Kalen Ballage 4th Round

[Pachyderm_Wave]

He's basically Karlos Williams coming out of Florida St. Their athletic profile is nearly identical, although Williams was a tad more stiff. I think Ballage can achieve what Karlos Williams could've been at the next level. Probably a little more solid of a person away from football than Karlos was.

 

[nick1]

He's basically Karlos Williams coming out of Florida St. Their athletic profile is nearly identical, although Williams was a tad more stiff. I think Ballage can achieve what Karlos Williams could've been at the next level. Probably a little more solid of a person away from football than Karlos was.

Do you think you can teach a RB vision? I thought that was something you either have or you don't

 

[ckparrothead]

Eric Studesville has apparently been eyeballing Ballage since high school, and the rumor is this was totally a Studesville pick. As per Benjamin Allbright.

 

[Nappy Roots]

He's basically Karlos Williams coming out of Florida St. Their athletic profile is nearly identical, although Williams was a tad more stiff. I think Ballage can achieve what Karlos Williams could've been at the next level. Probably a little more solid of a person away from football than Karlos was.

Good comparison in terms of size, athletic ability, and lack of vision. I do think Karlos ran a lot more violently in his last season at FSU than Ballage did last year.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Good comparison in terms of size, athletic ability, and lack of vision. I do think Karlos ran a lot more violently in his last season at FSU than Ballage did last year.

They have a little different mentality in terms of how they run. Karlos was a safety and ran the ball with a defensive player's disposition.

 

[ckparrothead]

I believe Karlos Williams and Derwin James are related. Apropos of nothing.

 

[Pachyderm_Wave]

Do you think you can teach a RB vision? I thought that was something you either have or you don't

Vision amounts to being able to see a hole before it opens. Or seeing the backside cut blocks away from the direction the play is going in order to hit the cutback lanes specific to zoning up front. The ability to see these things at an elite level has never been coached. Either have it or you don't.

However, a back can be taught how to utilize better what he does see. The actual technique of reading blocks better. Become a smarter, more nuanced runner.

Staying tight to the hip of your blocker, pressing the hole before you bounce, more bent leg to make a cut, etc. Technique can be coached to make a back more consistent in the things he does do well.

A lot of the things Ballage does well are what gets you on the field in the NFL, catching passes and stoning blitzers to protect the quarterback.

 

[dolfan91]

CK and Slimm you guy's Rock!!! Love reading your analysis. Same goes for Digital. I like that Studesdville stepped up for his guy. Gotta believe there are better days ahead for Ballage.

 

[Michael Scott]

His running style reminds me a little of Ronnie Brown for some reason.

That's instantly the guy who comes to mind when I watch him.

I think he's more of a project and that Gore will help him tremendously. He's not going to be asked to come in and carry the load but he will be used in the passing game immediately, IMO, taking on Damien Williams' role. They will split him out wide occassionally and we may even see him on the field with Drake.

I think we may also see him as the primary KR with Grant sticking as PR.

Man, this team is going to be so much faster on both sides of the ball in 2018.

 

[Nappy Roots]

A lot of the things Ballage does well are what gets you on the field in the NFL, catching passes and stoning blitzers to protect the quarterback.

He has looked piss poor in the pass protection in the videos I have seen of him. Take the UCLA video above as a perfect example. Thats bad.

 

[Michael Scott]

I believe Karlos Williams and Derwin James are related. Apropos of nothing.

Yep. And Mike James (RB) who went to Miami and I believe is still in the NFL.

 

[DefensiveEnd76]

Different scouts say Ballege is too tentative at times and doesn't just put his head down and go through the hole with strength and physicality. Have read scouts reports that said he is too much finesse for a guy his size. He needs to learn how to be the hammer more often and not the nail.

 

[DefensiveEnd76]

He actually measured at 6014, 228 at both the combine and his pro day.

(Kenyan Drake measure 6005 210 at the combine and his pro day).

So he's less than an inch taller than Kenyan (glad to see (for once) that 6'3" was typical college measurement exaggeration).

Ballege actually weighed 222 at his pro day. Down 8 pounds from the combine.

 

[circumstances]

Ballege actually weighed 222 at his pro day. Down 8 pounds from the combine.

I got my info. from here: http://draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=130788&draftyear=2018&genpos=RB

But I quoted it to show he's just over 6'1", not 6'3" as someone had posted.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

Vision amounts to being able to see a hole before it opens. Or seeing the backside cut blocks away from the direction the play is going in order to hit the cutback lanes specific to zoning up front. The ability to see these things at an elite level has never been coached. Either have it or you don't.

However, a back can be taught how to utilize better what he does see. The actual technique of reading blocks better. Become a smarter, more nuanced runner.

Staying tight to the hip of your blocker, pressing the hole before you bounce, more bent leg to make a cut, etc. Technique can be coached to make a back more consistent in the things he does do well.

A lot of the things Ballage does well are what gets you on the field in the NFL, catching passes and stoning blitzers to protect the quarterback.

Along with Miami's obvious desire to add athleticism, this, to me, is the most pertinent point for Ballage. Gase sees what the Patriots are doing with their RB's. He saw how Drake's versatility worked better for the offense than relying on Ajayi to make a few spectacular (you run into a quality team, and they evaporate). Ballage gives Gase the ability to dictate to the defense. Catching up to college, and New England, I think we'll see that teams prioritize offensive and 2nd and 3rd-level defensive players that are versatile/can win anywhere on the field. When Ballage is in, I'd looking for a run/pass ratio of 25/75, and I'd give Ballage quick draws and plays where he doesn't have any reason to dance. I think a lot of us had him rated higher than the NFL, because not all of the NFL is paying attention to the ways in which the game is changing. I really enjoyed Seattle's time in the sun with the Legion of Boom, and I love Rashaad Penny, but that pick indicates that they don't understand what wins games in 2018.

Gesicki and Ballage are encouraging signs that Miami is paying attention - as were Fitzpatrick and Baker.