It took about two tenths of a second upon seeing Alec Ingold this training camp to notice a major change in his physique. He looks leaner and stronger. The second-year full back appeared in all 16 games last season for the Raiders as an undrafted rookie, starting four.
His primary job was to clear the way for fellow rookie running back Josh Jacobs. Though a few times he was asked to carry the ball in short yardage. He did both of those jobs quite well much of the season. Though, he is not happy with how he performed down the stretch.
“I started off slow and had a great middle part of the season and kind of ended off with that rookie wall,” Ingold said over Zoom conference call Monday. “I didn’t exactly finish off how I wanted to. Just understanding how much of a drag the season is and how much being a pro plays into being able to finish down the stretch in December and playing good December football is really important to us.”
In particular, the Raiders stalled in the red zone and in goal-to-go situations. Something the coaches have harped on this offseason. And as the fullback, it’s something Ingold takes personally.
“That definitely issue number one for us and for myself,” Ingold said of the Raiders’ goal line problems. “There was a point in the season where we were number one, we were top five in a lot of those aspects. Then to finish the season, all of a sudden, you can fall pretty quick in this league. The margin of good to great is very very small so to be able to focus on these details, to focus on what we have to do attack and just get those details down.”
Ingold may not be being entirely fair to himself, putting so much of the blame on himself to get it done. After all, the team was without Jacobs for three of the final four games. Even still, Ingold has a point about his performance and the the team’s play in December.
The Raiders lost four out of five games they played in last December. Over the final four games in particular, Ingold had two carries for negative one yard.
The first of those carries was on December 8 against Tennessee. The Raiders were in first and goal at the one. Ingold got the hand off and was stuffed for a loss. The second carry was in the season finale at Denver in which Ingold got the carry on fourth and goal from the one and he was stopped for no gain. The Raiders would lose that game by one point.
Carrying the ball in short yardage is not Ingold’s primary job. He’s the lead blocker first and foremost. But those short yardage carries he wasn’t able to punch through were ones he converted earlier in the season.
Every time he touched the ball in the first 10 games, he converted in short yardage on third or fourth down. A total of six conversions including a fourth and one vs Indianapolis, third and one vs Chicago, a third and one vs Houston, a third and one vs Detroit, a 4th and one vs the Chargers, and a 4th and one vs Cincinnati. The Raiders won five of those seven games.
So, you can see why Ingold feels like he could’ve and perhaps should’ve been the difference. Even if that’s not fair. Regardless, he’s doing what he needs to do to make sure if in that position again late, he’ll be physically ready. Not only to do his job, but perhaps someone else’s job, should it come to that.
“I think just being a professional,” Ingold said of his workout regimen. “Going about my job understanding that my body is a huge part of what we’re trying to do here and be prepared to play 16 games, 20 games, that’s the goal. To be able to be healthy, I needed to put my body in the best position possible and down the road if there’s running backs, if there’s tight ends, whatever it is – injured needs help – I need to be able to step up for the team and be ready for those opportunities when they come. So, just being in shape, being able to perform at a high level and grow my role as much as possible while keeping that main focus of iso lead blocks is really my goal for his whole operation.”
The rookie wall is real. Then again, so too is the year two leap, if properly prepared. Sure looks like Ingold is.
[vertical-gallery id=72662]
[lawrence-newsletter]