First-year coach Joe Philbin switched Will Yeatman from TE to OT. (US Presswire)

Miami's Will Yeatman had high hopes of making the 53-man roster. He just didn’t expect it to be on the offensive line.

The former tight end made the transition to offensive tackle during the preseason and got more and more reps at the position as the preseason progressed. Yeatman, a former lacrosse and football player at Notre Dame and Maryland, was previously on the New England practice squad. But as his 6-foot-5, 268-pound frame continued to grow, so did his potential to make the NFL.

“He’s making progress every day, but there is still some room for him to grow, obviously,” Dolphins coach Joe Philbin said. “We like what we see. We like his size, we like his length, he can run well and he has pretty good quickness. He is certainly not bashful and he has the right temperament to play the position.”

Yeatman’s elite agility, not premier pass-catching, is what separates him from other players. That agility makes him an ideal candidate to bookend an offensive line.

The Dolphins boast former No. 1 overall draft pick Jake Long at left tackle and second-round pick Jonathan Martin on the right side. This gives Yeatman plenty of time to grow into his new role.

“If you can’t block a defensive end in pass protection one-on-one, your future as an offensive tackle in this league isn’t great,” Philbin said. “You might be able to survive for a little bit of time, but not real long. So you have to demonstrate an ability to do that, and that will be the key to his future.”

Count on Carroll: Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle has faith in cornerback Nolan Carroll.

And he should -- the coaching staff’s belief that Carroll could be a starter enabled Ravens to trade Vontae Davis during the preseason. Carroll has 35 tackles and two interceptions in his three-year career and is expected to line up opposite No. 1 corner Sean Smith.

“Nolan has shown a real consistency in his play and improved throughout training camp,” Coyle said. “It’s going to be a big challenge for him. He’s got to step up and he’s going to have to prove it in the games consistently. I think he’ll do that and he’s a strong-willed, competitive guy. He takes a lot of pride in his game, pride in being a professional and we’re looking forward to him filling that role and hopefully continuing to grow throughout the season.”

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Miami Dolphins from blogger Dave Carey, follow @CBSSportsNFLMIA.