No holding back for Steelers HC Mike Tomlin on Kevin Dotson: ‘He’s done nothing to earn first-team reps’

Pittsburgh Steelers second-year guard Kevin Dotson has been noticeable absent from first-team reps at training camp thus far. There was talk of a conditioning issue which Dotson refuted so many surmised it might have related to an injury.

But on Sunday, when Steelers beat reporter Joe Rutter asked directly about why Dotson, a former starter, was working with the second team, Tomlin didn’t hold back.

“He has done nothing to earn first-team reps,” Tomlin said. “What are we talking about? He’s a second-year guy who hasn’t worked.”

Ouch. I have to say this comes as a surprise. Last year, Dotson was probably the best interior lineman on the team. To hear straight from the head coach that this year he hasn’t put in the work and done nothing to ear first-team reps is a massive disappointment.

Tomlin is a stickler about physical conditioning so if Dotson came in out of shape it will be on him to correct that before the coaches will respect his placement on the depth chart. Until that happens, newcomer Rashaad Coward will serve as the team’s new starting left tackle.

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