Hopefully moving up four spots in the fourth round from the Su'a Cravens trade allows the Redskins to draft this RB that may not be getting as much run as all the others
Note: All scouting information comes from CBS Sports , NFL Combine Results Page, plus help from Walter Football, Ourlads, Drafttek, and DraftScout. Please check these sites out for all the work that they do in informing all of us laypeople about every possible college prospect.
Round 4 (109th Overall Selection): Kalen Ballage RB (Arizona State)
Height: 6'1" Weight: 228 lbs Reps: 15 40 yd: 4.46 Cone Drill: 6.91 Broad Jump: 122
Just hear me out on this one. I know everyone is fawning over the running backs in the first and second round, and I know I have stated that it is not worth taking a running back outside of the second round, but Kalen Ballage (pronounced BA-Lahj) should be a guy the Redskins consider taking in the fourth round and leaving the first and second round picks for other needs. Ballage was a four year player at Arizona State where he split carries with another back his Junior and Senior Year. Even with splitting time over the pats two seasons, Ballage was able to amass 20 rushing TD's and over 1700 yards from scrimmage. These two stats highlight Ballage's value to the Redskins. He is a versatile back that has run out of read option formations, single back formations, I-formations, and wildcat formations. He is a talented receiver out of the backfield, who can also line up in the slot, and he has kick returning ability. Ballage is also extremely fast with a 4.46 in the 40, and you have to imagine a 6'1" 228 lb running back who ran a faster 40 at the combine that Guice can wreck people in the open field once he reaches top speed. The problem is he had a little trouble with that this past season due to teams stacking the box against him. Ballage is not a shifty type back, and he is somewhat tentative at the line of scrimmage which caused him to miss open running lanes. Scouts also note that he lacks the vision and sharp cutting ability to find tight seems when running to the edge. So where's the upside to drafting another running back in the fourth round? The answer is insurance.
Samaje Perine and Rob Kelley do not have the pass catching skills of Chris Thompson, and Thompson does not have the size to run through the tackles to get the tough yards. Ballage has both, and if any of these backs were to go down the Redskins could plug in Ballage and not miss a beat. Ballage has the power to gain tough yards in short down or goal line situations, and he can be a home run hitter in catching passes out of the backfield. Just watch some of his highlights. Ballage can do it all, and he would not have to be THE guy right away. He has spent the past two years sharing time at Arizona State, and he could play the same role to begin his career in Washington with the ability to move up if he shows promise. Taking Ballage after the second round also allows the Redskins to spend a high pick on the offensive line in order to open up better holes for the running game. Yes, Guice and Penny may be the hotter picks, but Ballage has similar running skills and better pass catching ability. He is someone who would add versatility to an RB corps that is one injury away from becoming one dimensional. Just look at what happened last year. Ballage is someone the Redskins should seriously consider taking outside the second round, and he may even be worth trading into the third round to get. Think David Johnson playing for the Redskins without a wrist injury and that is Kalen Ballage. Lets go get him.
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