Ted Larsen, rookie starter for Bucs

jmt57 · Dec 31, 2010

Back to the original topic . . .

When he was drafted I thought the Pats got a late round steal. Larsen was one of the higher ranked centers in the draft as I recall, was projected to go a round or two earlier than he did, and I figured he would replace Koppen in 2011. However nearly everyone on this board agreed he did not have a good training camp and very few were calling for Larsen to make the week one 53-man roster.

I suspect the Pats would have signed him to the Practice Squad but since the Bucs claimed him off waivers they never had an opportunity to do so. With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight perhaps they should have IR'd Kaczur back then and kept Larsen - though that would have meant two players (Larsen and Price) on the 53-man roster that the Pats had no immediate intention of activating on game days.

I've seen a few Tampa Bay games and those that I have watched I have tried to specifically watch Larsen. As ricogatenby99 pointed out there have been moments he has not looked good, but there have been many other times where he has played well; in my opinion more pluses than minuses. It should also be noted the Rams game he referred to was Larsen's first start. Overall one of the reasons for Tampa Bay's improvement this year is improved performance from their offensive line, and Larsen deserves his share of credit for that. Tampa Bay is running for 128 yards per game (7th) and 4.7 yards per carry (4th); last year they were 102 ypg (23rd) and 4.0 (25th).

Some more on Larsen here:

JoeBucsFan.com - Ted Larsen Talks To Joe - 10/29/2010

Joe: Since the Rams game was your first start, did St. Louis run any kind of stunt or gimmick defense at you that you didn’t expect or were surprised with?

Larsen: No, this is the National Football League. You have to play your best. I made some stupid mistakes and I’m just trying to get better.

Joe: You made the mistakes?

Larsen: Yeah, I had a couple of penalties, stuff like that. I’ll try to get better next week. It’s not only an adjustment to the NFL, but an adjustment to a new position [left guard]. It’s just something I’ll have to work with. To be able to come back was exciting [and win in the fourth quarter], but it should not have to be like that and that’s something we will have to work on.

Bucs notes: Backups come to the rescue on O-line - Tampa Tribune - 10/24/2010

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers marched 81 yards for the winning score behind a patchwork offensive line.

Jeremy Zuttah started for injured center Jeff Faine, rookie Ted Larsen made his NFL debut, playing left guard for injured Keydrick Vincent, and third-year pro James Lee filled in at right tackle down the stretch after Jeremy Trueblood hobbled to the sideline.

Larsen Leads Up-Start O-Line - Pewter Report - PewterReport.com - 11/15/2010

The Bucs unheralded and often-criticized offensive line has turned things around for Tampa Bay with rookie Ted Larsen standing out at left guard.

Over the last five years the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have sunken a lot of resources into their offensive line. Tampa Bay spent a first-round pick on guard Davin Joseph in 2006. The same year right tackle Jeremy Trueblood was selected in the second round. A year later the team drafted guard Arron Sears in the second round. In 2008 Tampa Bay signed center Jeff Faine to the biggest contract for a center in the NFL, and drafted guard/center Jeremy Zuttah in the third round. This past year Tampa Bay signed left tackle Donald Penn to a lucrative long-term contract, and signed veteran guard Keydrick Vincent in free agency.

Despite all those resources the Bucs offensive line has been keyed by rookie fill in guard Ted Larsen and veteran tackle backup James Lee. Faine just returned to the lineup against Carolina after missing four games. While he was out, Zuttah came off the bench to do a quality job at center.

“The thing I see on tape is a nasty demeanor,” said head coach Raheem Morris. “That’s what you like from offensive linemen, and what we’ve talked about since we’ve been here. We’ve been talking about it and harping on it and thought we had it when we first got here, and now it is starting to show up a little bit. Those guys are playing hard. Everybody doesn’t win every individual battle every single time but what you do see is when people have a chance to finish off people and when people have the chance to finish off blocks or take advantage of a hole we’re doing it. And we’re doing it with different people. We got Larsen in there. We got Lee in there. Zuttah in there. Faine yesterday. Penn and Davin have been the consistent solid blocks up there so far this season. Those guys are playing together. They’re playing hard, and they got a code in that room they are supposed to go out and play that way and they are living up to it.”

