The Steelers have been putting drafts picks into the OL but it still has issues. The failure to develop Dotson properly, who would be a great fit at RG right now, and the failed pick of Green at center, plus add in the very slow development of current players have set this rebuild back several years. Someone has got to take the fall for this after this season.
Steelers' Organizational Failure Highlighted As All-Pro Teams Are Announced
by Brogan Noey, Staff Writer
Jan 10, 2025 • 4:25 pm
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a ton of good roster moves since General Manager Omar Khan took over the role. He and Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl have made some great selections through the NFL Draft over the last two seasons that are already paying dividends. Khan has also been aggressive on the trade market and in free agency, but he has had some slip ups. He has failed to fully address certain areas of weakness on the roster, and he has also traded away some players that turned out to be great.
One mistake made by Khan was trading away guard Kevin Dotson ahead of the 2023 season. It was a bad move to trade him away because he was clearly talented, but it highlighted how bad the Steelers can be at developing a player and putting him in an area to succeed.
The organization selected Dotson in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he was a primary starter for Pittsburgh during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was viewed highly throughout the league, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the offensive staff struggled to develop and use Dotson properly.
Pittsburgh traded Dotson to the Los Angeles Rams for draft compensation ahead of the 2023 season, and he excelled in Los Angeles. Dotson signed a three-year extension after the 2023 season, and he even earned All-Pro votes in 2024.
It became clear that Dotson was a valuable offensive lineman early on during his time with the Rams. He became a consistent starter for them during Week 4 of the 2023 season, and hasn't given up his job since. Dotson has found success at right guard in Los Angeles, while Pittsburgh insisted on starting him at left guard during his time with the Steelers. Pittsburgh has a history of playing lineman out of their natural position, and it clearly hurt them in this instance.
Kevin Dotson works during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Atlanta.
Pittsburgh's offensive line hasn't been great over the last several years. The organization has begun to rebuild the unit with key acquisitions like Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick - however that doesn't erase the mistake of getting rid of Dotson. The mistake with Dotson may have been playing him out of position, but the Steelers also lacked consistency with their offensive line coach.
When Dotson entered the league in 2020, the offensive line coach for the Steelers was Shaun Sarrett. Adrian Klemm was then hired as the offensive line coach for the 2021 season, before being replaced by Pay Meyer who still serves in the role. Meyer has been heavily scrutinized over the last two seasons, and there is a real chance he will be replaced after the 2024 season comes to a close.
Steelers Have An Issue Developing Certain Offensive Linemen
Pittsburgh has done a good finding offensive linemen through the draft in Frazier and McCormick, and the interior of the offensive line looks good. However, it is a bit concerning the Steelers continuously have issues developing offensive linemen in recent years. Dotson was a failure and that was made clear once he found success with the Rams, and Pittsburgh has had issues with second-year tackle Broderick Jones as well.
Jones was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft as a left tackle, and he has been played at right tackle since joining the Steelers. He started one game at left tackle and looked good, but has been up and down on the right side of the offensive line. This can ruin a player's confidence, and hopefully it doesn't become an issue once Jones likely moves back to the left side in 2025.
Steelers' Organizational Failure Highlighted As All-Pro Teams Are Announced
by Brogan Noey, Staff Writer
Jan 10, 2025 • 4:25 pm
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a ton of good roster moves since General Manager Omar Khan took over the role. He and Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl have made some great selections through the NFL Draft over the last two seasons that are already paying dividends. Khan has also been aggressive on the trade market and in free agency, but he has had some slip ups. He has failed to fully address certain areas of weakness on the roster, and he has also traded away some players that turned out to be great.
One mistake made by Khan was trading away guard Kevin Dotson ahead of the 2023 season. It was a bad move to trade him away because he was clearly talented, but it highlighted how bad the Steelers can be at developing a player and putting him in an area to succeed.
The organization selected Dotson in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he was a primary starter for Pittsburgh during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was viewed highly throughout the league, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the offensive staff struggled to develop and use Dotson properly.
Pittsburgh traded Dotson to the Los Angeles Rams for draft compensation ahead of the 2023 season, and he excelled in Los Angeles. Dotson signed a three-year extension after the 2023 season, and he even earned All-Pro votes in 2024.
It became clear that Dotson was a valuable offensive lineman early on during his time with the Rams. He became a consistent starter for them during Week 4 of the 2023 season, and hasn't given up his job since. Dotson has found success at right guard in Los Angeles, while Pittsburgh insisted on starting him at left guard during his time with the Steelers. Pittsburgh has a history of playing lineman out of their natural position, and it clearly hurt them in this instance.
Kevin Dotson works during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Atlanta.
Pittsburgh's offensive line hasn't been great over the last several years. The organization has begun to rebuild the unit with key acquisitions like Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick - however that doesn't erase the mistake of getting rid of Dotson. The mistake with Dotson may have been playing him out of position, but the Steelers also lacked consistency with their offensive line coach.
When Dotson entered the league in 2020, the offensive line coach for the Steelers was Shaun Sarrett. Adrian Klemm was then hired as the offensive line coach for the 2021 season, before being replaced by Pay Meyer who still serves in the role. Meyer has been heavily scrutinized over the last two seasons, and there is a real chance he will be replaced after the 2024 season comes to a close.
Steelers Have An Issue Developing Certain Offensive Linemen
Pittsburgh has done a good finding offensive linemen through the draft in Frazier and McCormick, and the interior of the offensive line looks good. However, it is a bit concerning the Steelers continuously have issues developing offensive linemen in recent years. Dotson was a failure and that was made clear once he found success with the Rams, and Pittsburgh has had issues with second-year tackle Broderick Jones as well.
Jones was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft as a left tackle, and he has been played at right tackle since joining the Steelers. He started one game at left tackle and looked good, but has been up and down on the right side of the offensive line. This can ruin a player's confidence, and hopefully it doesn't become an issue once Jones likely moves back to the left side in 2025.
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