Mike Zimmer commonly talks about his desire to get his five best offensive linemen on the field. It’s a strategy with some obvious benefits and drawbacks. On the one hand, it’s generally a good idea to play the best players. On the other hand, sometimes Zimmer’s strategy leads to players being asked to play positions that are quite different from what they’re accustomed to.
Ezra Cleveland, for instance, was welcomed to the NFL by taking on Grady Jarrett when he lined up as Minnesota’s starting right guard in Week 6. It was a rough start to his NFL career, but it’s hard to really blame him.