Mark Ingram Making Big Difference Both on and off the Field This Season

New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram is different this year. Ingram is establishing himself as one of the NFL's best running backs, while continuing to do good work away from the Saints' facility. 

How a player is generally defined starts with his accomplishments on the field. 

The fourth-year running back was playing at a high level through the first seven quarters of the season before he broke his hand against the Cleveland Browns. Ingram was then forced to miss the next three games as the bone healed. When Ingram returned for Week 7 against the Detroit Lions, he didn't know exactly what his role would be in the Saints offense. 

Ingram didn't exactly get off to a glorious start upon his return. Prior to the injury, the Alabama product averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Against the ferocious Lions defense, Ingram carried the ball 10 times for a measly 16 yards. 

Despite those meager numbers, the authority that Ingram was running with prior to the injury was still apparent. 

Opportunity also presented itself in the following weeks with the injuries to fellow running backs Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson. Ingram was finally thrust into the role the Saints envisioned when the organization selected him with a first-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Ingram became the team's feature back, and he has never been more impressive. 

Even taking his numbers against Detroit into account, Ingram's performance over the past four weeks places him among the NFL's best. 

Player	Team	Carries	Yards	Yards per carry	Touchdowns
Mark Ingram	Saints	91	408	4.5	3
DeMarco Murray	Cowboys	85	448	5.3	1
Arian Foster*	Texans	55	309	5.6	2
Le'Veon Bell	Steelers	57	205	3.6	0
Justin Forsett	Ravens	69	313	4.5	2
Marshawn Lynch	Seahawks	74	322	4.4	6

Only the league's leading rusher, the Cowboys' DeMarco Murray, has rushed for more yards, while no other back has carried as heavy of a load.

His past three performances have been particularly impressive.

Ingram ran the ball 81 times for 392 yards against the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. No other back in the NFL has produced at that level over the same time period. 

In fact, Ingram's level of production hasn't been seen in New Orleans in over a decade, per NFL.com: 

It's not a coincidence that the Saints have won two of those three games and were in position to win the third. Ingram's presence as a true workhorse is making a legitimate difference in the Saints' season.

New Orleans head coach Sean Payton raved about Ingram's play earlier this week. 

"I love the way he's playing," Payton told The Times-Picayune's Evan Woodbery Monday. "He's running hard. He's physical. He's been durable. I like what we're getting from him. He's prepared for this opportunity and he's doing a good job with it."

As well as Ingram has been running, his head coach will eventually have to figure out how to delegate duties in the backfield upon the return of Robinson and Thomas. 

"It'll all handle itself," Payton said. "That'll work itself out. I've said before, it's important to have numbers at (running back) and this is a good case in point for that."

Neither Robinson nor Thomas were full participants in practice Thursday, according to Woodbery, which indicates they're questionable for Sunday's contest against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals own the NFL's second-worst run defense. Ingram will have another opportunity to explode for a fourth straight week before his snaps are slowly pared back. Until then, the running back will enjoy his current role with the team and how he's being received due to his stellar play. 

Ingram told The Times-Picayune's Larry Holder that this season is different compared to his previous years in New Orleans: 

"

It's good to have positive feelings from people outside. ... People show love and congratulate you and say keep doing a great job. You're our favorite Saint and all of that.

I wasn't getting that at dinner all the time (last year).

"

As Ingram clearly alluded to, a player's performance on the field shapes public perception. 

However, Ingram's performance, good or bad, doesn't take away from those things the running back continues to do when he's not wearing shoulder pads and a helmet.

Ingram is a member of the Russell Athletic team and serves as a judge for the "Fight Like Dylan Award." 

The honor is named after Dylan Rebeor, who at 16 years old lost his battle with colon cancer in 2010. The young football player's last wish was to raise money to fund new equipment for his teammates.

Today, Rebeor's legacy can be found at www.fightlikedylan.org. It's through his inspiration schools can now apply to earn a $50,000 uniform grant from Russell Athletic. 

Heather Rebeor, Dylan’s mother, discussed what her son's memory continues to mean for the community:  

"

Dylan had an extraordinary life and always inspired others while dealing with difficult circumstances. We’re so proud that Dylan’s memory and spirit will live on through the Russell Athletic ‘Fight Like Dylan Award.’ He truly cared about others more than himself and now his legacy will continue with youth sports teams across the country.

"

Schools across the country are encouraged to apply by the deadline of Dec. 5. As part of the application process, a school must demonstrate how its program has "shown perseverance to overcome adversity." 

Ingram told Bleacher Report via phone interview that last year's decision to choose Buena Vista (Colorado) High School was one of the most difficult decisions he's ever made. Numerous programs are deserving the awards, but the judges had to choose one. This year isn't expected to be any easier. 

Whether or not Ingram continues to play well becomes inconsequential compared to those things he can help achieve through charitable efforts.

But it certainly helps that he's been playing as well as any running back in the NFL over the last month.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.