Pick 4.135: Kevin Dotson, Louisiana

[Jobu]

Not saying this is the case, but sometimes scouts will out think themselves.

Maybe, just maybe they thought Dotson's game was over rated, that he was made to look better because he played next to Robert Hunt. Hunt was next to Dotson at RT and he was the more well regarded prospect, going early in round 2 to Miami.

I actually like this prospect more and more and quite frankly, this offensive line pick goes against the grain and that is a very good thing to my eyes.

I get so tired of the position flexibility, can he play more than one-spot-line-of-bullshit.

What is so wrong with drafting a Guard and expecting him to be a damn Guard?

I could care less if he can play Center, or in a pinch play RT? Piss on that nonsense.

It doesn't have to be this difficult. You find a prospect who is a mean, nasty run blocker, perhaps an elite one, and you play him at Guard, end of story, the end.

We have so many other positions that don't have to play this game. When we draft a TE, do we also expect him to be position flexible and play WR, or carry the ball as a RB?? Steve Nelson, when we signed him in free agency last year, did we expect him to also be able to play safety? Or to move inside and be able to play nickel back?

I agree, but...

Dotson said he was a left tackle when he first arrived on campus for a redshirt year but first moved to right tackle before settling in at guard. He hasn’t played center but drilled there some during draft preparations. Sarrett said the Steelers will work with him to see if he can learn the position.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... qe87ktFwZG

[Steelafan77]

Read an article yesterday with an interview of Sarrett stating he hasn't ruled out Dotson starting this season...Hmmm

[jebrick]

I do not think Dotson is over rated because he played beside a living road grader like Hunt. It is easy to get over looked playing next to the king of pancake blocks.

It will be a bonus if he can win the LG job. I would love to see him in competition between Feiler, Dotson and Wiz at LG. With a lack of camp time I would say he does not have much of a chance.

[Jobu]

I think that signing Wis and drafting Dotson tells us they want to keep Feiler at RT.

[Stosh-67]

I think that signing Wis and drafting Dotson tells us they want to keep Feiler at RT.

Good assumption.
And also, just one change on the OL from last year, rather than new RT and new LG

[Scunge]

In terms of position flexibility I think that is a good thing for your swing tackle and your interior swing C/G, but I don't think you should take that and make every player along the offensive line be put through that criteria.

I want Dotson to be, maybe not the next DeCastro but the next Carlton Haselrig and have no desire to watch him become position flexible and be our next Trai Essex.

The Offensive Line is very, very interesting and it is hard to tell what this line may look like in 2021.

Big Al, Matt Feiler, Zach Banner will all be UFAs in 2021. Pouncey and DeCastro will be entering the last year of their respective contracts in 2021. Chuks Okorafora will also be in the last year of his rookie contract in 2021.

If Dotson, who has 52 games under his belt, and is physically mature, he is maxed out, an older prospect, will turn 24 years old in September. The Steelers went against the grain with this pick, took a player who is probably as close to being able to start as a rookie as you can get. This guy does not have to work on his strength, or build his body up, he is not inexperienced. Yeah, he will need some time to adjust to the NFL game but I can point to a lot of rookie guards that have come in over the past few years and played well as rookie guards.

In 2019, these rookies came in and started at Guard for their teams.

2nd rounder Elgton Jenkins of GB started 14 games.
2nd rounder Dalton Risner of Denver started 16 games.
3rd rounder Michael Deiter of Miami started 15 games.
4th rounder Nate Davis of Tennessee started 12 games.
4th rounder Wes Martin of Washington started 5 games.
5th rounder David Edwards of the RAMs started 10 games.
UDFA Shan Calhoun of Miami started 7 games.
UDFA Patrick Mekari of Baltimore started 5 games.

If Dotson is able to come in and play well and start as a rookie and Feiler is able to stay at RT and Okorafora continues to develop as the 3rd OT/swing tackle then that is bad news for Villanueva. Just like Foster and Finney, he could be not long for this team. And in 2 years time maybe they don't resign DeCastro either. When you have offensive linemen that are turning 33 years old at the end of their contracts are you still going to break the bank to extend them? Especially when you need to save money to pay for the super star players on defense that are going to have huge paydays due at the same time??