The Buccaneers have seen a powerful ground game emerge over the last four games. Over the past month running back LeGarrette Blount has ran for 329 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and three touchdowns. In that time Vincent was released after Larsen filled in well for Vincent while the veteran dealt with a back injury. Lee has played the last three games at right tackle after Trueblood was sidelined with an MCL sprain. Many expected Zuttah to re-take the starting job at left guard once Faine was recovered from a quad injury. Zuttah was the starter at left guard in 2009, but the standout performance by Larsen kept the rookie from North Carolina State in the starting lineup when Faine returned yesterday to play the Carolina Panthers.

“I just try and come in and focus on getting better every day and keep improving,” said Larsen. “I feel comfortable. There are still things I can learn. There are guys that have played five or six years who still have stuff to learn.”

“The thing to me that has been encouraging is the different players playing different positions and how much movement we’ve had on the offensive line,” said Olson. “A lot of times that is a difficult transition when you are switching centers and switching guards, and the communication that goes on up front between the those players. To me that has been the biggest challenge to overcome with those guys up front. To be honest with you, we are pleasantly surprised because of the injuries that we’ve had that they’ve been able to go in there and continue to get better each week. As Raheem spoke to earlier, that has kind of been the key right now to our team. They continue to get better each week. Our young players have continued to get better. We felt like Ted Larsen got better here in his third start and hasn’t taken a step backwards. We felt like James Lee has been better every week.

“He’s tough. He’s also pretty athletic when you watch him,” said Olson. “He’s got good movement skills. He pulls very well, and he’s a powerful player. I just like his overall demeanor.”

Larsen has equally impressed his head coach.

“You got to be really pleased with Larsen,” said Morris. “He’s playing really hard and really physical. He’s kind of one of those hidden gems that we’ve been lucky enough to get and he’s been playing great football for us.”

Larsen made a key block pulling to hit a linebacker on Cadillac Williams' 45-yard touchdown run to cap-off the Bucs 31-16 victory over the Panthers. While Larsen has performed well, he will have to maintain his production in order to stay in the lineup. Morris said that Lee and Trueblood would compete at right tackle for playing time while Zuttah would continue to compete at guard and center.

As injuries pile up, Bucs' backups pick up slack - Tampa Tribune - 11/25/2010

Tampa Bay arguably improved at left guard after releasing Vincent.

Tampa Bay claimed Ted Larsen off waivers after New England released him before the season opener. Vincent injured his back and was forced to miss Tampa Bay's game against St. Louis. Larsen started for Vincent and played so well that the Bucs released Vincent the following week.

Since Larsen has started, Tampa Bay's running game has improved and LeGarrette Blount, who was a backup until last week, has rushed for 401 yards and three touchdowns in the past five games.

"You never know when somebody is going to get hurt," Larsen said. "You can easily have to go in. I think that is the way this whole team is.

"I just try to do my job. I try to get better and continue to improve throughout the season."

Bucs' O-line blocks out revolving dilemma - Tampa Tribune - 12/02/2010

Larsen, obtained off waivers from New England a week before the season opener, has proven to be a revelation at left guard.

"Larsen wasn't even in our training camp," Faine said of the sixth-round pick out of North Carolina State who played his prep football locally at Palm Harbor University High School. "It's tough enough to play on the offensive line as a rookie in the NFL, but to not have the entire offseason here and do it is amazing."

Charles Barwin · Dec 31, 2010

Uncle Rico said:
I saw it the exact same way. What an odd thread.

Man, how many pissy little beetchs are on this site.

I don't recall ever having any beef with Box, and figured he was one of the top posters. Still waiting for an explanation for stupid self Box. Feel free to apologize, today or in the morning.

