Broncos' Jonah Elliss Moving to Inside Linebacker, Coach Kyle Whittingham Says He'll Thrive
The Denver Broncos are moving linebacker Jonah Elliss to inside linebacker, a position change that has his former college coach Kyle Whittingham confident he'll succeed. Whittingham, who coached Elliss at Utah and was a former NFL linebacker himself, gave the move his strong endorsement.
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has announced plans to play linebacker Jonah Elliss at inside linebacker, marking a significant position shift for the defensive player.
The move has strong backing from someone who knows Elliss well. Kyle Whittingham, who coached Elliss during his college days at Utah, believes his former player is "fully capable" of making the transition. Whittingham's opinion carries extra weight since he was a professional linebacker before becoming a coach and is now coaching at Michigan.
Elliss is also getting support from his current teammates. Broncos All-Pro linebacker Nik Bonitto, who has played alongside Elliss for three years, believes his teammate will thrive in the new role despite the challenges that typically come with position changes.
The Broncos are looking to strengthen their defense with this strategic move. Moving players between positions is often unsuccessful in the NFL, but the strong endorsements from both former and current coaches suggest the team believes Elliss has the specific skills needed to play inside linebacker effectively.
Position changes in the NFL are risky and often don't work out. When they do succeed, they can transform a team's defense and a player's career. Having support from coaches who know the player best suggests this move might actually work.
Watch how Elliss performs in training camp and preseason games at his new inside linebacker position.
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