It seems everything Adam Gase touches turns to gold … with one important caveat. First, they have to get as far away from Gase as humanly possible. That’s what former Dolphins and Jets running back Kalen Ballage did, making the 3,000-mile trek out west to Los Angeles.
Ballage, whose New York tenure lasted all of three games, initially latched on as a Chargers practice-squad member but was promoted to the 53-man roster ahead of Week 9 following Troymaine Pope’s placement in the concussion protocol. All Ballage did in his Los Angeles debut was erupt for 84 yards (69 rushing, 15 receiving), the second-highest total of his three-year career, and a touchdown against the Raiders. The 24-year-old made the most of his opportunity, leading L.A.’s backfield in the absence of Justin Jackson, who suffered a knee injury on the Bolts’ first play from scrimmage.
An underachiever under Gase in Miami, the 2018 fourth-rounder is the latest in a long line of players to see their stock soar exponentially after leaving Gase. Other examples of this growing phenomenon include free-agent defector Robby Anderson (enjoying a career renaissance in Carolina as we speak) and Ryan Tannehill, who has experienced a similar rebirth in Tennessee, leading the Titans to playoff upsets of New England and Baltimore last postseason.
Ex-Dolphins Kenyan Drake (12 touchdowns in 15 games as a Cardinal), DeVante Parker (top five in both receiving yards and touchdowns last season) and Damien Williams (five playoff touchdowns during KC’s Super Bowl run in 2019) have also played suspiciously well in their post-Gase endeavors. Chiefs newcomer Le’Veon Bell hasn’t popped yet, but more often than not, it seems players have fared significantly better in their post-Gase environments.
Given Gase’s abrasive demeanor and penchant for sparking locker-room feuds, it should come as no surprise to see Ballage and others play a freer, less-inhibited brand of football upon their departures. The fact Gang Green enters Monday night as 9.5-point home underdogs against a reeling Patriots squad—not to mention the projected top pick in next year’s draft, Trevor Lawrence, wants no part of them—says all you need to know about the Jets’ current, exceedingly bleak state of affairs under Gase.
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