Threat Level Midnight: the Hitchens problem is getting worse.
 

How closely did you watch the first series from the Chargers game?

First snap, Hitchens is right where he needs to be and squares up Ekeler, they collide for what could have been a 1- or 2-yard gain but instead Ekeler just bounces off Hitchens and gains about 9 yards on first down.

Next snap, same issue. Hitchens can't seal the deal.

Couple snaps later, a screen to that one RB Kelly in the flat, who is completely uncovered because Hitchens doesn't see him and is actually running deeper into coverage, away from the dude with the ball. Kelly eats up so much space so fast that Hitchens can't even get to him despite the fact it's his side of the field.

We're all used to Hitchens not playing very well, but this is reaching a critical mass, particularly because we don't really have a valid replacement for him going forward.

He wasn't playing this poorly in 2019 or 2018. This is a new level of suck.

He's here 2 more years so....hopefully it's just the lack of preseason etc.

Hopefully we can just chalk it up to lack of preseason reps. He was definitely better than this in all phases at the end of last year.

Hopefully at some point Gay can step in and be a dominate LB to help cover for Hitch’s weakness.

It’s our weakest position group on the team, but it is what it is. There are no teams with zero weaknesses.

knocking the dusty rust off.

He just doesn’t seem to play with anywhere near the physicality that he did when in Dallas.

You started to see it more in the playoffs from he and Wilson and that’s part of the reason why they were able to limit the hottest running teams in the league at the time, but now things look lethargic again.

It sounds like HB needs to get up in some players' faces

Relax, it's preseason. 2nd half of the season we'll be clicking on all cylinders.

Wilson has looked even worse than Hitchens so far. Wilson can't even get to the spot half the time, let alone make a tackle. Throwing himself at running backs is just ridiculous. He's going to end up getting really hurt.

After 2 games the starters have already played as much as they do all preseason. It's time to nut up or shut up.

We can cut him next year. We're not going to get much cap relief, but we also won't take a hit.

Our LBs suck and have for years. Not one of them has teeth and must be respected.

LMAO

Yeah - they're both really bad but I'd say Wilson's fallen further from his 2019 performance than Hitchens - in part because Wilson played better than Hitchens in 2019, IMO.

I get there was no preseason, but its not like Hitchens is in his first few seasons. This is his 7th season in the league. Missing a few snaps of preseason shouldn't be causing him to play this shitty. Hell we got a rookie CB, 2nd year CB that look 10x better than not just him, but all of the starting LBs.

These LBs are so bad at stopping the run and defending the pass. On the Chargers 6th play. It was a read option. Its ran to Frank Clarks side and Ben Neiman is the OLB. They send Neiman on a blitz and Hitchens is supposed to be flowing over to take Neiman's outside responsibility. Hitchens isn't touched and is making his way over to the outside edge while Frank Clark has Herbert completely contained and is untouched. If Hitchens keeps making his way over to where he is supposed to be and covers the RB Kelley on that option then that play is completely blown up. Instead Hitchens isn't taking care of his responsibility and makes a move towards Herbert and Herbert sees Hitchens make his move up and tosses it to Kelley, then Hitchens makes the tackle 6 yards down the field.

This shit is always happening and our LBs need to pull their heads out of their asses and maintain their responsibilities. You are taught in ****ing middle school how to defend the option and Hitchens doesn't play it right. Its so frustrating to watch cuz if he follows his fundamentals whatsoever, then its 2nd and 12-13 or maybe he fumbles.