@@Los Angeles Chargers

Before we all start calling for Elijah Dotson to start over Kelley and Spiller:

  • August 13, 2023


Let’s just remember, there’s a reason the coaching staff doesn’t have him there ***yet***.

[Staley on Elijah Dotson](https://youtu.be/R28tDf7DDDY?t=328):
>”Well he’s a *great dude*, number one. He’s one of these guys that’s just a gym rat, really trying his best on Special Teams to add value. ***At Running Back there’s a lot to learn from the passing protection and the pass route/receiving type role*** but he’s trying to improve in all ways.”

>”I thought what you saw tonight is kind of what we’ve seen since rookie mini-camp. He does have a burst, he is decisive, and we think he can finish runs. Even for his stature he runs powerful. It was a good night for him, and I’m happy for him – because he practices how you should practice as a rookie.”

So it sounds like he’s great on the feet, but they’re still in the process of teaching him the rest of the position, IE pass blocking and route running at an NFL level.

I think we should be fucking stoked that we might have **a guy** – but we probably shouldn’t riot and whine (like with Bandy) – because there’s almost always a reason a guy isn’t on the field yet.

***TL;DR: He’s great at running, but needs to work on blocking and route running. He might be a dude, but don’t make him Bandy 2.0 because we’re impatient***

12 comments

  2. Who cares what number he is on the depth chart, utilize his strengths and put him in on obvious run situations when we need a yard.

  3. I never bought the hype with Bandy, especially with the WR core we have when healthy. And even when Bandy stepped in last season, he was whelming to say the least.

    But Dotson is different, he’s a great RB and can add a tremendous amount of value to the offense. His speed and ability to turn up the field and great assets to have on offense – and that was behind a 3rd string OL! Imagine what he can do with the starting offense. I’m excited to see him during the season to get a better idea of his upside.

  4. I walked home in sac behind Dotson a lot. Never talked to him but I wish the dude the best lol.

  5. Ran track with Dot in college. Hardest working person I knew and that is a gross understatement of his work ethic. Dude would be doing push-ups in between 60m reps while he was gasping and doing it over and over. Our Coach had to tell him to stop pushing himself so hard many times.

    Great teammate. Awesome leader and role model for the younger athletes on our team while he was here. Super glad he made something with his first chance! Y’all got a special one!

  6. Spiller and Kelley are both going to make the team, the question is which two of Guyton, Hightower, Dotson, Rountree do we carry.

    Looks like maybe we will be able to stash Guyton on IR since he isn’t back yet, which will make it easier.

    Personally I think it’s a bit of a tough sell keeping 4 RB on a 53 man roster when we also have a fullback. Normally I’d say cut Hovarth but he’s a core ST player and we were awesome in that phase last year so I don’t wanna mess with it.

  7. He torched some guys fighting for a roster spot in a nothing preseason game. We really over index on preseason performances. Let’s chill with the “sign Dotson, let Ekeler walk” because they’re definitely leagues apart in terms of ability.

  9. Who would be calling for that? Spillers runs (including the one that got called back) were just as if not more impressive.

    Elijah Dotson played GREAT, but he had two big runs against a threadbare defense that let him break contain on the edge twice. I’m rooting for him to make the team keep him on the active roster (at least through the first round of cuts) but he hasn’t proved he’s a better option than either Spiller or Kelly at this point.

  10. Great plays but he bounced it outside against UPS deliverymen in four weeks. If he tries that in regular season it’s a loss of 4.

    Great speed and vision to head outside but still it won’t work like that in the regular season.

  11. Posts like this just give those people validation that this is even a legitimate discussion lmao. There’s no reason for this

Leave a Reply