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NFL: 8 players who would benefit from a change in scenery

By Luke Dahlgren

Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) before their game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) before their game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 19, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers defensive end Kendall Reyes (91) assists on a tackle during the fourth quarter as Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) carries the ball at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers defensive end Kendall Reyes (91) assists on a tackle during the fourth quarter as Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) carries the ball at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Kendall Reyes (DT/DE, San Diego Chargers)

The Chargers 1-4 start has been precipitated by poor run defense. It’s clearly a team-wide issue – the Chargers rank 29th in the NFL in rush defense and have allowed a league-worst eight runs of twenty yards or more – but Kendall Reyes provides a good scapegoat anyway.

Reyes has been utilized against his skill set in San Diego. He is a pass-rushing defensive end that has been placed into a run-stopping role.

Last season, Pro Football Focus rated him 87 out of 91 possible defensive lineman in Run Stop Percentage, a statistic that measures when a defensive lineman stops a successful* run play:

"Kendall Reyes gets the honor of being the only player on to make the ‘worst’ list each of the last two seasons. The sad part is that Reyes’ 3.8 run stop percentage was actually a career high as he’s been in the bottom 15 ever year of his career."

His struggles have continued into 2015  as the Chargers begin to flounder in the standings.

Possible but Not Probable Destination: New Orleans Saints

Reyes might never be a starting-caliber defensive end in the NFL, but he can be a pass-rushing defensive tackle in a defensive line rotation. The Saints have been atrocious in their pass rush, and adding Reyes on situational plays could help with keeping their opponents time of possession appropriately low.

*PFF has a specific definition for “success” that, as explained in their rankings, relates to stopping a certain percentage of yardage needed dependent on the down and distance.

[H/T: Pro Football Focus]

Next: 6. Cordarrelle Patterson

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