BY NICK ST. DENIS
You can still be a bull-dozer at guard. In fact, even moreso than at tackle.
At least, that's the approach New York Jets offensive lineman Dakota Dozier is taking in his move from the outside to the inside. It's an adjustment, but the fourth-round rookie is up to the task.
“Just trying to get away from some of the tackle tendencies I had,” Dozier said this week, via NJ.com. “I used a little one-armed stuff (when blocking) out at tackle. Now I’m trying to focus mainly on the two-hand punch.
"That’s really been the biggest hurdle for me so far. But each day I’m improving.”
Dozier will work behind now second-year left guard Brian Winters and veteran Willie Colon in trying to develop into a future starter. Dozier can especially take some quick-study hints from Winters, who was thrust into a first-string job right off the bat least year.
“I know Brian is one year ahead of me, so it’s fresh in his mind, what it’s like to make that adjustment," Dozier said. "I’m definitely going to use their knowledge to help me, for sure. Whether it’s during drills, I’m watching them. I’m listening to whatever they’re telling me.
"Whatever it is, I’m going to learn from them as much as I can.”
He added that he's looking forward to the quicker contact and bull rush that he'll face at guard. By the looks of the big-framed former wrestler, it's likely that the Jets are, too.
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