Cherilus Will Start; Dotson Gets Benched
December 13th, 2015
Lovie Smith dropped a cold hammer on Demar Dotson.
Doston, the 30-year-old right tackle and a Buccaneer sine 2009, was deactivated for today’s game against the Saints. Apparently, one start by Dotson last week, in place of injured Gosder Cherilus, was not enough to convince Lovie that Doston was worthy of starting.
Cherilus returns to the starting line up today after practicing all this week, and second-year man Kevin Pamphile and Evan Smith are the backup linemen today. Pamphile has been a key part of the Bucs’ six-linemen sets.
Joe has long been a supporter of the Bucs replacing Dotson in the starting lineup. He’s a nice guy, but he’s never been an average NFL starting right tackle, despite what the stat geeks and others claim. Doston is awesome to have for depth on a roster.
December 13th, 2015 at 11:57 am
Dotson is better than Cherilus. If this decision backfires today I’m going to be furious.
December 13th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
I gotta believe the video simply does not lie! The coaches see both players..over and over and over again. They pick the guy they feel gives them the best chance to win.
Feel sorry for Dots..but hey he is a millionaire and he’ll cash at least one more decent (more millions) contract before checking out of the league.
December 13th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Like I said earlier….if you offer a player a contract with incentives to receive an extra million bucks if he plays 75% of the snaps throughout the season….it’s wrong to leave him off the field when he’s able to play and performing well. I don’t think this has anything to do with the way Dotson performed last week….it’s about sticking to your word. Right move.
December 13th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
I like Dotson but he’s the backup…
December 13th, 2015 at 12:24 pm
He’s inactive? As in not playing at all? What if Cherilus gets hurt during the game?
December 13th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Just draft Taylor Decker as our new RT.
December 13th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
Lovie does have one wart in his personality: if h isn’t the guy bringing a player in, that player gets three times the scrutiny of some guy he signed. Demar D. has always performed even through the Bucs coaching administrative chaos the whole time he’s been here. I wish Cherilus the best. At least, Lovie has backed off of guys like GMC, DMartin, V-Jax, and LVD. I still shudder at the memory of McClown. Hopefully, that was then; this is now. GO MIGHTY BUCS!!
December 13th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
Agreed orlbucfan. It really does seem that way.
What really surprises me is that Dotson is now inactive. We don’t need a capable backup tackle? Wonder what else is going on.
December 13th, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Remember when Dotson first came back and he stated that Lovie told him he would start….didn’t happen….that may have affected this decision.
December 13th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
As the Joe’s and their cronies revel about the corpse of another that they deem unfit!
December 13th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Pamphile can play tackle. And he is our extra TE on our goal line/big sets. His impact is greater than a back up that would only play if someone gets hurt.