St. Louis Rams Closing Evaluations: What Grades Do the Running Backs Receive?
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Chase Reynolds: 27-year-old Chase Reynolds may have had to grind harder to get where he’s at than any other player on the Rams’ roster. Reynolds, who is listed as a running back on the roster but has never seen any game action at the position, spent his first two seasons on the practice squad before finally being given a spot on the 53-man roster as a special-teamer in 2013. Despite a strong performance, he had his spot challenged by fellow running back Isaiah Pead heading into this season. After Pead suffered a season-ending torn ACL, Reynolds made the team again, and he took full advantage.
Reynolds, who contributed to all of the Rams’ special teams units, led the team with 18 special teams tackles, while Daren Bates and Cody Davis were tied for next-most at 10. He was one of the most standout special teams players that the Rams have had in recent memory, putting together a season that would have made a quality case for a Pro Bowl berth as a special-teamer (an honor that ended up going to the Arizona Cardinals’ Justin Bethel for the second straight year).
It feels weird to give Reynolds one of the highest grades on the team under a position where he never even saw action during 2014. But while he may not have the biggest role on the team, he makes the most out of the chances that he gets and found a way to dominate in his role this season.
GRADE: A+