Tag Archive for: Kalen Ballage

Miami Dolphins trade Kalen Ballage to New York Jets

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In what is a little bit of a twist from what was originally reported, the Miami Dolphins are trading running back Kalen Ballage to the New York Jets for a conditional late-round pick. Miami had wanted to release him initially, but the Jets decided that they wanted to take a flyer on him.

Last season, Ballage rushed the ball 74 times for 135 yards and three touchdowns. He struggled in the running game at times last year, and it showed statistically.

Ballage was a fourth-round pick of the Miami Dolphins back in 2018. This move also reunites him with head coach Adam Gase. It will be interesting to see just from a production perspective how Ballage does with the Jets.

Miami Dolphins finally have depth in 2020

Miami is much better at the running back position this year than they were at this time last year. Matt Rita should be able to carry the load offensively. He was a huge part of Miami’s offseason overall. Hopefully, he will be able to provide them with the stability that they have been lacking at the position, and give the dolphins another area of production offensively.

As much as last season was underwhelming for Ballage, maybe reuniting with Gase will produce good results for the running back.

At the very least, the Miami Dolphins got a draft pick in return, that can be used to solidify future depth. It will be interesting to see what they do with the pick, or if it ever amounts to anything. This this is a trade that could work out for both sides, particularly as New York needs running back depth. This may not have been in Earth-shattering move, but it was one that both sides needed to make. There is no doubt that Ballage needs a fresh start moving forward. The Jets could be the team that helps them get on the right track.

Miami Dolphins running backs show promise in defeat

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There were positives for the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

The Miami Dolphins narrowly lost to the Washington Redskins by a 17-16 score. In what was such a close game, it marked another defeat for the good guys. With this being a rebuilding year, it has been hard to find positives. However, the running game was in full force on Sunday. Something has to be said for that.

Kenyan Drake was the leading rusher for the Miami Dolphins. He carried the ball 10 times for 40 yards, gaining four yards a carry. Perhaps even more importantly, he received help. Mark Walton rushed the ball six times for 32 yards. Kalen Ballage carried the rock three times for seven yards. All told, the Miami Dolphins were able to establish the running game.

That was not something that was there earlier in the year. At times, Miami had trouble running the football. Granted, these numbers do not exactly scream “elite rushing attack,” but the numbers are there. Maybe this is going to be the hallmark of the 2019 Miami Dolphins. Maybe the running game is what the Miami Dolphins are going to pride themselves on this year. One thing is for sure, the passing game leaves a lot to be desired.

It’s important to recognize that these running backs do a lot more than just running the football. Both Drake and Walton were key figures in the passing game. Walton caught five passes for 43 yards, while Drake caught six passes for 30 yards. Again, are those numbers that are going to make the front page of ESPN? No, probably not. However, these are numbers that can certainly be something to build off of. Versatility is the name of the game for those two backs.

If nothing else, Sunday’s performance by the running backs proves that the offense flows through them. Although the Miami Dolphins did not get the win on Sunday, the running backs showed that they can be a dependable unit. In a rebuilding year, that certainly counts for something.That unit did everything they could to put Miami in a position to win. Although it did not amount to wins on Sunday, all the signs are there for the unit to be trending upward.

Could Kenyan Drake be the next player traded?

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Kenyan Drake is probably the next one going out.

Having an updated roster by your side on Sundays is becoming more of a necessity as the Dolphins continue to trade off players.

After Sunday’s blowout loss to New England, the Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers exchanged late-round picks in a trade that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to Pittsburgh for a 2020 first-round pick.

As of today, only Reshad Jones, Xavien Howard, Bobby McCain, DeVante Parker and Kenyan Drake have spent more than three years in Miami. While the Dolphins continue to stockpile draft picks, could one of these guys be the next to be out in Miami?

However, there are conflicting reports to the rumors.

All seems quiet on the trade front, but if the 2019 Miami Dolphins have shown us anything, every player can be traded. Especially if offered the right price.

Through two games, Drake has 10 carries for 31 yards and seven receptions for 44 yards. Keep in mind, those numbers tell us more about Miami’s talent on offense. Drake has offered the Miami
Dolphins a big-play threat since being drafted in the third round of the 2016 draft.