Cripes. And how the fck is it arrogant to point out a draftee's success elsewhere.

Talk about worthy of ignore. Little cack sacker. Darwin was correct indeed.

Fack an a. Obviously it was an amazing draft. Fans across the league agree it was the best, if not everybody.

Facking BB cultists, seeing insult where there is none.

condon84 · Dec 31, 2010

what a bunch of elitist response to an otherwise innocent and non-offensive thread.

sg14 · Dec 31, 2010

I see this circumstance as just more reason for higher round picks in this upcoming draft being devoted to OL.

At the end of this past preseason our second string OL looked substandard. Scar may be looking for a better athlete to groom NFL caliber players.

patchick · Dec 31, 2010

condon84 said:
what a bunch of elitist response to an otherwise innocent and non-offensive thread.

Just a misunderstanding, apparently -- some folks mistook the original post for caustic sarcasm, probably because of the reference to good players "squirting through Belichick's fingers."

Sincerity is such a rare bird on messageboards, people don't know what to make of it when they see it.

unoriginal · Dec 31, 2010

Two other late-round players that we waived, DE Jeremy Mincey (191 in 2006) and RT Corey HIlliard (209 in 2007) are starting for the Jaguars and the Lions respectively, though Hilliard is in due to injury.

Ochmed Jones · Dec 31, 2010

Seeing how well Larsen is doing in Tampa, makes me think that I need to rethink my thoughts on Orhnsberger.

Ornsberger came in as a rookie with a reputation for nastiness. I have yet to see anything close to that; as a matter of fact, in preseason games all I see is Ornsberger being pushed back like a rag doll.

Maybe it is really Wendall that beat out Larsen. I was thoroughly impressed by Wendell in the Buffalo game, but I have to remind myself that Buffalo is the worst running defense in the NFL.

Miami will be a better test to see if Wendell is legit.

All that being said, I still don't know what BB sees in Ornsberger?

RobertWeathers · Dec 31, 2010

unoriginal said:
Two other late-round players that we waived, DE Jeremy Mincey (191 in 2006) and RT Corey HIlliard (209 in 2007) are starting for the Jaguars and the Lions respectively, though Hilliard is in due to injury.

The FO sucks

Uncle Rico · Dec 31, 2010

Charles Barwin said:
Man, how many pissy little beetchs are on this site.

I don't recall ever having any beef with Box, and figured he was one of the top posters. Still waiting for an explanation for stupid self Box. Feel free to apologize, today or in the morning.

Cripes. And how the fck is it arrogant to point out a draftee's success elsewhere.

Talk about worthy of ignore. Little cack sacker. Darwin was correct indeed.

Fack an a. Obviously it was an amazing draft. Fans across the league agree it was the best, if not everybody.

Facking BB cultists, seeing insult where there is none.

I hope you understood I was agreeing that your OP was fine. I also should have been clearer that when I said "what an odd thread," I meant "what an odd thread this has become." It is amazing how often an innocent thread will end up with a nasty tangential argument of some sort. So often I'll see a thread, think, "well, I'm not interested in that so I won't click," then I notice a while later it has a ton of comments; so I click out of curiosity and almost always it's some absurd p-sing match. And you'd think the season would have made people happier!

Uncle Rico · Dec 31, 2010

jmt57 said:
Back to the original topic . . ...

Bless you. And thanks for the good analyses. Larsen really did look like he could be a Deaderick-like late-round find. Nice move by Tampa picking him up; he really seems to have his head on right, too.

convertedpatsfan · Dec 31, 2010

Haven't had a chance to watch Tampa play so can't comment on his progress. He didn't look too good in TC, but I think BB was planning to have him on the practice squad. He thought enough of him to trade up to get him, and even commented on how they had him rated as a 4th rounder.

