Baltimore Ravens State of the Corps: Running Backs

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The Baltimore Ravens have a ton of uncertainty at running back this year. Following his breakout season, Justin Forsett is a free agent, Bernard Pierce has disappointed again after a promising rookie year, and Lorenzo Taliaferro is still an unknown that has plenty to prove.

Forsett has publicly stated that he is looking for a commitment from any team he signs with. Although I’d like him to be back, I don’t think it would be wise to commit too much to him at the age of 29. Forsett, after all, has had just one good year and there is no guarantee the Ravens will be running the same system next season. Which was of course a large contributor to his success. If he does leave, running back has to become our number one need going into free agency and the draft.

In free agency, there are only 2 running backs (other than Forsett) that I would like to see playing in Baltimore next year: Steven Ridley of the Patriots and the Saints’ Mark Ingram.

Steven Ridley

Sep 21, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back Steven Ridley (22) is tackled by Oakland Raiders safety Tyvon Branch (33) at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

You can’t help but like Ridley’s physical running style. Across 4 seasons in New England, he has run for 2,817 yards with 22 touchdowns while averaging a respectable 4.3 yards per carry. Ridley’s best season came in 2012, when he ran for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns. Since then, he hasn’t played an entire season and is coming of a torn ACL. While Ridley comes with some risk, he’s only 26 and I think he’s shown plenty of promise.

Mark Ingram

Dec 28, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) runs with the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers strong safety Bradley McDougald (30) defends during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Mark Ingram, though shorter than Ridley (5’9″ vs. 5’11”), is also a physical runner. He weighs 215 lbs and runs like it. Coming from the same draft class as Ridley, Ingram has run for 2,426 yards and 20 touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry in his career with the Saints.

In 2014, his best season, Ingram ran for 964 yards and 9 touchdowns and averaged 4.3 yards per carry over 13 games (9 starts). He started the year strong, but injuries certainly slowed his production down the stretch. Ingram has also been hampered by the Saints’ tendency to use a three headed backfield that rarely features the same back from week to week.

I’d prefer to see a more physical runner in the Ravens’ backfield, like Ridley or Ingram, rather than the faster, scat-like backs the Ravens have deployed recently. If the Ravens can’t get Ridley or Ingram, the answer may lie in the draft. Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley and Ameer Abdullah fit the profile, and I actually prefer them to Ridley, Ingram, and any of our current options.

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