Melvin Ingram started 16 games for the first time in his four-year career last season and rewarded the Chargers with 10.5 sacks and 52 tackles, more than double his previous career highs in those categories.
Now, the former first-round pick wants his team to know that he's barely scratched the surface.
"I ain't showed nothing," he told U-T San Diego this week. "I have so much to show."
For good measure, he added: "It ain't even started. You ain't even seen what I got going on. ... When the season starts, everyone is going to see. It's fixing to get real."
Ingram's 16 starts last year coincided with just the second time in his career he made it 16 games in one season. The first was a rookie season during which he didn't see the field on a consistent basis and logged just one sack. In 2013 and 2014, his seasons were cut short due to a torn ACL and hip injury, respectively.
The team exercised Ingram's fifth-year option last April and were rewarded with their show of faith. Ingram had just six career sacks to that point and was perhaps looking like a player who might wash out due to injury concerns. Now, he is part of what could be a star-studded defense in 2016.
Seahawks transplant Brandon Mebane noted it a few weeks ago, saying that the Chargershave more talent across the board on defense than Seattle. Seven of the team's 11 projected starters are first and second-round picks, and while that doesn't translate to production, it is a sign that the team is ready to cash in on a massive investment made on one side of the ball. In order for that to happen, though, Ingram will have to make due on his promises.
