Film Study: Miami Dolphins Ted Larsen

M.J.

7 years ago

Ted Larsen was brought in to compete for a starting role in the Dolphins interior offensive line.

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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