Dolphins nuggets from the final day of OTAs (and check back Friday for Heat, Marlins, UM, Panthers and more):

• One of the most fascinating battles is the Xavien Howard/Tony Lippett competition at the cornerback spot opposite Byron Maxwell. Adam Gase said both Howard and Lippett have received work with the first team.

“We want to see those guys go against different receivers; that helps the evaluation process,” Gase said. “That evaluation process is going to take time.... The thing we're excited for is those preseason games where we can see live game action where when you screw up, there's nowhere to hide. In practice, it's kind of like, 'Oh, I got beat. No big deal.' But in games, there's nowhere to go. Everybody in the stadium is going to know you got beat."

Gase said of any unresolved starting battles: “We’ll take that thing up to the first game of the season if we have to. And if something goes wrong during the season, we’ll make a change."

Asked about Lippett, Gase said: “He does a good job. Being a Michigan State guy [like Gase], I’m always giving him a hard time.”

On one day this offseason, Lippett had two interceptions after Gase good-naturedly kidded with him.

“He has done a great job,” Gase said of Lippett. “That’s not an easy thing to be able to do [moving from receiver to cornerback]. I love the fact he’s so engaged, he’s competitive. He knows he’s got a fight on his hands. I don’t think he’s going to sit back and say, ‘This guy [Howard] is a second-round pick, he can have it.’ He’s fighting because he wants to be on the field.”

Jarvis Landry said Lippett has “been accepting coaching well. Talking to Maxwell, getting the tricks of the trade. It’s allowed him

to play on an island and have confidence out there. He’s a long corner.”

• The Dolphins already have one of the NFL’s best CFL success stories in Cameron Wake, who has 70 sacks in seven seasons in Miami. Cleyon Laing, 25, is trying to become the next, but he faces an uphill climb at a stacked position.

Laing had 15 sacks in 35 CFL games for Toronto over three seasons, then picked the Dolphins over offers from a handful of other teams, including the Jets. His only previous NFL experience was a brief summer stint with the Raiders after being undrafted out of Iowa State, where he had a nondescript college career (3.5 sacks in four seasons).

“He’s doing a fine job,” said defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who was impressed with Laing when he worked out for the Dolphins earlier this offseason. “He’s rushing hard. He’s playing hard. Evaluation is going to come more in training camp when pads are on.”

Laing, Chris McCain and Terrence Fede are competing for what could be one job, and there might not be room for any of them, if Dion Jordan is reinstated from NFL suspension.

Unless Jordan is moved to linebacker, he would give Miami five defensive ends, along with Wake, Mario Williams, Andre Branch and Jason Jones, who said he also can play tackle.

Laing said he was more of a tackle in the CFL but has played only end for the Dolphins. “There has been some discussion [about tackle] but I don’t want to push too much,” he said. “I’m one of the biggest defensive ends we have. I’m close to 300 pounds. Mixing up my speed and power will be kind of beneficial to me.”

Laing said Wake has been helpful: “He’s definitely kind of shown me the ropes a little bit, coached me up on a couple little things. His actions speak louder than his words.”

• Two weeks after being cleared following a devastating knee injury that had sidelined him for more than a year, cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu was back on the sidelines this week.

“There wasn’t a setback with him,” Gase said. “We want to make sure he feels as good as he possibly can going into camp. I keep telling him this: You’ve already won. Everybody said he would never step on the field again. The fact he participated in OTAs in practice, he won right there.

“Right now, he’s playing with house money. We’re going to see a guy that’s going to turn it loose in training camp. He was showing great signs. We want him to get ready for training camp.”

• Gase said the injury that has kept DeVante Parker out of team drills for more than a week is not to his feet. Parker has had two procedures on his feet in past years. The Dolphins have said the undisclosed injury is not serious.

• Gase said he has no idea if Reshad Jones will attend next week’s mandatory three-day minicamp. Jones has stayed away from the voluntary portion of offseason practices because he wants the final two years of his contract to be renegotiated. NFL rules allow him to be fined $76,000 if he does not attend next week’s minicamp.

• Gase was asked if there are any drawbacks to having such a young team. “I don’t know if there really is,” he said. “Unless a guy is hurt, you’re not worried about taking it easy on guys. Almost everybody is under 25. They can run all day. They seem to recover a lot faster.”

• Gase said Kenny Stills: “has taken on almost a leadership type role with the offense. He knows this offense inside and out. He seems like the one guy that knows what you’re supposed to do. He does it right a lot. He’s able to lend more of a hand because his focus is a little smaller than Jarvis’ is. I feel we have two guys in that room that are really kind of like our leaders in that group.”

• Stephen Ross attended today’s practice, and cornerback Bobby McCain said: “When Mr. Ross is in the building, you have to make your presence known and appreciate him… for the opportunity he’s given me and the other guys.”

McCain is working some on the boundary but mostly in the slot. “Most of the time there will be three corners on the field,” he said.

• Kraig Urbik said the Dolphins are splitting right guard snaps pretty evenly among himself, Billy Turner, Dallas Thomas and Jamil Douglas. Jermon Bushrod remains limited after offseason shoulder surgery.

• A few practice observations: Laremy Tunsil inexplicably forgot to block Ndamukong Suh on one play that would have obliterated Ryan Tannehill if tackling were allowed…. Suh wreaked havoc all day, beating Billy Turner a couple of times… Tunsil also was beaten for a sack by Andre Branch. Tunsil was playing left tackle in Branden Albert's absence today....

Leonte Carroo had an exceptional catch over Chimdi Chekawa, who had good coverage on the play. Brandon Doughty made a terrific throw. On the next play, Xavien Howard picked off Doughty when Rashawn Scott failed to turn around for the ball….

Andrew Franks was good on field goals of 57, 44, 33 and 43 twice. He missed from 54…. Chris Jones smothered one running play in the backfield… Earl Mitchell overwhelmed Dallas Thomas en route to a sack….

Jakeem Grant and Griff Whalen handled the punt return duties. Whalen fumbled one of them.

• Besides Parker and Ekpre-Olomu, six others sat out practice: Branden Albert, Matt Moore, Damien Williams, Neville Hewitt, Fede and Jordan Phillips…. Mario Williams (personal reason), Zach Vigil and Reshad Jones did not attend practice.

• My colleague, Adam Beasley, will have a story posted later on Jarvis Landry, who caught passes from Geno Smith (of all people) earlier this offseason.

Twitter: @flasportsbuzz