Film Study: Miami Dolphins Ted Larsen
Ted Larsen was brought in to compete for a starting role on the Dolphins interior offensive line.
Larsen is a journeymen with limited starting experience
In the last article we did a film study on Kraig Urbik ( you can find it here) in part one of a study on all the major prospects who are expected to have a legitimate shots as tarting interior linemen for the Miami Dolphins in 2017.
This study will be on free agent journeymen Ted Larsen.
Larsen is a vet who has moved about quite a bit. His starting experience is far less than his tenure, but in the back end of his career he has seen a lot more playing time compared to early on.
On the smaller side at 6’2” 315lbs, he’s doesn’t have any outstanding physical talents. But he does have several outstanding qualities.
Larsen is versatile, consummate professional, smart, excellent technician, alert, and a banger.
This study is based on Larsen’s appearance last season in Week 16 when the Bears faced the Redskins.
Originally, I was going to use his last game in Week 17 verse the Vikings, but it was too clean a game for Larsen (quite good actually) compared to this one and some of his warts went unseen.
So, to give a more complete look at the player, I chose this one because there was a good balance of his assets and weaknesses on display.
Given my studies over several games, I think it’s a real reach to expect him to be a starting Left Guard. He lacks the ability, physical measurements, and skill set that generally typifies the requirements for the position.
Larsen’s talent brings far more than his 3 year, $5,650,000 contract
Larsen’s ability to be work in tandem with other linemen, smaller stature, work on the second level, experience at Center and calling line adjustments projects him to be far more suited for Right Guard or, more likely, Center. I see the optimal situation for him as more of a back up Right Guard, and possibly a starter at Center… if Mike Poucey is healthy and / or Urbik is elsewhere.
Given his level of agility and speed (average at best), his ability to get to linebackers, which is crucial in a Zone Stretch, would be mediocre. And that could be an issue with him at Center in Miami’s current system. But, assignments could be adjusted and the scheme tweaked. Either way it would be a far cry from a disaster if he ends up the starting snapper.
Now don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t take a price per head sportsbook like Ace Pay Per Head to figure Pouncey would a far better option. But, given his injury history and staph infection in the off season, I’m already planning for someone else to man Center… to say my heart form disappointment. If he shows then I’ll have a party like we received and extra 1st Round pick.
At this point of my studies, Urbik, Larsen,and Bushrod are looking like the starting 3 at the interior.
Of course, Issac Asiata and Anthony Steen could make large leaps forward come camp.
Larsen was a good pickup. He is the kind of player that comes 100% of the time with all out and will and wins more battles than he loses. In the best situation (Top 5-Top 10 O-Line), he is a back up, but Miami isn’t in that league and in the process of rebuilding, and Larsen is an excellent addition to this squad. Go Fins!!!
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” …Urbik, Larsen,and Bushrod are looking like the starting 3 at the interior.”
…and Larsen did not “win” a starting position with Chicago, he was the only warm body available when the starter was injured …ergo, the backup …he has yet to win a starting position with any of the teams that have signed him and subsequently dumped him …Chicago thought so highly of him that they didn’t even make him an offer to stay …all the PC PR about his coaches praising him to Gase is worth a bucket of spit compared to what they actually did with him …ding, ding, ding, hello!
…sure, no team can have stars at every position …but neither is it provident to pretend that Larsen is anything more than what he has always been …a backup …if he starts here it will be because we are indeed desperate on the OL
…lets just give you the benefit of the doubt and say you’re right about the interior OL starters …what are your projections for what that would mean for Ajayi’s run game …or TH’s protection?
…the bottom line is simple imnsho …Larsen may not be as bad as the turnstile twins …which appears to be the new standard by which we are to judge this OL …I prefer to hold the bar just a bit higher …but if it is indeed “not as bad, then a career backup and a 5th round draftee appear to meet it.
…which is indeed a sad commentary on this FO
…I still think Gase should start T-bum at G …but alas, no fantasy league will let me try it 🙁
…he is so good that in his entire career he has never won a starting position …always a backup …never retained by the teams who knew him best
…and you actually think he will start at C for the fins?
…good god Gerty! …one of us is going to be toe tickling his tonsils in a few weeks, eh 😄
I don’t recall rating him as ‘so good’? But he is in the NFL and started 9 games for the 5th ranked rushing attack in 2016. He was recommended by coaches trusted by Gase and likely Gase vetted Larsen with a film study. Also, I did say if Pouncey is injured that he would win the starting role–maybe a prescription check is in order. Fact is, there are only 4 candidates for starting C in 2017 currently: Pouncey, Urbik, Steen, and Larsen. IF Pouncey is out, then it comes down to Urbik, Steen, and Larsen. IF Urbik and Asiata are competing (along with Larsen) for starting LG and Urbik wins, then it comes down to Steen v.s. Larsen. Steen was victimized last season far more than Larsen in 2016. Urbik was petitioned to start over Steen due to his slow line calls and diagnosis. Last season Larsen made the line calls for Cody. So, unless Steen makes a major step forward, I don’t see him starting over Larsen. Now, Larsen (when you watch tape) see a savvy vet who can hold his own. NFL teams don’t have stars at every position. They need to bring in roleplayers for most spots. Larsen is a roleplayer, and the role he plays is steady vet who makes more plays than he loses. He is a good pick up for depth and leadership and in a case of fire you break him out and he can keep a blaze from burning down the whole house.
We got an average backup in Larsen. A failed 34 year old converted T as our other G. All our G’s are backup quality players. Tannehill and Ajayi are gonna take a beating especially when Pouncy goes down again.
I like to say he’s a steady starter and an excellent back up. Bushrod was excellent for a few years at Tackle, but he fell off a cliff. I remember his play last year as hot and cold. It was his first at G, so I’m rewatching all his snaps again to see if what I remembered correctly. I’ll say it, I’m a fan of Urbik. Not saying he is a star, but I believe he is above avg. and maybe slightly better than that at times. Do I wish for better G’s… yup. This interior is doable if Pouncey stays healthy, as well as James and Tunsil. Asiata is the wildcard. Even if he earns the starting spot mid season it would be huge. I think if the line is healthy, Miami will be fine for 2017… of course, they would need an upgrade after that. But, the health is a BIG question mark. We haven’t had a healthy line in years, AL.
Larsen Has Started 65 games in his career so I’m not sure what you mean as he has always been a back up?
He is a journeymen that has moved sometimes his exp. is missed… But journeymen often find a spot where they do well for a year or two whether it finally all comes together late, or it’s the right coaches or scheme. This might be the spot– of course maybe not. I can’t say. But, even as a depth player it’s a good move. I still would like to see him as a Center to get a guage…
…career backups “start” when they are needed to replace the guy who actually beat them to win the starting job in camp/preseason …Larsen was a 6th rounder taken by NE and waived in camp …TB claimed him …he “started” for them only after they had to waive Vincent due to back injuries …in Arizona, he started after Cooper went down with a knee injury …then lost it the next year …they didn’t keep him, he signed a one year contract with Chicago, and started again only due to injuries …and they didn’t keep him either.
…technically he “started”, yes …so did the turnstile twins …but I’ll grant that he’s not as bad …my disquiet is that he isn’t good either …as mj said, he’s a journeyman …we already had a boatload of them …we needed someone who could win the job out of the box, not someone who is just the best of the rest …and he likely isn’t even that.
…but again, as mj said, due to injuries, he could actually “start” for us …which should draw tears for any fan of Ajayi or TH imnsho
sorry bad info Lemmus it was 8 games, not 9 last season.