Well Spags wants to play Hitchens over Bolton...

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

You surely understand why, right. We play 3 linebackers unless we move to nickel or dime. Bolton is terrible right now in coverage, and Gay isn't much better despite his pick. Niemann, unfortunately is currently the best option in "coverage" downs, and he gets more ST/Punt snaps, therefore he will get more snaps. Niemann is a good special teams player and a JAG you need on a team where you are paying some large contracts to key players, however, he should not be starting. If we shed Hitchens contract at the end of the year and draft well we should see his snap count decrease and he will actually play the role he should be playing. I understand the frustration, but not the hate towards the player.

Nieman is getting more defensive snaps than both of those players. Those snap percentages are defensive snaps. They don't include ST.

Furthermore, Nieman is absolute trash in coverage and it shows in the stats and the eye test. Dude just looks horrible all the time.

This year, like every single year, he has been shit statistically in coverage.

20 Targets 17 Comp 85.0% Comp Percent 193 Yds 1 TD 123.5 QB Rating 13 air yards and 180 YAC

That is completely ****ing awful.

Compare that to Willie Gay between this year and last year

20 games 11 starts 2 INTs 19 Targets 16 Comp 84% Comp Percent 103 yds 0 TDs 90 QB rating last year 44.8 QB rating this year 40 air yards and 63 YAC

I'd take Willie Gay in coverage over that pile of trash Nieman any day. Nieman shouldn't even be on an NFL roster and Spags being a dip shit that can't admit that he's wrong is the only reason he's playing in the NFL.