Why Ogbah is positioned to recapture past form. And Day 10 Dolphins camp stock report

How is it that Emmanuel Ogbah could get off his couch and immediately start sacking the quarterback a couple of days after signing with the Dolphins last month, even after not being employed by an NFL team since the spring?

“I knew going in I had to stay ready for any call I was going to get,” Ogbah said Monday after the 10th practice of training camp, a two-week stretch in which Ogbah has reminded everyone of how impactful he can be as a pass rusher.

“So I just stayed down here, stayed training, stayed in shape, stayed ready. I’ve been in the league long enough to know to be prepared.”

Ogbah wasn’t the greatest fit in Vic Fangio’s defense, and his playing time plummeted, from 77 and 67 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps in 2020 and 2021 to 25 percent in Fangio’s one season here.

As far as last year, Ogbah admitted Monday that he “was asked to do…stuff I’m not comfortable with.”

But he said he’s on board with new coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense and it’s similar in some ways to the Josh Boyer defense that maximized his skill set with the Dolphins in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

“I feel more comfortable in this defense,” he said. “I’m not doing way too much. I’m still learning. I’m almost there.”

Because of his comfort level with Weaver’s defense - and the Dolphins - Ogbah is pleased he bypassed other potential opportunities earlier in free agency.

“I definitely had options but I wanted the right fit, the right environment,” said Ogbah, who can make as much as $5 million this season. “That’s why I took so long to sign with a team.”

Weaver coached in Baltimore the past two years, and Ogbah was asked what Ravens player was asked to do something similar to his role on this defense.

Ogbah mentioned Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon, who had 34.5 sacks in five years for Baltimore.

“What he played is what I’m going to be playing,” Ogbah said. “Kyle Van Noy too. I talked to him on the phone a few times. I can play all over the line as well.”

Asked if he’s still the same player who had nine sack seasons in both 2020 and 2021, Ogbah said: “I’ve got a lot to prove. Last year wasn’t the best year for me mentally and physically [even though he had 5.5 sacks in just 246 snaps]. I’m excited to do my job.”

TOP PERFORMER

STOCK UP

Tight end Jody Fortson Jr. had his best day of camp after a disappointing performance over the first week-and-a-half of training camp.

Fortson caught five passes in 11 on 11 drills, including a back-shoulder catch from Mike White for a touchdown, over Channing Tindall.

He entered the week needing to make up ground against Tanner Conner and Julian Hill in the battle for the third and fourth tight end jobs. Conner has had a good camp, and Hill (a skilled blocker) seemingly has solidified his spot on the 53-man roster – at least so far.

Fortson had four TDs on 14 career receptions for Kansas City, where he spent five years and appeared in 19 games.

▪ Wisconsin’s Jason Maitre has been the best of the three undrafted rookie cornerbacks, a group that also includes former Louisville player Storm Duck and ex-Syracuse cornerback Isaiah Johnson. Maitre made another good play on Monday, knocking away a Tagovailoa deep pass to Tyreek Hill.

STOCK DOWN

Anthony Schwartz is among the fastest Dolphins - and that’s meaningful on a team this fast - but he hasn’t seized on opportunities to make a case to win the No. 5 and/or 6 receiver job.

This has been a camp of near misses for Schwartz. On Monday, he dropped a 30-yard bullet from Skylar Thompson that should have been caught, was out of bounds on a 20-yard catch and was the target of at least one other incomplete pass.

Schwartz ran 4.25 in the 40-yard dash at the 2021 NFL Combine, fastest of any prospect that year.

▪ Receiver Erik Ezukanma (undisclosed injury) and running back Salvon Ahmed (wearing a protective boot on his left foot) remained sidelined on Monday, hurting their chances to earn a roster spot at highly competitive, crowded positions.

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE DAY

Austin Jackson has always been a diligent studier, and this offseason was no different.

He said Monday that during the offseason, he watched all 989 of his snaps at right tackle last season.

“I watched all of them, tried to find tendencies,” he said. “I saw a couple things I want to get better at” that he worked on this offseason.

▪ Safety Marcus Maye is among a select group of defensive backs who has started every NFL game he has played, all 77 of them for the Jets and Saints.

But he made clear that he won’t be upset if he comes off the bench behind Jevon Holland (a certain starter) and Jordan Poyer, who was having a strong camp before missing the past four practices with an injury.

“It’s a collective group effort,” he said.

WHAT THEY SAID

“A tight end really causes a defense to adjust. I’m glad Mike McDaniel is calling plays. He’s a hell of a coach. I’m so excited about being here. I’ve been in offenses where [my] talents are utilized and… underutilized. I’ve been in this West Coast offense for a while with [Steelers offensive coordinator] Arthur Smith and [Packers coach] Matt LaFleur,” - Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith.

This story was originally published August 5, 2024 at 3:31 PM.