How Safe Is Demar Dotson?
June 9th, 2016
Bubble watch?
Demar Dotson is one of the coolest guys in the Bucs’ locker room. He’s the kind of guy you’d help buy the house next door, and even help him move in and throw a backyard barbecue for him.
If you don’t like Dotson the man, then you are one cold-hearted SOB.
But Joe must focus on football. And Dotson, nice guy that he is, is in an unenviable position when it comes to long-term job security in the cutthroat world of the NFL.
Dotson, at best, is an average right tackle. The Bucs tried him out at left tackle two years ago, which led the team to draft Donovan Smith in the second round.
In the last year of his contract and about to turn 31 years old, Dotson, is coming off a sad year. His agent tried to muscle Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht for a new contract and after that didn’t work, Dotson injured knee injury in the first preseason game.
Then, the Bucs went out and got Gosder Cherilus, who played adequately and was a big brother to Smith.
Bye-bye leverage for Dotson.
In breaking down players who may be looking over their shoulders during training camp, Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski of Scout.com placed Dotson on the thinnest sheet of ice.
“At right tackle, Dotson did not get replaced this offseason. But, the Bucs continue to look to build a young nucleus along their offensive line, could it be Caleb Benenoch who eventually replaces Dotson, maybe even next season at right tackle? Or is it another young player next offseason?” Pawlowski said.
“You can see the trend with the Bucs’ offensive line: Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, J.R. Sweezy, Kevin Pamphile. They could all be starting this season, as we see Marpet and Pamphile taking some snaps at center. At right tackle, Demar Dotson is in a contract year. I don’t foresee the Buccaneers forking over a lot of money for him. Dotson could be looking at not only his future with the Buccaneers in jeopardy, but maybe his future in the NFL in jeopardy, if he struggles to have a good season.”
It is clear the Bucs hope Benenoch develops into their next right tackle. There is no doubt about that. Whether that is next year or three years from now, it depends on Benenoch.
In Joe’s eyes, the key to Dotson’s future with the Bucs is Benenoch’s development. Joe agrees with Pawlowski in that it’s very doubtful Licht will throw wads of cash at Dotson next offseason.
June 9th, 2016 at 10:04 am
Big Dot is our best RT, he should be very safe in this contract season.
June 9th, 2016 at 10:06 am
Dotson is average at best… RT is weak. Dotson is a nice feel good story but nothing special as a player
June 9th, 2016 at 10:10 am
Joe’s right. Dotson is an easy guy to root for and he plays hard, but average has been his level for quite some time now. An aging average lineman in this league should be pondering life after football. Good dude, but the realities are written on the wall.
June 9th, 2016 at 10:21 am
Very insightful… yes, if Dotson “strugggles to have a good season” his time with the team may be over – Just like almost everyone else. I hope Beneoch developes, but he still hasn’t even got to one buc place.
June 9th, 2016 at 11:20 am
He was hurt last season. He didn’t “struggle.” He wasn’t “average.” He didn’t play.
The year before the entire O was in shambles, the coaching staff fired. Hard to blame that on Dotson.
The Bucs made him the started going into OTA’s. That says something. They didn’t say “competition at RT” like they did for center. Have the Bucs staff & Warhop made bad evaluations about Dotson?
Experienced RT’s who are athletic 6’9″ 315 lbs. don’t grow on trees.
Just a couple of years ago some of those “stat geeks” had Dotson rated high.
He’s in a contract year, like Martin was last season. It’ll be his last contract, no doubt.
Here’s hoping he kicks some serious butt in 2016.
June 9th, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Cobraboy, I’m with you … really hope that Dots kicks some serious butt in 2016.
June 9th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
Can’t wait to hear all the excuses the ASJ defenders are going to make today… what a joke.
June 9th, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Dot hasn’t played near as much football as the average lineman of his age – he’s got a lot of tread left.
June 9th, 2016 at 1:02 pm
Willy D, good point. Ya, he definitely has alot of gas in the tank seeing as he didn’t even start playing football until later on in college. I don’t think for one second he will possibly “struggle”. I’m sure he’s wanting a long term deal but at 31 I can’t see him getting more than a 2 or 3 yr deal here. If the rookie looks good when he gets the chance then they may feel as though they can let him walk. Giving a guy the kind of money he will want though is a different story and it may get dicey on that end when the time comes.
June 9th, 2016 at 1:05 pm
^^Exactly. And I think he’s better than cherilus to be honest.
But Joe(s) thinks we had a top 5 o line last year so….
June 9th, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Why is it that people forget about Hawley, who did a stellar job at Center?
June 9th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
I wanted to draft a right tackle this year, but I’m happy with the picks that were made.
June 10th, 2016 at 7:50 am
I think Big Dot will Hold the fort down until Benenoch can develop and take over in a couple years. Until then we are just fine, Dotson is a better than average RT, I don’t get all the bashing on him, how was he suppose to play well when he was injured all season?? He will prove all the haterz wrong this year, watch and see.