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The Detroit Lions and Ezekiel Ansah should part ways

By James F. Puzzuoli

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 23: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions prepares to play the Washington Redskinsat Ford Field on October 23, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan Detroit won the game 20-17. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 23: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions prepares to play the Washington Redskinsat Ford Field on October 23, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan Detroit won the game 20-17. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 07: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions reacts during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card game at CenturyLink Field on January 7, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – JANUARY 07: Ezekiel Ansah #94 of the Detroit Lions reacts during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card game at CenturyLink Field on January 7, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

SIGN LONG-TERM

This is the worst option for the Detroit Lions. Ansah, while talented, cannot be signed long-term because there are too many questions about his future.

Nagging injuries to areas like his ankles and back are the obvious problem. These are the types of injuries that either pop up frequently or feel like they never go away.

This even applies to last year, which resulted in good numbers. However, Ansah’s injuries made him ineffective for long stretches. This could be for entire games or even entire drives. It just felt “off” this past season for Ansah.

Long-term fit: this is the question that hangs over Ansah, and the main reason that the Detroit Lions need to move forward without him.

LET MY ZIGGY GO

New Detroit Lions’ head coach Matt Patricia is a defensive guy. In the past six years, he was known for versatility as the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. This included shifts from 4-3 to 3-4 alignments in the front seven.

Those shifts are the problem for Ansah. He lacks the versatility to stay on the field, if this is Patricia’s plan for the defense.

As an end in a 4-3, Ansah can do the job. But, as an end in a 3-4 scheme, I have serious doubts. There is also the option of playing linebacker in the 3-4, but that seems less likely than the first option. Ansah’s body type is perfect for the 4-3, and he has never been used outside of that scheme by Detroit.

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