[Steelafan77]

Not much chatter on Dotson out there. This is a crucial pick IMHO. With Finney gone and Foster retired they had essentially little to no choice going forward. From what I've read they had interest in Dotson for some time. For the Steelers, regarding the whole drafting process this year they lucked out to land Dotson. If players weren't invited to the combine this year teams had a little less information due to the virus cancelling prodays.
Dotson absolutely fits the Steeler LG mold. Big, powerful mauler with some athleticism to pull and to get up into the second level of the defense.
I agree with the speculation that the reason the Steelers drafted Dotson for LG is because they are comfortable with Feiler at RT and didn't necessarily want to disrupt two positions along the OLine. I'm thinking the whole if it ain't broke don't fix it cliche comes into play here. I think this pick is first in line to contribute from day 1. I just hope there is some sort of OTA's/Camp/Preseason.

[DP39]

Not much chatter on Dotson out there. This is a crucial pick IMHO. With Finney gone and Foster retired they had essentially little to no choice going forward. From what I've read they had interest in Dotson for some time. For the Steelers, regarding the whole drafting process this year they lucked out to land Dotson. If players weren't invited to the combine this year teams had a little less information due to the virus cancelling prodays.
Dotson absolutely fits the Steeler LG mold. Big, powerful mauler with some athleticism to pull and to get up into the second level of the defense.
I agree with the speculation that the reason the Steelers drafted Dotson for LG is because they are comfortable with Feiler at RT and didn't necessarily want to disrupt two positions along the OLine. I'm thinking the whole if it ain't broke don't fix it cliche comes into play here. I think this pick is first in line to contribute from day 1. I just hope there is some sort of OTA's/Camp/Preseason.

I agree, SF77.

What we do know is that the PS, as an organization, is pretty risk adverse. They are most likely taking a safety first approach. Meaning, during this extremely unusual covid-19 offseason, draft, preseason and season, they will want to leave as little as possible of the unknown to chance. This means keeping things as close to "what they know" as possible. O line stays the same except for LG, imo. Thus, the reason for Wiz signing and Dotson drafting. On offense, I feel like they will try to keep everything as close to last year as possible, with the exceptions of, LG and having Ben back and working in Ebron, Claypool and McFarland.

Same with the defense, but more so. Wormley, Alualu and Buggs take up some of the slack missed by J-Wobble. Tuitt helps tremulously by being back, of course. Vince plays a decent amount, but we see a little more G3 and big nickel/dime. D doesn't need much tweaking really.

The Steelers will play it safe during this strange, uncertain 2020 NFL season. It's in their nature to do so.

[bradshaw2ben]

After re-watching Feiler vs Arizona 2019, I think Feiler moving to LG seems probable. He did a passable job as RT but he's a guard to the core. He looks so much better and more comfortable there.

Dotson is a hedge against Feiler not being re-signed... and maybe they get Dotson or Feiler some reps at OC?

[Steelafan77]

Some film and break down here in this article regarding Dotson and how he managed when playing Alabama's Quinnen Williams, Isaiah Buggs, Raekwon davis and Johnny Dwight. Impressive IMO.

Wrap up
The Ragin’ Cajuns ran for 200 yards against the Crimson Tide, the most they gave up in 2018 and 5th most of the decade. Raekwon Davis, Isaiah Buggs (#49) Johnny Dwight and Quinnen Williams combined for 40 Tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks in 2018, none of those were against the Ragin’ Cajuns, the only team to hold those 4 without a tackle for loss or a sack in 2018. That says a lot about the level of coaching and the players on that line. https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2 ... draft-news

[bradshaw2ben]

After re-watching Feiler vs Arizona 2019, I think Feiler moving to LG seems probable. He did a passable job as RT but he's a guard to the core. He looks so much better and more comfortable there.

Dotson is a hedge against Feiler not being re-signed... and maybe they get Dotson or Feiler some reps at OC?

2 minute drill vs Arizona 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Rw_-2o8IA