No, it is Pete's nonsensical obsession with stopping the run in a league where being great at stopping the run hardly matters.
Also, Quem is not great at covering the TE. But that should be fine, since he should be rushing the QB.
You can be great at stopping the run and it hardly helps you if you cannot stop the pass. We were #26 against the pass last year and not exceptional in getting pressure. With Quem we got pressure, not every time, but enough to help and when he didn't get pressure when used, someone else did.
Is it worth it to waste a roster spot on a player that only would be playing on passing downs?
Look at all the freaking 3rd longs our opponents converted last year. Of course it is. 3rd and longs not converted become punts or they become FGs instead of TDs.
Instead, repeatedly last year, I saw him out in space covering a TE. Because our DC is a moron. (Honestly, less a moron than just below average in every way)
We will see if when we struggle to get pressure on the QB this year we bother to use him. Not optimistic but you never know.