San Francisco 49ers: Kalen Ballage a power back that fits the offense

Power backs are not a natural fit for the San Francisco 49ers offense, but Arizona State’s Kalen Ballage is one who has the skill set to succeed in it.

After making Jerick McKinnon one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL, it may be tough for the San Francisco 49ers to justify investing in the position again in the 2018 NFL Draft. Yet, despite the addition of McKinnon to a backfield that already features Matt Breida and Joe Williams, there is a clear argument for them doing so.

Breida is coming off an impressive rookie season in which he averaged 4.4 yards per carry and both he and McKinnon offer speed and elusiveness — requirements for excelling in the zone-blocking scheme employed in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The latter offers upside as a receiver coming off a campaign in which he caught 51 balls averaging 8.3 yards per reception.

Williams, after a redshirt rookie year, fits the mold in terms of speed having clocked a time of 4.41 seconds in his 40-yard dash at the 2017 Scouting Combine, though he faces an uphill battle for playing time. What the 49ers lack in the backfield, however, is power. Breida has displayed the ability to break tackles, but that is not his game. The same can be said of both McKinnon and Williams.

Indeed, at present this is a backfield which is not thunder and lightning, but lightning, lightning and more lightning.

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The reasoning behind such construction of the Niners’ running back depth chart is sound. Power backs are awkward fit in the Shanahan offense and even Carlos Hyde, who has more to his game than sheer brute force, struggled for efficiency in the system before moving on to the Cleveland Browns this offseason.

Shanahan’s system is one based largely on disguise, often producing the same play only from a different look or formation. Power backs by nature do not fall in line with such a philosophy. They are a tell, their very specific skill set a nod to what is coming.

However, in this draft class there is a power back who boasts a skill set varied enough to fit the Shanahan offense and merit serious consideration by the 49ers.

Arizona State’s Kalen Ballage is a polarizing prospect. He is extremely gifted athletic for a man with a 6-1, 228-pound frame, boasting speed that saw him run the 40 in 4.46 seconds at the Combine, but there is concern he may be a better athlete than football player, while his disappointing production has also been a bone of contention.

His best season came in 2016 and saw him finish with 1,005 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns, eight of those coming in one game. But that was followed by a senior year in which he had just 760 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. The numbers are underwhelming. Yet, on tape, Ballage demonstrates a variety of traits that should allow him to succeed in the NFL.

Ballage is a runner who often requires clearly defined holes, but he hits them with extremely impressive burst, accelerating quickly and showcasing the long speed in the open field to allow him to take carries the distance.

It is obvious when watching Ballage rip off long gains consistently that he is far from your typical bruiser and, though he is more than capable of lowering his shoulder and converting on short yardage and in the red zone, he has also displayed the patience to wait for his blocks to develop and an ability to bounce runs outside.

Often struggling to get to the edge, Ballage is not blessed with the lateral quickness of McKinnon or Breida and is not a back who is going to string cuts together on a consistent basis. Ballage is not incapable of making defenders miss, however, and he often does so while showing off the area of his game that should most intrigue Shanahan.

The 2016 season was Ballage’s only year of impressive production — 44 receptions for 469 yards — as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.

Yet there is definite evidence he can be a difference-maker as a receiver. Ballage can adjust to poorly thrown balls and, as a result of his burst and acceleration, is able to take checkdowns for big gains, evading defenders in the process.

The challenge will be to bring that kind of play out of Ballage consistently but, with his size also making him useful in pass protection, the rewards for embracing that task could be significant. Shanahan’s system is one built for players who excel in space and, though he has his limitations in terms of lateral athleticism, Ballage fits that description.

As a prospect who can excel as a downhill runner, receiver and as a pass protector, Ballage is certainly not a power back who is a tell. To the contrary, he is a back with whom Shanahan can maintain his disguises and provide another dimension to the 49ers’ running game.

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Ballage checks the boxes for a Shanahan back and would provide the power the ground attack lacks. Running back may not be high on San Francisco’s list of priorities anymore but, as a likely day-three pick, Ballage is worth a leap of faith.