Breakdown: Dotson will pack punch for Steelers

The Steelers' selection of Kevin Dotson began fulfilling an understated need for the future of their offensive line. Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro are on the back ends of their careers and have been the line's anchors for the past decade.

Outside of Marcus Gilbert, most of the other members on the line have been more technically sound linemen than mauler types that can change the line of scrimmage with pure strength. Dotson possesses that kind of strength, and this breakdown shows how his raw power and the areas he needs to address to become a great asset to the line:



The first thing you notice about Dotson's game is his raw strength at the point of attack. When you run behind him or depend on his block to spring the play there's a good chance he creates a hole to attack. Dotson has good size for a guard at 6-foot-4, 310 pounds and when he locks onto his target he's a tough opponent.

Watch how he's the key chip block at right guard (No. 75) to spring a run play that gains a first down. Dotson comes off the ball and makes sure the defensive tackle at the first level of the defense is taken care of, then bursts to the second level and takes care of the scraping linebacker.

Not only does he engage the linebacker in the hole, he drives him out of it to open up a bigger space for his running back to exploit: