Offline
I agree that Ingram has come into his prime and can and should be a feature back, as well as with your point about getting a premier G. But why get rid of Hightower? He's not expensive, he runs hard, he's got great character, and he pushes Ingram to play better. Plus, with the way RBs get banged up, you've got to have a couple of guys on the roster like Tim Hightower to help carry the load and fill in when needed. Ingram has been healthier the past two seasons than previously, but RBs get nicked up all the time. Also, Lasco doesn't have the power Hightower does and has had trouble staying on the field both in college and this season. Do you really think he's the answer as our main RB backup to Ingram?I wrote this in my notes yesterday to get ready for my end of season evaluation.
Mark Ingram is in his prime starting next year. Despite sharing carries with Hightower and being in an offense that primarily throws the ball he's on the verge of his 1st 1000 yd season and his 1st with 5.0 ypc or higher. I think you ride him out the last 2 years of his contract and you build the offense around Ingram, Drew, and Michael Thomas.
This will probably be one of the bigger Olines/talented Olines that we've had since his Arrival and he's probably the best he'll be at reading blocks.
1st - You sign a dominant G. I'm begging for Zietler here. I'll be fine with drafting one but if you can get a nasty guy like Zeitler here from the AFC west you make him prime objective #1. I've seen vids where he blocked 2 guys on the play. You open up the holes for Ingram wide enough and he'll get the yards.
2nd - You walk away from Hightower. The game where Mark got fired up about not getting his touches is the perfect barometer for where he's at now as a player. The confidence is there that he should get the ball more, the 5.0 ypc is a good indicator as is his chance at his 1st 1K season with under 300 touches. Give him the ball especially on the goal line. Just develop Lasco to spell him for 5-10 carries a game and ST's touches.
3rd- I noticed how the Jet sweep opened things up for him and we know he needs a speed compliment. Sign Reggie and call it a day. You can manufacture holes for him along with having a good line you can also make defenses play certain ways based on personnel, and I can guarantee Reggie is still more of a threat on a Jet Sweep than Cadet ever will be. You bring a LB out the box or force a team to put an extra DB on the field and this again opens up bigger holes for Ingram.
#4 - Just give him the ball. He's earned it.