While runningbacks are undervalued in today’s NFL, keeping (and extending) Kenyan Drake gives the Dolphins a consistent threat on a generally inexperienced team for years to come. If traded, the Dolphins would ride out the season with Kalen Ballage, Mark Walton and rookie Myles Gaskin carrying the rock.

Dolphins list Kenyan Drake as the week-one starter

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The Miami Dolphins released their week-one depth chart as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday and Kenyan Drake is there.

While it is easy to get caught up in all the new names on Miami’s roster, Kenyan Drake, who saw limited playing time this preseason, stands out as a week-one starter.

There was plenty of hype surrounding Kalen Ballage during the offseason, but the excitement died down after a preseason that included 18 rushing attempts for just 40 yards. He finished with an average of 20 yards per game, averaged 2.2 yards per carry and found the end zone once.

Many expect Ballage to have a breakout 2019 after a few impressive runs last season, which included a 75-yard touchdown run against the Vikings.

Kenyan Drake saw just four attempts in the preseason, however, he solidified himself as a play maker in Miami, scoring 13 touchdowns over the last two seasons.

It is important to keep in mind that it is common practice for a team to use a handful of backs, compared to just one who may touch the ball 20-25 times a game. Odds are that both Kenyan Drake and Ballage will get their fair share of touches.

Miami’s running back depth will be worth watching, especially for those who own one or both in fantasy as the Dolphins try to uncover players who fit into Miami’s long-term plan.

Kalen Ballage

Kalen Ballage rushing full speed towards Dolphins starting RB job

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Kalen Ballage is getting a rare opportunity with Kenyan Drake down with an injury. The Dolphins are going to need a running back, so he’s responding to the call by making play after play. His speed and acceleration caught the Tampa Bay Buccaneers off guard both days they held joint practices, resulting in several touchdowns. That level of production does not go unnoticed, and it’s clear head coach Brian Flores is enjoying noticing them.

“Oh, I saw them.” He said during his Wednesday press conference.

It makes sense that Ballage is pushing himself with Drake out. At the start of training camp, he was the one who worked with the starters, only to eventually be overtaken by the Alabama speedster as the days went on. It appeared that Drake was ready to lock down the starting job, at least until these joint practices with Tampa. All of a sudden, he, QB Josh Rosen and WR Preston Williams are getting chances to work with the starters after being stuck under the veterans.

“I think young guys have to be able to come out here and make plays.” Ballage said Wednesday. “This (isn’t) college anymore. It’s not high school. In my opinion, age doesn’t really matter. I think you just come out here and if you can ball, you can ball. I think that’s a big part of it.”

He’s doing a good job of impressing the coaches, and those touchdown runs included good execution across the board. That’s precisely what coach Flores is looking for in his players.

“They all work together. It’s 11 guys.” He said. “If you put 11 guys in and they execute their responsibility, you’ll get a good play. Kalen did a good job of making a guy miss, and that’s how you get long runs, receivers blocking corners and secondary players, and that’s how you get long runs. It takes everybody.”

At this point, it’s impressive that Kalen Ballage is able to do as much as he’s doing. The Dolphins offensive line is an absolute mess, so these touchdown runs are a testament to the home run capability Ballage has in him. It also acts as a demonstration for what the offense itself is capable of.

“It’s something that I’ve always known.” Ballage said. “I think that it gets the best athletes and the best talents in space, gets them the ball and kind of puts the rest on us to make plays. I think that that’s something that’s real important.”

Ballage’s opportunity to showcase himself stands to last a while, especially since Kenyan Drake has to wear a walking boot for an undisclosed amount of time. While coach Flores isn’t really concerned, indicating Drake will be ready for week one of the regular season at the latest, it doesn’t bode well for Drake with Ballage running full speed towards the starting job.

Kalen Ballage has had his struggles, but they appear to be past him. Back in college, he felt extremely underused. In his rookie season, he sat behind Drake and veteran Frank Gore. He appears ready to take charge, and he has a chance to prove it on Friday.