2014 NFL Combine Preview: Five Offensive Linemen to Watch
By Ben Nielsen
Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid speaks during a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
4. Dakota Dozier
School: Furman
Watch to Watch: Everything
Met with Chiefs: No
Dozier is a tweener, small school guy who could be an option for the Chiefs at the end of the draft. There’s very little out there about him so his combine is going to be meaningful for those of us trying to figure out who he is as a football player. CBS currently has him as their number five offensive guard prospect.
The first thing we need to see is what kind of size he has. He’s listed as being 6-4, but we don’t know how long he is or how accurate his listed size is. His listing will give us a better indication of where his long-term fit will be.
Watch for what kind of quickness Dozier shows in drills. There is an expectation he should run a pretty good 40-time, but the different cone and shuttle drills may be more important for him. Quickness in a small space is a very important thing for an offensive lineman, so excellent times for Dozier could indicate what kind of ceiling we are working with.
Finally, his drills will be interesting to watch. While he will not being going up against live contact, there will be at least some kind of indication of what kind of footwork and technique he has as a lineman.
A great combine certainly doesn’t justify taking him in the top three rounds or anything, but a good showing may be worth a flier in the sixth or seventh round.