Transcripts

Search Transcripts
Kalen Ballage – April 18, 2019 Download PDF version

Thursday, April 18, 2019

RB Kalen Ballage

(I know you learned a ton from RB Frank Gore and you will miss him – you and RB Kenyan Drake both. But is there kind of an opportunity now to where it’s just young guys basically at running back? Do you see it as an opportunity?) – “Yes, it’s definitely an opportunity. Having a chance to have Frank here and teach me a lot of things obviously was great for me. But now, hopefully I’ll get more playing time and be able to show what I can do.”

(Are you looking at this – even though RB Kenyan Drake is obviously a terrific player – as you want to at least be able to challenge for a starting job?) – “Yeah, absolutely. I’m a competitor. That’s what I do; that’s who I am. It doesn’t really matter who has the most playing time in the past or anything like that. I’m going forward and ready to do my thing.”

(Not to look back too much on last year but were you pleased with what you put on tape?) – “Yeah. Obviously I’m not a guy that’s ever satisfied, really. I always want more out of everything so there were some things that I could have done better. I’ll have a chance to make it right this season.”

(You have a year under your belt but with a new coach and a new way of doing things around here, does it feel like the first year again?) – “Yeah, it kind of sort of feels like that. Like I said, (there are) more opportunities, new opportunities and different chances to make stuff happen, so I’m excited about it.”

(I guess you’re in a unique spot in that you’re one of only three position groups that kept the same assistant coach. What has Running Backs Coach Eric Studesville said that he wants to see from you as far as areas of growth where he’s said he wants you to be better at this?) – “Just for me to completely grow into the player that I’m going to be moving forward. The details of that, we kind of keep everything in our running back room; but just be able to grow as a player (and) as a person in everything that I do.”

(Are you doing anything with your body? Have they asked you to put on weight, lose weight?) – “Nope. (I am) right where I want to be.”

(That running backs room is a little small right now so you’re getting a lot of reps. What has that been like?) – “It’s no problem for me. That’s what you want. You want to get reps. You want to get the opportunity to master your craft. So that’s where I’m at with that.”

(How were you able to stay so patient last season?) – “It’s just my personality. I believe God has a plan and you follow that plan. It’s not always right when you want or when you don’t want it. Just sit back and let things happen as they may.”

(Do you feel that because of how long you waited to get a rep in a game, that’s why you ran as fast as you did on that Vikings touchdown?) – “I’m always going. I’m always going to go crazy. It doesn’t matter if I get 20 touches or one touch, I’m going to try to make the most of it.”

(Was there any meaningful phone call or text exchange that you had with RB Frank Gore after he left for Buffalo?) – “A whole bunch. I’ve been talking to Frank almost every day. He’s like a big brother to me. He took me under his wing since the moment I got here. Just having the opportunity to have somebody like that in your corner is always a win.”

(Who are you going to warm up with pregame now that RB Frank Gore is gone?) – “I don’t know. (laughter) I got the routine down but there will be no Frank out there. It’s all good.”

(Is your personality such that you would rather go back this offseason and watch tapes of the 75-yard run against the Vikings or tapes maybe of carries where you felt you could have done more?) – “I’m tired of that run – honestly – to be 100 percent honest. I just want to move forward. I don’t necessarily want to go back to last season because we have new opportunities moving forward. I don’t want to dwell on that stuff but I’m excited about what’s going to happen moving forward.”

Search Transcripts

Weekly Archives