Giving backup linemen a test run
Orchard, Ledbetter get chance to play with starting defense as team seeks right combo
TAMPA — There could be a change brewing on the Miami Dolphins defensive line.
In an attempt to turn the volume up on the team’s play on the front end of the defense, the Dolphins moved two former backups into starting roles.
Nate Orchard and Jonathan Ledbetter spent the past week working with the starting defensive line, but the pair split the defensive end workload with Charles Harris, the Dolphins’ 2017 first-round pick, and Tank Carradine, a former Florida State Seminoles standout the Dolphins signed this offseason, during Friday night’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay.
Orchard, a 2015 second-round pick, is playing for his fifth NFL team since September 2018, when he was released by the Cleveland Browns. He’s being transitioned from linebacker and believes Miami’s hybrid scheme is the perfect for his skill set.
“I’ve been in the league now five years and I’ve had my fair share of opportunities,” Orchard said, who has contributed 69 tackles and five sacks in 38 NFL games.
“Coming here it’s all about competition, whether you’re with the ones, twos or threes. Every day anything can happen, so each day you have to bring your best. Consistency is your best friend.”
Orchard isn’t stationary. He’s being groomed to move around along with Harris and Andrew Van Ginkel, the Dolphins’ 2019 fifth-round draft pick, to serve as pass rushers who will look to create havoc.
As for Ledbetter, his primary responsibility is to set the edge, and he typically plays as a run defender.
Ledbetter moved up the depth chart when Jonathan Woodard suffered an injury in Week 1 of training camp, and he’s made steady improvements each week.
“I’m heavy-handed,” Ledbetter said. “I strike with my hands. I run to the ball. I just like to hunt out there.
“That’s what defense is about.” After not getting drafted Ledbetter had a handful of offers, but he picked the Dolphins because he felt Miami’s rebuilding effort would present him with a decent opportunity to make a 53-man regular-season roster.
“I’m just trying to take one opportunity at a time, learning the defense, learning about team chemistry and playing my role.” Ledbetter said. “I got my opportunity and I’m making the most of it.
Rosen starts
The Dolphins potentially took a glance at the future of the franchise during Friday night’s exhibition game.
After working Josh Rosen in with the starters this past week during two joint practices against Tampa Bay, Miami gave the former UCLA standout his first start for the franchise that traded a 2019 secondround and 2020 sixth-round pick to acquire the 2018 first-rounder.
Also making their first start of the preseason for Miami were tailback Mark Walton and rookie receiver Preston Williams.
Rosen started 13 games last season for the Arizona Cardinals, leading the Cardinals to three victories while producing a 66.7 passer rating.
Rosen completed 13-of-20 passes for 191 yards in a 34-27 win over the Atlanta Falcons during his Dolphins debut last week in Miami’s preseason opener.
Rosen is in a training camp battle with Ryan Fitzpatrick, a 14-year NFL veteran, and according to head coach Brian Flores the Dolphins don’t need to get an extensive look at Fitzpatrick games.
Williams’ practices and game performance (four receptions for 97 yards last week) could have earned him a promotion to the starting unit, but it’s reasonable to conclude injuries got the undrafted rookie called up to Miami’s first team.
DeVante Parker sat out Wednesday’s practice because of an undisclosed injury, and was one of 13 Dolphins players kept off the field in Miami’s second preseason game because of injuries.
Parker’s absence, and the injuries that have kept Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant out, allowed the former Colorado State standout to start opposite Kenny Stills and Isaiah Ford.
Walton, a former University of Miami standout, replaced Kenyan Drake, who suffered a right foot injury during Wednesday practice and has his foot in a walking boot. during
Howard sits
these preseason
Xavien Howard, the Dolphins’ Pro Bowl cornerback, was held out of Friday game, possibly for precautionary reasons considering the grass was wet because of rain that fell all day.
Veteran offensive tackle Jordan Mills, who started at left tackle last week, and offensive tackle Zach Sterup, were held out the second preseason game, leaving Jaryd Jones-Smith, Isaiah Prince, Will Holden and Aaron Monteiro to serve as the tackles when Laremy Tunsil was out the game.
When Tunsil came out the age in the second half, Jones-Smith replaced him as Miami’s left tackle.
Also held out of the game were safeties Reshad Jones, T.J. McDonald and Walt Aikens, linebackers Kiko Alonso, Van Ginkel, Chase Allen, Raekwon McMillan and Quentin Poling.