The third-year back has a chance to carve out a role in Kansas City.
The Kansas City Chiefs have brought in a handful of new offensive players who could quickly make a name for themselves. Wide receiver Hollywood Brown leads this wave of newcomers — primarily rookies with exciting traits to build upon.
Among the team’s running backs, the only newcomer (aside from two undrafted free agents) is former Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit. It’s hard to imagine that he’ll soon get traditional backfield snaps to spell Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
But until the role that former Kansas City running back Jerick McKinnon occupied with the team has been filled, there is room for another back to make an impact. The strongest candidate is third-year player Keaontay Ingram, a former USC running back who appeared in 20 games before the Arizona Cardinals cut him in late November.
Sounds to me from our media here with Chiefs GM Brett Veach, it's going to be a 'Royal Rumble' type battle for RB3 with Keontay Ingram, Deneric Prince, Emani Bailey and Carson Steele, among others.— Chiefs Studios (@pgsween) April 29, 2024
That’s when he landed on the Chiefs’ practice squad. With McKinnon gone, he has a shot to prove he deserves to be the third back on the depth chart.
“I think that the running back position will be a battle,” general manager Brett Veach told reporters after the NFL Draft. “It usually comes down to special teams and pass protection as a No. 3 here. I think all these guys have traits we like, and now it’s just a matter of a couple of those guys putting together a solid training camp... We have some guys that all have ability — and now it’s just a matter of those guys going out there earning the position.“
Here’s what to know about Ingram.
Fluidity as a ball carrier
Over his two seasons in Arizona, Ingram was never utilized as the primary ball carrier; he topped out with 10 rushing attempts against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6 of last season. He has only three career games with more than five carries.
But Ingram’s fluid movements demonstrate how well he fits in zone running schemes; he can quickly change directions, which allows him to manipulate off-ball defenders trying to mirror him through traffic.
On both plays here, Ingram is patient, presses the L.O.S., then bursts out to make the most of a zone run call pic.twitter.com/EYSY2OcLia— Taylor Bell Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) May 30, 2024
In each of these runs, Ingram patiently presses the line of scrimmage. Once the tracking linebacker is too far upfield to recover, he bursts outward — where he is enveloped by the blocking assembled for him. His success is built on finding the right angles to take — and the burst he can generate from a one-step cut.
On this 1st Counter, Ingram quickly reacts to the targeted gap being congested, and swiftly works back to make the most of the run
His 6' 221-pound frame also shows up here, high-kneeing through an attempt to wrap his ankles
Not as good a read on 2nd play, but still slippery pic.twitter.com/4aSzDfpCwR— Taylor Bell Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) May 30, 2024
On these gap-run plays — where he is following pulling blockers — we observe his ability to read the defense’s flow.
On the first, the designated gap is congested, so Ingram quickly works the cutback angle, running through an attempt to wrap up his legs on his way downfield.
On the second, Ingram doesn’t necessarily read the pulling blocks correctly; to make the most of the leverage No. 76 has on the linebacker, he should have stayed on an outside path. Even on the misread, though, Ingram slips through contact and finishes with a big gain.
Playmaking after the catch
Despite stretches where he was used as the Cardinals’ passing-down back in late-half or late-game situations, Ingram has only eight career catches.
THREAD: Keaontay Ingram may very well be the frontrunner at RB3 for the #Chiefs
Over his 70 career touches in 2 seasons w/ AZ, he showed some fluid movement as a ball carrier -- both in the open field & btwn the tackles pic.twitter.com/QDX1Ne6KJf— Taylor Bell Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) May 30, 2024
These two catch-and-runs are the highlights of his NFL career. We see him displaying the open-field wiggle that makes it hard for defenders to square up and tackle him one-on-one. The 24-yard gain against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7 of the 2022 season was one of Ingram’s first career touches; it was only his second game on the active gameday roster.
Ingram has only 8 career catches. The highlights were in the first tweet, but even if he isn't breaking one, he's finding a way to finish forward thru contact. Not easily be wrapped up pic.twitter.com/NM1jeL50jb— Taylor Bell Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) May 30, 2024
Since then, he hasn’t found another big play — but it’s clear he makes it hard on defenders to corral him. Even when he is tackled after the catch, he consistently finishes by fighting through tackles, utilizing his bigger-than-average physique
Blocking profile
At the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, Ingram measured in at 6 feet and 221 pounds — 73rd percentile marks at his position. While this shows up when he’s carrying the ball, it’s also a strong foundation for a pass protector.
Didn't run into too many pass-pro reps of note
These clips do give you an idea of Ingram's size; even when Queen gets around him on the blitz, Ingram has displaced him enough backwards for Dobbs to step up
He has the physical profile, just needs refinement in pass pro pic.twitter.com/tuQNyZtrlD— Taylor Bell Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) May 30, 2024
It is, however, just a foundation. In the two 2023 games I reviewed, there were not very many true pass-protection snaps — but these clips still show his physical presence. Even as Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Patrick Queen works around the pass block, Ingram stands his ground well enough to take Queen outside of the pocket, allowing Arizona quarterback Joshua Dobbs to step up.
Ingram needs refinement as a pass blocker — but unlike many other backs, his size gives him a higher ceiling.
The bottom line
Over his three seasons in Kansas City, McKinnon displayed different skills than the rest of the team’s backs. He was a much more fluid rusher than either Pacheco or Edwards-Helaire — and on passing downs, looked more comfortable than either of them.
Ingram has a long way to go to fill the shoes of the savvy veteran. Still, his strengths as a player match up with the role McKinnon filled with the Chiefs.
Frankly, he is the only player on the roster who has shown these specific skills at the NFL level. His combination of fluidity and strength makes him a viable candidate to earn the third spot on the depth chart.
https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2024/5/30/24167669/chiefs-roster-running-back-keaontay-ingram-could-have-offensive-impact-2024?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger
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