Chris Ivory, Mark Ingram at full speed as camp opens

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Although the New Orleans Saints have four quality running backs on the roster, the club has been plagued by injuries at the position, often in critical situations. In last season's playoff loss at San Francisco, for example, New Orleans entered the game without Mark Ingram and then lost Pierre Thomas to a concussion on the game's opening drive.

There had been hints from acting head coach Joe Vitt and others that the club might enter this camp similarly short-handed, as Ingram is recovering from off-season knee surgery and might not be fully available.

But that was not the case. Both Ingram and Ivory participated fully in practice and looked strong.

"It was always my goal to show up for training camp healthy," Ingram said, pronouncing himself at, "100 percent. I'm back running fast and cutting at full speed. I feel good."

Ingram said the coaches have not imposed any limits on him at practice.

"We'll take it as it goes, but I felt good today and took all the reps," he said.

Ivory was also happy to be fit and ready to go. Ivory's brief NFL career has been punctuated by impressive bursts of speed and power but also a bevy of injuries. He opened the 2011 campaign on the physically unable to perform list recovering from foot and sports hernia surgery. In his rookie year, when he led the team in rushing and ranked fourth in the NFL in yards per carry, Ivory was hampered by a hamstring and then a foot injury.

"It feels good and as long as I can stay healthy it will be great," he said after practice.

Both backs said they have paid special attention to off-field work, with Ivory citing hydration and stretching and Ingram referring to "deep tissue massages."

"I don't think it's been bad luck, it's just how things go," Ivory said, noting his furious approach to the game sometimes leaves him vulnerable. "Most of mine have been muscle injuries, and if I can stop that I think I'll be fine."

Ingram said he is brimming with anticipation for the 2012 season.

"I'm a little more comfortable with the offense, more familiar with my teammates," he said. "They drafted me to come here and contribute, and now I feel like I'm at a point where I don't have to think as much and can just go out and play. I told everybody my main goal was to be here for training camp and help this team win the Super Bowl. All you can do is pray for a healthy season."

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