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Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals: 3 players to watch

By Nicholas Cothrel

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Head Coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Head Coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 10: Running back Alec Ingold #45 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs over defensive end Jack Gangwish #95 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during their game at Memorial Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 10: Running back Alec Ingold #45 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs over defensive end Jack Gangwish #95 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during their game at Memorial Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /

Alec Ingold

The fullback position is a dying breed in today’s NFL. However, Jon Gruden has a strong-loving appeal towards fullbacks. The Raiders brought in Alec Ingold as an undrafted free-agent for a training camp battle with last year’s fullback, Keith Smith.

Just before camp got underway, Smith suffered a knee injury while training. Since then, it’s been the ‘Ingold show’ at fullback and he’s been impressive by many accounts.

The former Wisconsin Badger got his first look at live action on Saturday, and didn’t disappoint. Ingold did the dirty work, clearing the way for Deandre Washington and James Butler to hit the holes busting through the line of scrimmage. Even while being a standout lead blocker, his efforts in the pass-blocking game didn’t go unnoticed, when he picked up some key blocks for Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman to step into their throws.

He finished the game with four receptions for 22-yards through the air, showing that he’s no slouch in the passing game. If Ingold can continue to show Gruden that he can be an active participant in all aspects of the game, he has a legitimate chance to make the team after the Raiders break camp.

Gruden loves players who play hard-nose football and Inogld can do just that. He has a short build allowing him to stay low while picking up blockers, creating room for the ball carrier to breakaway. Ingold brings another dimension to the Raiders offense, where the fullback can become a large part in the offense just as it was years ago when Marcel Reece was so effective.

Expect Ingold to accumulate a volume of reps throughout the preseason, as he’s still getting a taste of the NFL. Ingold is someone to follow during this weeks game, as the more reps he gets the more it makes clear if he’s the Raiders fullback of the future.

It was announced on Tuesday that Keith Smith has passed his physical and is now able to join the active roster. It appears Ingold holds the upper hand in the training camp battle, but Smith will certainly get his opportunities to show what he has in store during the preseason games.

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