Demar Dotson: Last Man Standing
April 24th, 2014
When Demar Dotson stands up, he is one large man. Part of that is the Bucs offensive right tackle stands a whopping 6-9, 315. He’s a friggin’ billboard.
Dotson, one of the nicest guys Joe has ever dealt with, is also the last man standing from the 2013 offensive line. Gone is Donald Penn. Gone is Ted Larsen. Gone is Jeremy Zuttah. Gone is Davin Joseph. Carl Nicks remains in toe purgatory, relegated to watching practice from the sidelines.
Today at One Buc Palace, Dotson talked about the massive changes to the offensive line.
“We got rid of a lot of key players on this offensive line and a lot of guys that have been respected around here and a lot of guys I respected. That’s a big change. But those guys left us in good shape. Left me in good shape because they taught me a lot over the years. And I respect them from Davin to Zuttah to Penn. Those guys mean a lot to me.
“The reason I get a chance to be the player I am today is because of those guys. They taught me a lot. Those guys were the rock of this offensive line.”
Dotson also talked about how he is the lone survivor from the purge.
“At first, it hits you that it’s a business,” Dotson said. “Then I looked at is as a blessing. I get to stay here now going on six years. They see enough from me to keep me around. I look at it as a blessing, knowing it is a business.
While Dotson said he believes he is a leader by his work ethic, it is clear who the vocal leader of the offensive line is now.
Center Evan “Dietrich-Smith, he does enough yelling for everybody,” Dotson said. “I try to get him calmed down a little bit. Nobody needs me to yell, he does it enough.”
To hear the rest of Dotson’s interview, please click the orange button below, courtesy of Joe’s co-conspirators at WDAE-AM 620.
April 24th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
Offensive line purging always makes me nervous.
April 24th, 2014 at 5:54 pm
After last years awful o-line display, this year can’t be any worse, can it?
April 24th, 2014 at 6:19 pm
it was time
April 24th, 2014 at 6:22 pm
The purging was needed….although I thought Penn couldve been retained, his services were costing more than he was worth.
April 24th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Remember that early on after viewing the tapes from last year, Licht said that they will try Dotson at LT some this Preseason. As athletic as he is I have a belief he would be the best LT for us. Of course our Free Agent LT can also play RT so we will be fine if that occurs. We are set at Tackle and we have Meredith who can step in and play Tackle if anyone goes down, and it was good to hear that he has put on more muscle this year. He will do very well at RG as a starter this year and has proven himself in the past. I am keeping my fingers crossed that Nix gets well and comes back strong at LG. The Bucs are having Chase Daniels, who was a small college LT and looked good on our Practice Squad last year, playing center with the second string OL. However, he has the ability to learn and fill in at any of the positions on the OL, which gives us great flexibility. We just need to pick up the LSU Guard in the 5th round to back up the two guard positions too. Glad our starting Center is taking over the leadership role with the OL. This is all coming together very well and I can’t wait to see the Bucs going at it in pads.
April 24th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
I always said that with Dotson’s size and athletic ability, he’s tailor made for the left side. I always thought eventually he and Penn would flip sides. According to PFF, Dotson was one of th we very best at not allowing quick pressure, 4 seconds or less, in the NFL.
April 24th, 2014 at 9:38 pm
Joe wishes he could help you, but those are surely issues on your pc/laptop end. JoeBucsFan.com literally gets close to 100,000 pages viewed daily, and there are no known issues for non-mobile readers. Joe checks and tests this regularly. Sorry. –Joe
April 24th, 2014 at 10:45 pm
Joseph has had two visits and has not signed yet. His price is probably still to high. Once he gets over his ego and realizes that he is only going to get X, then maybe he comes back to the Bucs for X to stay in the area!
April 25th, 2014 at 12:54 am
@GenocideD Kill em all and let God sort em out?
I get what you’re saying though
April 25th, 2014 at 12:57 am
Jeeeesh I like your way of thinking Mumbles. Three yrs ago he was though of as a top 10 OL
April 25th, 2014 at 6:32 am
Collins’ versatility gives us some flexibility in the draft. We must take 2 OL in the draft and hit big on at least one pick. We need an infusion of wholesale youth.
April 25th, 2014 at 6:54 am
@~1 Lewan
@~2 Xavier Su’a-Filo
April 26th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Seems, IIRC, I mentioned a re-do of the O-line a few months ago, w/ Dotson’s being the only hold-over.