quite reliable is a great trait for defender. concentration is most important and that is something i feel all our defenders lack...even chiellini. so him not being prone to mistakes is good.
as to him not being world class, that is fine. very few defenders achieve world class status when they are mid twenties anyway.
He has become rather poor so I'd put him there. He provides a good cover so I believe he'd do very good there. At the same time he'd give Elia much more freedom, unlike if De Ceglie gets to play. I think we'd have one very balanced squad and I like that.