Kalen Ballage emerges as X factor in Dolphins' two-headed backfield

DAVIE, Fla. -- It was a running joke in fantasy football circles and on Twitter that the reason Kenyan Drake has yet to become a NFL feature back was because Adam Gase had a vendetta against him. Why else would Miami's former coach play Frank Gore, 35, over a then 24-year-old Drake last season?

Yet for the third consecutive offseason -- this time with a new coaching staff -- Drake is expected to be featured in a multiback offense where the hottest hand could lead the backfield on any given Sunday.

This realization is less a condemnation of Drake, who is a great talent with probably the most explosive big-play ability on the roster, as much as it is what Miami believes Kalen Ballage can do…