Former ASU RB Kalen Ballage thrown out of Dolphins’ huddle Sunday
Aug 12, 2018, 4:02 PM
Miami Dolphins running backs Kalen Ballage (33) and Buddy Howell, center, run through drills during an NFL organized team activities football practice, Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at the Dolphins training facility in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Former ASU running back Kalen Ballage got a lesson about what happens when he allows his quarterback to get sacked Sunday.
After missing an assignment that led to Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill getting sacked, the quarterback yelled at Ballage and kicked him out of the huddle, according to ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe.
“The typically reserved Tannehill temporarily stopped practice to show his displeasure with Ballage,” Wolfe wrote.
According to the Miami Herald, Tannehill also reproached the rookie on the sidelines during a break in the first-team offense.
Tannehill has been plagued with injuries over the last two seasons. In 2016, he partially tore his ACL against the Cardinals in Week 14. Last year, he tore the same ACL in training camp in August due to a non-contact injury, according to ESPN.
It cost him the entire 2017 season.
Now, Ballage has learned that he can’t let Tannehill get hit.
“Ballage seemed receptive to Tannehill’s ribbing,” Wolfe wrote.
The Miami Herald said Ballage called it constructive criticism and said he’s going through a rookie learning curve.
“He’s been in this offense for three, four years,” Ballage said to the Miami Herald. “I’ve been in it for two months. There’s still a lot I’ve got to learn. Just continuing to grow everyday.”
The NFL draft profile of the former ASU running back said Ballage has potential to be a solid blocker.
“Needs to protect with better technique, but his size is effective in taking on blitzers,” the profile listed.
His measurements at the NFL Combine in March stacked up will against fellow running backs. His 6-foot-1 frame was taller than most, and at 228 pounds, his weight was in the ballpark of Nick Chubb (227 pounds), Royce Freeman (229 pounds) and Saquon Barkley (233 pounds).
The Dolphins roster currently lists Ballage as 6-foot-2 and 237 pounds.
Dolphins head coach Adam Gase told Wolfe that Tannehill’s reaction was appropriate.
“I would have been upset if I was (Tannehill) because he knows what the result in a game would have been. It would have been painful for him, for sure,” Gase said. “He was in the right, kind of making an example there.”
