Mouton vs. Ezeh

Submitted by Trimalico on
While watching the game in the stadium on Saturday, it became abundantly clear how poor our LBs are playing. I've been patient with our team this year. In fact, if someone asked me before the season what position on defense are you most worried about? I would of said Stevie Brown. Stevie Brown in his hybrid position has been the least of my worries. I have been grossly underwhelmed by the play of Mouton and Ezeh. On Saturday, I watched Mouton AND Ezeh do the following: exert little effort, arm-tackle, blow coverage, make slow breaks on the ball. One of the questions I have asked myself. If they're not comfortable...WHY? I understand our defense as a whole is playing poorly but our LB play is approaching an unacceptable level.
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Trimalico

October 26th, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^

Thanks. But this post was an opinion. Let me clarify... Unacceptable, in the context of my post, means they're play has been unacceptable to what I expect out of the LB position. I expect LB's to hit their gaps, break to the ball, and stick to their assignments. Since they are not doing this; and meeting MY expectations. I feel it's been unacceptable. You're allowed to disagree... As I'm allowed to use unacceptable in my post.

Joined: 02/04/2009

MGoPoints: 92

jg2112

October 26th, 2009 at 3:09 PM ^

Perhaps learning a third way of playing linebacker is confusing Messrs. Ezeh and Mouton. The offense improved greatly from year 1 to 2. Let's give Ezeh and Mouton the opportunity to have some continuity in their coaching and see how they do in 2010. And let's remember as well that, as fans, we have no other option but to sit tight and hope they develop. Complaining about it will change nothing.

Joined: 11/24/2008

MGoPoints: 9925

NJWolverine

October 26th, 2009 at 4:26 PM ^

I agree Ezeh and Mouton have played poorly, but what else are you doing to do? By the way, S. Brown was his former self last Sat., constantly getting exploited by inside receivers. You can't get worse than Ezeh IMO unless team use power run (Wisconsin, OSU to begin games), so barring that (this week for example), Ezeh should be out of the lineup and replace by Fitzgerald. Let's see what he can do. But at Mouton's position the options are few and far between. You could play another walk-on Leach, but I have a feeling that will result in a Kovacs type performance, good effort but with little payout due to lack of talent. There's B. Smith, who was just converted to LB. The options are few and far between and unless backups emerge in practice to earn a spot during the game there is little that can be done in the short term. It'll be interesting to see what happens to Ezeh this week. Mouton is safe for now unless there's progress behind him.

Joined: 08/31/2008

MGoPoints: 840

BlueinLansing

October 26th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^

on the long TD pass to their TE. Ezeh read the play correctly, reacted and ran with the TE, unfortunatley he's just a step slower and Clark delivered a perfect ball. Ezeh had NO safety help at all. Only the very best LB's in the country could have stopped that play, and maybe not even then. But overall, yes our LB play stinks.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 23520

The Squid

October 26th, 2009 at 4:33 PM ^

You can't get worse than Ezeh IMO unless team use power run (Wisconsin, OSU to begin games), so barring that (this week for example), Ezeh should be out of the lineup and replace by Fitzgerald. There's absolutely no evidence that Fitzgerald is in any way better than Ezeh. Zero. Ezeh and Mouton's play is mistake-ridden and frustrating, but they are the best that Michigan has at the moment.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 440

Blue boy johnson

October 26th, 2009 at 8:26 PM ^

Sounds like something SCIFI channel would produce. Winner takes on Godzilla, who could be played by Big Will when he loses his pad level and towers over everyone at the line of scrimmage with his arm flailing over his head.

Joined: 03/15/2009

MGoPoints: 6657