Does Ingram look tentative ?

[bamacpa]

Maybe it's just me, but Mark looks a little hesitant and less explosive than usual. He had one big "Mark" run. Maybe it's the stacking of the box against us, I don't know.

 

[mikes12]

During the first half last night, I said the same thing. I'm not sure what happened but he looked fine the second half.

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

I think it was just frustration the first half. He hasn't had the holes to run through like most of his career. He looked good the second half.

 

[jeremy]

Im not convinced hes healthy. Whether its a physical or mental problem is the only question. Sometimes when guys get injured, they can be 100% fine physically, but mentally they worry about getting re-injured or lack the confidence they once had. Mark also has an NFL future to consider.

 

[chris]

Several of us have talked about it for a few games. I read the other day where he's having to drain fluid from his knee at times. I'm certain he's not 100%

 

[TideprideRTR]

Sometimes when guys get injured, they can be 100% fine physically, but mentally they worry about getting re-injured or lack the confidence they once had.

I know from experience coming off and injury makes you a mental case. Lets hope all this goes away soon and he is just in a mid seaon slump.

 

[USCBAMA]

Anyone who hasn't figured out by now that MI is not playing at 100% ain't been paying attention. Coaches are clearly limiting his carries and even limiting the scenarios he carries the ball, plus sticking him in on the goal line to get some TDs in what is likely his final season at Bama. He was the #1 RB in the country last season for goodness sakes, the only reason he's not toting the rock 20+ times a game is because he's not physically ready. To me this is a bit obvious.

 

[GMacFan]

I heard we had another dude though

 

[FastChop]

It looked as though Mark was experiencing some sort of pain in first half...He looked much better in second half, as did the entire team...I wish Julio could have caught one more pass. I think it would have broken a reception record...At any rate, MAY THE TIDE CONTINUE TO ROLL!!

 

[PacadermaTideUs]

In my opinion, he's lost some of his "quicks". Doesn't seem to change direction and cut as sharply without losing speed as he did last year. I imagine that his knee is still giving him trouble, but that's just a guess.

All I know is that this bye couldn't have come at a better time. Between Julio's hand, Ingram's knee and just general team mental and physical tiredness, I think we come back in two weeks a well-rested and revitalized team. Wouldn't be surprised if it's not even close against LSU. Yes, I know they get a bye also, but rested Bama > rested LSU.

 

[rhYno]

Stone me now, but Richardson and Ingram are starting to eerily remind me of Darby in 2006.

I know they had a big game last night, but you also have to take into consideration that it was a below average Tennessee team that barely beat UAB in overtime.

 

[PacadermaTideUs]

Stone me now, but Richardson and Ingram are starting to eerily remind me of Darby in 2006.

I know they had a big game last night, but you also have to take into consideration that it was a below average Tennessee team that barely beat UAB in overtime.

Darby had a great year in '05. He was primarily a north-south runner who hit the hole immediately, whether it was completely open yet or not. It takes a great deal of trust in your blocking linemen to do that. After '05, he started to get some national recognition as the feature back for a 10-2 Cotton Bowl winner and in my opinion, it seemed to go to his head a little bit. In 06, he seemed to go all Barry Sanders, and instead of hitting the hole immediately, he tried to dance around in the backfield going east-west trying to pick his way to a bigger hole and a huge gain. And far more often than not he lost yardage, never finding a better hole than the one his blockers were creating for him.

You see that happen time and again with backs who start to get some acclaim. They start thinking they're Barry Sanders and switch from a north-south style to an east-west style. Not everyone can be Barry. And even Barry lost yardage more often than he gained. It's just that he was so effective at that style of running that when he gained, he gained BIG. At the goal line you need a sure 2 yards not a maybe 40. That's why Sanders was always taken out of the game near the goal line.

I'd be lying if I said that I thought TR and MI both look as willing this year to immediately hit the hole that is provided for them. They both seem a little hesitant in the backfield, searching instead for a bigger hole. A lot of it though is our offensive line play. I don't think our pass-blocking or run-blocking is quite as solid this year, which confuses me because I didn't think we lost too much experience from the OL. And of course MI's knee has been tweaked all season, so I don't think he has quite the burst or quicks he had last year.

EDIT: All of that said, they're still the two best backs in the league, and I wouldn't want anybody else toting the rock.

 

[UAME]

In my opinion, he's lost some of his "quicks". Doesn't seem to change direction and cut as sharply without losing speed as he did last year. I imagine that his knee is still giving him trouble, but that's just a guess.

^^^^ This, without question. ^^^^

Mark's cuts through the hole now require two steps instead of one. For anyone who has tape from last year and this one, it doesn't take long to see it. If you are in doubt, start watching his feet and the steps it takes him to break down and make his cut.

That being said, this isn't our only issue with the running game, but it is a big one when comparing #22's production to what he's done in the past.

 

[Tidetwin]

More than one sideline shot has shown Mark in obvious pain. Let's see if his "quicks" return after the bye week.

 

[Harmost]

Sure, he looked a little tentative in the first half, when he was running into a brick wall.

He looked fine when the holes were there later on.

 

[GreatDanish]

I may be remembering wrong - it was either a sack or a takedown after the throw, where the defender just knocked Ingram backward. Ingram went backward, but didn't fall down. The defender basically pushed Ingram out of the way, and Ingram moved backward.
That, to me, was the most telling sign of something being off, either physically or mentally. The Ingram of old would have blown the dude up.

 

[efd840]

I heard we had another dude though

Yeah, but does anybody know if he's any good? :biggrin:

Ingram's not 100%. As he is right now, he still starts almost anywhere else in the country but he isn't himself.

Maybe the off week will help, but he probably won't be all the way back until bowl time.