is Donte Whitner a every-down SS?

SF obviously signed him during the offseason to play him, but he's notorious for his poor pass coverage.

In obvious pass situations (3rd and 25) or against super pass-heavy teams (Detroit), does Whitner spend less time on the field?

Whitner is pretty much an every down safety. He just has much less tackle opp in SF behind two stud linebackers. When he was in Buffalo he was basically an extra linebacker.