversation topic among pundits and fans is the Ravens' run-pass ratio on offense. Against Cleveland, the Ravens ran the ball 25 times out of 84 plays (29 percent).

Head Coach John Harbaugh doesn't understand the obsession with the topic.

"I don't understand the question, why it's a topic," Harbaugh said on Monday. "You have to do whatever you have to do to move the ball and score points. We've been doing a pretty good job of that up until this last game."

WNST's Luke Jones agrees with Harbaugh. He also noted that, "The Ravens are currently a passing team, and that had worked very well until Sunday."

The Ravens brought in three new free agent wide receivers, and also selected two playmaking tight ends early in the draft. The Ravens are going to be throwing the ball more than last year, when they ran it 43.6 percent of the time.

Those moves were done to keep up with what's happening in the rest of the league, which hasn't had a team run the ball more than pass it since the Buffalo Bills in 2015. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio noted that the average quarterback passer rating (93.4) in the NFL is way up, average completion percentage (65 percent) has increased, as has yards per passing attempt (7.5).

"Today's NFL is a pass-heavy league and analytics-based principles such as throwing more frequently on first down improve your chances of winning compared to the traditional three yards and a cloud of dust," Jones wrote. "Like it or not, that mindset isn't changing anytime soon."

A team can't just abandon the run, though, or defenses would adjust accordingly. "You can't do it all with the pass," Jones wrote.

It is important to run the ball effectively, too. As stated in the section above, the Ravens rank No. 29 in yards per carry (3.4) and No. 25 in yards per game (94.4).

So, why is the offense struggling to run the ball?

It's a difficult question to answer, especially because of the continuity between this year's group and the 2017 one. Last year, the team finished No. 11 in rushing yards with run game coordinator Greg Roman, the same top two running backs in Collins and Allen, as well as three offensive linemen – left tackle Ronnie Stanley, center Matt Skura, and right tackle James Hurst – that started last season. Having guards Marshal Yanda and Alex Lewis return after injury was seen as an added upgrade for the whole operation despite the loss of center Ryan Jensen in free agency.

For Jones, the interior of the offensive line hasn't excelled in run blocking. Yanda has done well, but Skura and Lewis have been more effective while pass blocking, per Pro Football Focus.