Jon Chait says Ezeh should move to DE

Thats TWO converted safeties!

this is the year for Obi.

If some random poster would have suggested that on the board, I'm pretty sure he would have been negged into oblivion. I really don't see how moving Ezeh to the defensive line would do anything but hurt us.

Leave the heavy lifting on football to Brian and others.

He possibly could have made a good DE but I agree with you, it's too late now and we need the depth at MLB. I would perhaps like to see him blitz more often on passing downs, perhaps off the edge, as he seems to be good when put in that position.

Also, he may have made a good DE, but he also showed a lot of promise in his younger years as a developing MLB, so the move wouldn't have made much sense in that case either.

I like Ezeh, even if he hasn't lived up to what could have been, and he seems like a good and smart kid. I hope this year he turns a corner and we see his potential as a MLB

in Obi's 4 years that he is in the same system for a second year. I seem to remember him being decent his first year and then regressing. Hopefully, a second year in Gerg's system and improved coaching (no Hopson) will lead to a better year for Ezeh and Mouton.

defense of RR and Michigan against shoddy journalism. However, I think he's stepped a bit out of his element here.

Having said that, I acknowledge that every time I make a post about sports I'm completely stepping out of my element, too. And I don't even have the talent to write political columns.

He had some good moments in '08. The Utah game comes to mind. I still think he can be...okay.

Ezeh on him, hes trying.

I think general consensus around here sees the D-Line next year with RVB moving to DE, Martin being a 3 tech, Roh staying as the quick, and the nose taken by Campbell and Sagesse.

I think moving Ezeh is an interesting possibility. Ezeh, based on all accounts, is a fast and strong athlete but doesn't grasp the mental aspect of the game. A move to the quick may help because it is an easier position to grasp mentally.

Ezeh as the quick, Roh to DE, RVB stays at 3 tech, and Martin is the nose. Campbell, Sagesse, and Banks fill in at 3 and nose. Banks plays some DE as well and hopefully Lalota or Jibreel Black help at DE. Suddenly D-line depth is fantastic and walkons aren't relied on so much. Some people may hate this idea because they don't want to move Roh. I think with an extra 15-20 pounds Roh is a great DE. I guess it depends on how different the jobs of the quick and DE are. According to my limited knowledge they are quite similar.

For me this hope that "the light will come on" with Ezeh is optimistic, but is very unlikely to happen. What makes people think that after 30 or so starts that at start 31 the "light comes on"? I know the changes in schemes and coaches haven't helped, but LB instincts can't always be coached. Some LBs have it, some don't. I would be more optimistic that Fitzgerald, Demens, or Bell would make that big leap forward at MLB.

Isn't everyone's biggest concern with Ezeh that he isn't able to learn the system? What makes you guys so sure, then, that he will be able to learn a new position?

I think you meant the classic "GERG"

I think what people are saying is that Ezeh would do better at DE since there is less reading and less thinking involved.

I think moving him to Quick would be a good idea, especially if Roh bulks up enough to become a true DE. Then, you have a guy in Ezeh will legitimate LB experience as well as the pass rushing instincts that he's definitely shown so far. If Ezeh can get up to about 260ish I see no problem in giving it a try.

I'm convinced a position change is not value added. We need LBs - moving the player with the most potential out now is desperation.

Is this a failure in scheme on GERG's part? Leach wasn't really any better than Ezeh at stopping the run at the line of scrimmage. There was definitely a coaching point being made when Obi was pulled in games last season. I'm just not sure if Obi is being given the right reads. Isn't MLB pretty much a visceral kind of read. Good LBs still get fooled by play action. Ezeh was just holding his ground regardless at times last year.

DE would simplify his reads, but that isn't going to solve problems at MLB. (Please let Adam Patterson - step up here if possible.)

i always thought that if ANY of our LB's moved to DE it would be Fitzgerald.

If Obi is not stout enough to stop the iso play at ILB, he is not stout enough to play DE.

I would add those to the list of why he cannot play DE, but still do not think he is effective in filling the hole, shedding a blocker, and making the play.