Kalen Ballage Is Shipped Out… Who’s Next?

Kalen Ballage is another quality draft pick sent packing

The trade of Kalen Ballage to the New York Jets adds to the growing list of draft picks declared a ‘dead-end’. Not all of these ‘dead-ends’ have been a negative for the Phins, though. Miami netted a huge draft haul for Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick. So, we should hold off on any ‘doom and gloom’. But, Ballage is one more of the many formerly prized players shipped out under the Brian Flores regime. What should fans think about this move? Will Ballage be the last quality draft pick to exit before the 2020 Season opens?

Ballage was selected by the Dolphins in the 4th Round in the 2018 Draft. He was widely considered an excellent pick at the time, so you can’t fault his selection. AIn his rookie season he ‘wowed’ fans with a couple of big plays and more was expected heading into his sophomore season. But, last season, when he was handed the starting role, it couldn’t have gone much worse.

The hope was Ballage would turn it around this year. Unfortunately, his inconsistent hands and ball security continued into camp. Ballage was a ghost as far as positive reports and Myles Gaskin overshadowed him, which wasn’t a good sign. He did ‘pop’ a bit in the last scrimmage, but it was too little too late. Flores was about to cut Ballage when the Jets made an offered a conditional 7th RD pick for him. Something is better than nothing. Really, Chris Grier beat the odds from the best pay per head review sites to get anything out of the situation.

Will Kalen Ballage make Miami ‘pay’ twice this season?

First, Ballage isn’t as bad a player as his production was in 2019. When you compare the poor offensive line talent with his PFF run grade of 62.5 you realize that Ballage is an average back with superior size and speed. But, his average instincts, terrible lateral agility and re-acceleration, and inconsistent receiving skills will always limit his play… unless he’s given superior blocking in a run-centric offense. Also, his skill set limits the type of run schemes an offense can use because he needs a man-blocking or a one-cut, inside zone scheme. Kalen Ballage is the type of player who must hit the hole and use his strength and speed to add to the space given by his blocking. There is little adaptability or creativity in his game. So, if the blocking goes well the run will go well… if not, it gets ugly.

For a coach who believes in flexibility and versatility, Ballage was a squeaky wheel.

All of the above isn’t a knock on Ballage. His pass blocking has improved and he can take it to the house with his speed. But, Ballage was made expendable to Miami because of his inconsistent hands, a skill set that limits the schemes of the offense, he’s nearing the end of his contract, and Miami needs to trim a roster spot to make room for 3 QBs. The Jets have an excellent stable of backs with a feature back in the mix, so for them a low priced rent made sense… not so much for the Dolphins.

It was better for the franchise to move on from Ballage rather than delay the inevitable.

The fact that Miami fetched a conditional 7th for a player they were about to cut is some measure of redemption. Still, the list of Phins players getting shipped out after they spent quality draft picks on them is growing fast.

This isn’t a knock on this regime or Brian Flores or Marvin Allen. Both men weren’t here when these players were drafted. It does dim the draft history of Chris Grier, though. Thankfully, Allen and Flores are now part of the drafting process going forward.

Fans should be happy that Flores doesn’t sit on inevitable decisions… and should prepare for more ‘shockers’.

Veterans at or near the crossroads of their Phins careers

2019 starter UDFA Shaq Calhoun
Chandler Cox 7th RD pick
3rd RD pick Michael Dieter
2nd RD pick Raekwon McMillan
7th RD pick Malcolm Perry
4th RD pick Smythe Durham
2nd RD pick (trade) Josh Rosen
On a shiny new contract Eric Rowe
3rd RD pick Jerome Baker

I’m certainly not saying all these players will be or should be cut… but they are all on the bubble and fans shouldn’t be surprised to see Flores move on from any of them this year or the coming offseason. While some of these players will turn it around, most won’t though and coach Flores will quickly move on from them. So keep your head on a swivel. The Phins already signed a replacement for Ballage in rookie RB Salvon Ahmed.

You can’t hit on every player you draft… That’s a fact. But, a coaching staff can come to a quick evaluation, act on, and stir the pot looking for a player who can help you. Brian Flores is decisive and that’s one part of good leadership. An unpleasant reality is that some of these players will do well when they move on. The hope is that there are few regrets and the new additions succeed at a higher rate than they have in the past. Go Phins!!!

Sports Betting Agent

One of the top ranked PPH services in the industry is www.AcePerHead.com, and they offer their service for a small fee of $10 per active player a week. You as the agent only get charged if the player has a graded wager for the week, and if they do not, then you do not get charged for that player that week. Call today at 1-800-909-5193 to get set up immediately so you can start making income as a bookie agent.