Mark Ingram calls out Alabama's running game in prediction of Oklahoma game

Mark Ingram had some criticisms about the Alabama offense ahead of a big game against Oklahoma this weekend. The former Crimson Tide running back lamented his alma mater’s inability to run the football, saying it had him a bit nervous heading into the matchup against the Sooners.

“This game is gonna be tough, man,” Ingram said on The Triple Option. “Alabama, they’ve been winning but it’s been iffy. It’s been real iffy. We can’t run the football. We literally cannot run the football. That is alarming to me because we are one-dimensional on offense.

“Now, we have four great receivers. We have a quarterback who knows what he’s doing. Then you have our defense. Our defense has been carrying us, especially since that early season loss. They’re very opportunistic getting turnovers, getting sacks, getting interceptions, getting forced fumbles.”

Alabama ranks 14th in the SEC in rushing yards per game this season with 111.9. However, on the flip side of that, they’re third in passing yards per game.

Ingram still worries that could be an issue against an Oklahoma defense that ranks among the best in the SEC. The Sooners have 33 sacks on the season, the third most in the SEC and are experts at causing opposing quarterbacks to feel uncomfortable. They also rank second in the conference in run defense with 82.4 rushing yards allowed per game.

“Their defense, that’s the key to this game,” Ingram said. “Oklahoma’s defense, they are one of the best defenses in the country. Coach Venables obviously he’s a defensive guy. Their D coordinator, they’re doing a great job. They get pressure on the quarterback. So as an offense we’re gonna have to be able to find the pressure, block the pressure and not be one-dimensional. So this is gonna be a tough game for us, man.”

Ultimately, Ingram still couldn’t pick against his former team, saying he would take Alabama to win. He stressed the need for the Crimson Tide to come out with something to prove after losing to the Sooners last year in Norman.

“How I don’t like how it looks, five-and-a-half, I think it’s gonna be a close game,” he said. “I’m gonna say we’re gonna cover by six points. You have to. A revenge game. Last year, we went to Oklahoma and they stomped us, ruined our College Football Playoff hopes and this is a revenge game. Everyone that was there, coach DeBoer, everyone that was there experienced it. This is a revenge game.

“We’ve gotta come out, we’ve gotta dominate. It’s in Tuscaloosa. We have everything to play for. I feel like we cover in this game even though I feel like it’s gonna be a hard-fought, tough game.”