Steelers guard Kevin Dotson admits blame for sack that injured Kenny Pickett, pushes back on social media critics
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Steelers guard Kevin Dotson knew he had gotten the play wrong immediately.
“After I took my set, I saw (left tackle) Dan (Moore) coming my way. So I was like, ‘Dang, they must’ve said the other digit. Once I knew what it was, I knew where I messed up,” Dotson said.
The result of Dotson’s error was a first-quarter sack on quarterback Kenny Pickett Sunday afternoon.
The result of the sack was eventually a trip into concussion protocol for Pickett, the second of his rookie season.
The result of Pickett’s diagnosis was backup Mitch Trubisky entering the game and throwing three fatal interceptions deep in Baltimore Ravens territory.
“That’s on me. We make calls that can be made for other calls, too. One digit off can change the whole play. So, I missed that digit. It made me go a certain way when I should’ve gone the other way,” Dotson explained.
The nature of Dotson’s error was confusing the assignment he got before the snap. He said there are usually three numbers in a typical call.
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“The middle number is the thing that can determine how an offensive line blocks in that particular play. It can change the whole play. So I have to listen harder for that,” Dotson admitted.
As video of the play shows, Dotson double-teamed the Baltimore pass rusher opposite Moore, thus allowing a free run for Patrick Queen to flush Pickett. Once fellow linebacker Roquan Smith arrived at the scrambling QB, he tossed Pickett to the turf (perhaps with the aid of an unflagged facemask penalty).
BRINGING THE PRESSURE!!@Patrickqueen_ brings the heat and Roquan finishes the job for the SACK!!
Tune in on CBS. pic.twitter.com/Ft2iXxzHXx
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 11, 2022
Pickett appeared to get up a bit unsteady but passed a concussion protocol test and returned to the game. After just one more series, though, head coach Mike Tomlin said Pickett started to show symptoms and was removed from the game.
“It’s a sack. I’m going to (apologize) regardless of what the play is,” Dotson said when asked if he apologized to Pickett upon learning of the diagnosis.
The natural curiosity, then, should be if the Steelers’ system for disseminating blocking assignments to their linemen is too complicated. Especially if one minor error could result in such a cataclysmic bust.
Dotson said no.
“It’s not complicated. It’s just me missing a pivotal number. It’s one number. It’s on me,” Dotson said.
Dotson didn’t push back against anyone laying blame at his feet for the missed assignment. He did, however, grumble about the tone of criticism he was getting on social media.
“People are messing with me. They are like ‘You got Kenny killed,’” Dotson said. “People give up sacks.”
This isn’t the first time Dotson has quipped back against social media trolling. He bowed up after allegedly receiving death threats in the wake of a rough game against Tampa Bay earlier this season.
“Every time you give up a sack it shouldn’t be, ‘You are getting him killed.’ It’s just part of the game. They don’t really know. Or understand,” Dotson said.
There are two ways Dotson can avoid similar problems in future.
● Don’t allow any more sacks or commit any more penalties.
Or…
● Don’t go on Twitter the night after those things happen.
The first thing is unavoidable for even the best offensive lineman in the NFL. The second thing isn’t.
Dotson’s willingness to admit blame and own what went wrong is commendable. Trying to win a war against keyboard cowboys is fruitless.
He just needs to block better. Start on Twitter. That’s easy. Block everyone. Then worry about the Carolina Panthers this Sunday and the Ravens before the New Year’s Day rematch.