PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It doesn’t have the spice of the battle at backup quarterback. However the backup tailback will get into games and potentially the one who spells Najee Harris could be an impact player.
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada assessed that position.
“I think we’ve got a bunch of good players,” Canada said. “Again, we talked about injuries before at the other position. Ant[hony McFarland] came in both
weeks and has shown some growth from year one to year two. J-Sam [Jaylen Samuels] played pretty good. Benny [Snell]’s been nicked up but we all know how strong Benny can be. KB [Kalen Ballage] got nicked up and showed pretty well in the first one.
“[Eddie] Faulk[ner]’s got a really good room right now and I think competition is the greatest thing in life. It makes you be the best every day. I think we’ve got a good situation there.”
Likely McFarland is a lock to make this team with his familiarity with Canada and he brings something different with his speed and quickness. Faulkner likes what he’s seen from McFarland and he’s been the second tailback mostly in practice the last week.
Ballage is an interesting case. The 25-year-old is with his third team already. Spending the first two years in Miami and then last season with the Chargers. He signed for just under a million as a free agent this year.
“I feel like I’m a guy that’s always doing the right thing,” Ballage, 6’2”, 231 pounds, said of his game. “I think I have a very special skill set. I don’t think there are a lot of guys my size that are able to move the way I move.”
“I think I add to the passing game. I feel like I can pass protect well. I feel like in all areas I add something and bring something to the table.”
First time he got double-digit carries in the NFL, Ballage rushed for 123 yards on just 12 attempts. He hasn’t had a game like that since, used sporadically until week eight of last year. Ballage rushed for 69 yards on 15 carries against the Raiders and then 68 yards on 18 carries the following week against Miami. He would average just 2.8 yards a rush the rest of the season.
A camp injury slowed the Dolphins 2018 fourth round pick down as after rushing for a four-yard touchdown in the Hall of Fame Game (5 carries, 19 yards total). Ballage unable to play in game two and returned to full practice on Sunday.
“I thought he’s had some good moments,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “We will be excited to get him back out there. He’s missed block of time that’s obviously significant in this process. He’s still got some time to make up ground and it’s good to have him back out there working.”
“I’ve come in and feel like I’ve done what I can do,” Ballage said. “Unfortunately, I had the injury and was sidelined for a little bit. Now I’m back and feeling healthy. Can’t control outside of what I am doing.”
Is it good enough to beat out Steelers 2019 fourth round pick Benny Snell? The third-year player also has one career 100-yard game, along with a 98 and 75-yard game. Or Jaylen Samuels, the Steelers fifth round pick in 2018? Samuels had a 100-yard game at the Patriots and while rushing only nine times in 2020, is a solid special teams’ player.
“I think at the end of the day I’m a running back that takes what is given to me,” Ballage said. “We have a good group of guys here that hustle and play hard up front. I just try and take that and be able to elevate everyone around me.”
While we all overanalyze the quarterbacks on Saturday. Running back is an area to keep an eye on.