Offensive linemen don't often receive the spotlight, even in primetime. Yet, during a Week 15 Thursday Night Football game against the 49ers, an impressive sequence of blocks from Kevin Dotson put the football world on notice, after his classic introduction dawning designer shades.
On a wide receiver screen to Puka Nacua, Dotson got out in front and flattened linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles into the turf. He finished the play by tossing hard-hitting safety Talanoa Hufanga backwards, out of the frame completely, and was even ready to throw a third haymaker before the whistle blew.
"I loved it," said head coach Sean McVay. "I received a bunch of good texts, but probably got that clip sent to me more than anything. 'K-Dot' did his thing right there. It was excellent."
Dotson was a staple of consistency and power for the Rams' offensive line, helping the unit build much-needed continuity down the stretch. He played 105 more snaps than the next-closest Rams offensive lineman this season, earning the second-highest Pro Football Focus (PFF) offense grade of his career (77.7).
Stats
Stats from the regular season and playoffs, via PFF. Blocking efficiency is defined as snaps without a pressure allowed divided by total snaps (* = career-best, ^ = team-best at position group).
| Season | Games Played | Snaps | Penalties | Blocking Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 14 | 358 | 3 | 99.8 |
| 2021 | 9 | 565 | 5 | 98.0 |
| 2022 | 17 | 1,160 | 12 | 98.4 |
| 2023 | 15 | 939 | 2 | 97.3 |
| 2024 | 18*^ | 1,145^ | 3 | 97.2 |
Improvement: Consistent reliability
Dotson appeared in every game apart from Week 18, when he rested prior to the playoffs. He was the only Rams offensive lineman to do so. His second year in the Rams' offense brought more familiarity with the scheme, setting Dotson up for increased success.
Not only was Dotson out there producing at a high level all season, but he brought positive energy every time he stepped on the gridiron. Whether he was trucking defenders or shooting celebratory jump shots, his energy always invigorated the offense.
"Because of the amount of work that Kevin has gotten, I think it'll serve him well," McVay said. "It's really been a tremendous credit to him because we've had a lot of moving parts, as you know, on the offensive line. I've been really proud of Kevin and his consistency. He's having fun. He's at his best when he's out there enjoying it."
"I love to be in the game," Dotson said. "I love to watch my film, I like to see myself do good. So, the better that I can play, the more enjoyment I get from seeing myself do good. And I know that people are watching, all my family are watching. Those things keep me going."
Dotson earned a career-high approximate value (AV) of eight, according to Pro Football Reference, which aims to measure a player's value with a single number. It uses position-specific formulas reflecting team/unit success relative to league averages in assigning value to each player season. For context, the Panthers' Pro Bowl guard, Robert Hunt, who was signed to a lucrative deal in the offseason, also had an AV of eight.
Plus, Dotson's value in the Rams' locker room was increase, as he took on more of a leadership role in his fifth NFL season. Dotson said it felt like a "duty to just start being a little more vocal" with a young unit around him.
Dotson had one of his best games of the season in that Week 15 primetime game against the 49ers, earning his highest PFF run blocking grade of the season (90.8) and third-highest offensive grade (90.0). Yet, offensive line coach Ryan Wendell wasn't surprised by that level of production – it was just a larger stage for him to showcase the work he'd put in all year.
"I think that K-Dot's been doing what he's been doing all year," Wendell said. "He's been extremely consistent, he's played every practice, every rep, missed very, very little time, grinding through injuries and being banged up like all these guys do, so I think that's just an accumulation of the reps that he's put in and when he gets his opportunities, he takes advantage of them."
Anyone who goes by "K-Dot" in the year 2024 must have a lot of confidence that they can live up to the name of one of the world's most popular music stars. And on the field, confidence is one thing that Dotson gained continuously throughout the 2024 season as his health improved.
"I think just the overall of what we've done this year, it gives me more and more confidence," Dotson said on Dec. 2. "The more I get to do a play, the more confidence I feel… My ankles aren't hurting as much as they were at the beginning of the year. And it just makes me play with more confidence, not feeling that pain on the interior part of my ankle. It just lets me play a little faster, a little stronger, put more force into the ground without being scared of going too hard."
