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- Mar 19, 2019
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Dakota Dozier
Dozier was added as a free agent during the 2019 offseason, as he spent the 2018 season with the Jets — where Dennison was the offensive line coach/run game coordinator.
Zimmer said Dozier's history was Dennison was a factor in signing him in 2019, and then re-signing him in March of 2020.
"It definitely helps," Zimmer said. "Rico being able to see him for a year and be in meeting rooms with him and all those types of things was one of the reasons we were interested in getting him here."
Dozier started four games in 2019, with three of them coming at right guard. He played 362 total offensive snaps, which accounted for 35.55 percent of total offensive snaps.
Zimmer and Kubiak both had high praise for how Dozier handles himself on and off the field for the organization.
"I really just think Dakota's at a very good place in his life and his career," Kubiak said. "He's always been a good player, trying to battle to become a starter. He started [four] games for us last year … [and we] played some good football when Dakota was in there.
"So, I just think Dakota's at a point in his career, he's a guy who's battled and battled and battled, and he knows he can do it, and he's out there every day really doing a hell of a job. He plays a lot of different positions," Kubiak added. "There are days when Dakota goes with our 1s, our 2s and I look up and our 3s are in there, and he's still in there, so Dakota's getting his work in and wanting to help this team win, and he's heading the right direction."
Added Zimmer: "Well, Dakota, when he had the opportunities, I thought he played well. He was able to swing some and do different things in there. He's a very conscientious person. He's got toughness. Very smart, good in the run game, understands where all the leverage is in the passing game."
Collins joined the team as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2017, appearing in four games before an injury cost him the entire 2018 season.
Collins was bitten by the injury bug again in training camp a year ago, as an elbow injury cost him the first half of the season.
He worked his way back to play in two games in 2019, with the second one being a Week 17 home game against Chicago.
With Minnesota resting most of its offensive starters, Collins started his first-career game, splitting time at left tackle and left guard. He played 49 offensive snaps in that game.
Collins, who was a tackle coming out of TCU, has now shifted almost exclusively to guard in the battle with Dozier.
Kubiak provided an update on Collins' status on a video call with the media.
"AC was working at tackle last year and got hurt at about this stage of camp last year, and missed a lot of time," Kubiak said. "But he's very athletic. Trying to settle him down a little bit, get him in the mix.
"We're just trying to create a really competitive environment up front and see who steps to the forefront," Kubiak said. "AC Is a big part of that, so we'll see what happens."