4 Vikings players who could be benched after the bye week
By Dean Jones
Dakota Dozier – OG
The Minnesota Vikings can attribute a large portion of their struggles to their inability to protect the interior. Dru Samia and Pat Elflein’s struggles were there for all to see before both went down with injuries and although center Garrett Bradbury has had some nice moments, consistency has been something of a problem in critical moments.
Dakota Dozier doesn’t get off the hook either. The lineman has been rigid in his motions and that has caused plenty of problems through six games. Grady Jarrett had a field day with him against the Falcons and it won’t take long before other NFL teams take a look at this and realize he is a player that can be exploited.
Dozier was given a one-year deal by the Vikings this offseason, but his chances of earning a longer-term commitment from the organization look bleak at this juncture. Minnesota isn’t blessed with any realistic alternatives, with rookie Ezra Cleveland also struggling during his first start last weekend.
More. 4 problems the Minnesota Vikings need to fix during their bye week. light
This is a critical period for Dozier and the Vikings. The bye week has come at a good time and when morale was at an all-time low. So how they refresh, regroup, and adjust in the coming days will be the difference between gaining some semblance of respectability or the season falling further into the abyss.