PatsWickedPissah · Dec 31, 2010

The misjudgment was thinking he'd make it onto the PS. Good move by Tamper claiming him. I'll watch him Sunday.

jmt57 · Dec 31, 2010

Uncle Rico said:
Bless you. And thanks for the good analyses. Larsen really did look like he could be a Deaderick-like late-round find. Nice move by Tampa picking him up; he really seems to have his head on right, too.

From Larsen's responses it does sound like he did pass with flying colors the exam from Professor Belichick on the subject matter of 'what to say and not say to the media in an interview' during his short stay in Foxboro.

MVPatsfan13 · Dec 31, 2010

Box_O_Rocks said:
I believe Patscap.com has a FAQ on how the waiver wire works, if not you can always try Google and see if tomorrow you could start the day better informed.

patsfaninpa said:
I'm a hockey fan. When someone throws a cheapshot(Charles "Proving Darwin was correct" Barwin) expect a punch in the face from someone else. His smug arrogance was enough to warrant a *****slap from Box. Look everyone makes draft mistakes. His quote "Just one more example of the great draft BB had. Starters squirting through his fingers." earned him a spot on the ignore list.

What the hell is wrong with you two? I didnt take that as sarcastic. The guy is saying that BB drafted so well that we didnt have enough spots for all the quality guys. So catty... bad weather out in P-town today?

tobias funke said:
If you're going to go out of your way to insult the thread poster, the least you can do is make some sense.

Maybe tomorrow you can try again?

Charles Barwin · Dec 31, 2010

MVPatsfan13 said:
What the hell is wrong with you two I didnt take that as sarcastic. The guy is saying that BB drafted so well that we didnt have enough spots for all the quality guys. So catty... bad weather out in P-town today

Still waiting for a response, fellazzz.

The sun is down so you must be back from that stroll on the beach

patsfaninpa · Dec 31, 2010

Charles Barwin said:
Still waiting for a response, fellazzz.

The sun is down so you must be back from that stroll on the beach

Sorry to mis-interpret your post. And for cheapshot. But, after the Dunlap vs Cunningham thread. I thought you enjoyed pointing things out when Belichick makes a mistake. You didn't have any threads or posts other than these two which struck me as odd. We have Mike Felger and Ron Borges to point out what an idiot Belichick is.

I don't mind the second guessing. But, you have to be fair and discuss the home runs too. Which I didn't see.

Charles Barwin · Dec 31, 2010

patsfaninpa said:
Sorry to mis-interpret your post. And for cheapshot. But, after the Dunlap vs Cunningham thread. I thought you enjoyed pointing things out when Belichick makes a mistake. You didn't have any threads or posts other than these two which struck me as odd. We have Mike Felger and Ron Borges to point out what an idiot Belichick is.

I don't mind the second guessing. But, you have to be fair and discuss the home runs too. Which I didn't see.

Apology accepted. You went Jersey Shore based on too small a sample size in a thread specifically about Ted Larsen and our deep draft class.

I migrated over to the Planet after Mayo Clinic left, then back to boston.com, then back here for draft talk, without first re-affirming my vows to BB.

This draft class could be considered one of the best drafts ever, and the one coming up could could match it, as could the next...

What a great New Year for the Pats, looking back, right now, and going forward.

The Patriots will probably win some "best franchise in sports" award this year.

BlueThunder · Dec 31, 2010

All this over Larsen? BB has had alot of players waived or cut and picked up by other teams.....the list is pretty long of players that couldn't quite make the Pats roster.....TY BB for doing such a good job and providing New England fans with quality football teams for the past decade.....

Wonder how many players Pats have cut/waived that we could say in hindsight, "Gee, I wish we had kept so and so"....Probably not many...altho I am glad Branch is back where he belongs....

:rocker:

shirtsleeve · Dec 31, 2010

Did I just log onto Bizzaro patsfans?

Uncle Rico · Dec 31, 2010

BlueThunder said:
All this over Larsen?...

I think only about 1/3 of it is actually about Larsen.

Ted Larsen, rookie starter for Bucs

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