Why is Steelers HC Mike Tomlin wasting G Kevin Dotson’s talent?

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin rarely airs internal laundry, but that’s exactly what he did on Sunday.

When asked why guard Kevin Dotson was working with the second team instead of the first, Tomlin firmly responded, “He has done nothing to earn first-team reps. What are we talking about? He’s a second-year guy that hadn’t worked.”

This sent Steelers Nation into a frenzy of worry.

Concerns for Dotson first started back in July when Pittsburgh radio personality Mark Madden started a rumor that Dotson showed up to the Steelers facilities out of shape.

It was also bandied about that Dotson may have been dealing with an injury, and perhaps that’s why he’s been relegated to reserve duty.

Tomlin is, after all, a stickler for a player to be physically and mentally fit when he returns to work.

I get it. It’s a teachable moment. By all appearances, though, Dotson is a good student. But Tomlin needs to get Dotson in with the first team as quickly as possible. He has starter talent — we witnessed it in his four starts (13 games) in place of the injured David DeCastro.

It’s paramount that the offensive line work in harmony, not only for Najee Harris and company to be successful on the ground but to keep Ben Roethlisberger upright and healthy for 17 games. If Dotson doesn’t start getting first-team reps soon, it will only delay pivotal chemistry-building.

Until Dotson gets whatever is up figured out, newcomer Rashaad Cowherd is getting first-team reps, as he has since the start of camp on July 22.

How Dotson responds to this challenge from Tomlin is significant. Though he’s only in his second year, Dotson’s now one of the veterans along the young, inexperienced Steelers offensive line.