Ted Larsen could make or break the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive line

by Sander on Aug 2, 2011 8:24 PM EDT

Ted Larsen was a surprise starter last year after Jeff Faine was injured and Keydrick Vincent was released. With Jeremy Zuttah at center, Larsen had to step in at left guard and performed admirably for a rookie. He certainly didn't blow anyone away, but he didn't seem to make many mistakes and he performed adequately as both a run-blocker and a pass-blocker. Going into his second season, the second-year player has been named the unequivocal starter at left guard, with Zuttah likely functioning as the swing backup.

Ted Larsen has supposedly looked great in training camp, but he will be the Bucs' least experienced start on the offensive line next season. He was adequate last season, but not much more than that. Ted Larsen certainly has the talent to be a good starting left guard, but talent is not the same as skill. Larsen needs to be stronger overall and improve his technique on last year. The good news is that he's looked very good in camp and has reportedly worked hard this offseason on both power and technique. .

But the offensive line needs to be good across the board for it to play well. Perhaps even more important than having talent across the board is having players that communicate well. This takes time and experience to develop, which is why Larsen, who has been with the team for less than a year, could make or break this offensive line. Larsen has the talent, now he needs to develop the power, the skill and the chemistry with his linemates. If he does that, this offensive line could be good and productive. If he is the weak link, this line will remain stagnant. While the eyes are on James Lee and Jeremy Trueblood, and Davin Joseph was re-signed for a large number, Ted Larsen could be crucial to the line's production.

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Keep Working hard Ted

I sure hope Larsen can step up. He did last year, and hopefully with a long offseason he has beefed up.

He is a stand up guy too. He assisted some Kayaker/Boater(s) in need of help this summer.

Way to go Ted!

by BUCSwillDOMINATE on Aug 2, 2011 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

I hear Brandon Carter beefed up

Don’t know how he’s doing in camp, but I hear he worked pretty hard in the off-season. If so, he could add some competition to the Guard position.

by Bruce McRae on Aug 2, 2011 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

Hes a monster

I hope he does well. I would like to see him on the line.

by huntin0 on Aug 2, 2011 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh Geez...

I hope our O line doesn’t hinge on Ted Larsen

by Cracker Ball on Aug 2, 2011 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions

mr negative...

by huntin0 on Aug 2, 2011 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

No... It's Mr. "I don't want to have to count on a practice squad player"

by Cracker Ball on Aug 2, 2011 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

He was never actually on a practice squad

Regardless, look at last year’s game tape if you want to see how he plays. Don’t just go “PRACTICE SQUAD PLAYER” and write him off. That’s silly. He’s played in this league, look at how he did when he played.

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by Sander on Aug 2, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

None of this conversation really means anything...

as we are just throwing around our own players right now. That meand exactly d*ck. When it does matter is Week One when Ted Larsen is looking across the ball at Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch.

Probably won’t sleep a wink the night before.

by Cracker Ball on Aug 3, 2011 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Fairley is out 4-6 weeks

Nobody will be looking across from him for our detroit game.

by aakks on Aug 3, 2011 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Even if he was in, he's all talent and no skill at this point

I’m more worried about the other d-linemen.

Also, Derek Hardman fared surprisingly well against Suh in last year’s game. He struggled, but he was competitive in most plays. Joseph should do better.

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by Sander on Aug 3, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions

thats relieving. I’m not downing Larsen, because for a greenhorn he faired good.

Nasty pirate zombie.. Arrgg!

by Titankillah on Aug 2, 2011 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

why does a practice squad player have to be destined to be horrible?

by huntin0 on Aug 2, 2011 9:08 PM EDT reply actions

He doesn't have to be terrible...

but there were some holes in his game or the Patriots would have held on to him. He may eventually turn out to be something, but the story says “Ted Larsen could make or break the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive line” which is a lot to put on him at this point, don’t you think?

by Cracker Ball on Aug 2, 2011 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Is it?

If he sucks, this offensive line is going to suck. If he’s going to be good, this offensive line will probably be pretty good. The only other real weak spot is at right tackle. Penn is solid, Faine is solid, Joseph is a bit up and down but should be much better with the new O-line coach.

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by Sander on Aug 2, 2011 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Sander... I hope you are right

Faine is solid while he in there (about half the time) and Davin did not really play like we have seen him in the past. There are many questions regarding the OL – and not many solid answers right now.

I just don’t like good opportunities to slip through our fingers.

by Cracker Ball on Aug 2, 2011 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think the Bucs really let slip any opportunities on the O-line

Aside from Doug Free, no one out there really impressed me. None of those guards were better than Joseph.

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by Sander on Aug 2, 2011 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

The RT position is still a huge question mark...

and Doug Free would have solidified that spot for the next 5 years or so. Pity that didn’t work out for us… its too bad that we will never really know how hard he was pursued by Dom, and why he declined to come here.

by Cracker Ball on Aug 2, 2011 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep, he would have been a big ugrade

I think at this point we draft one in the top three rounds next year, unless Lee or Trueblood really shine

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by Sander on Aug 2, 2011 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I see that OT Bryant McKinney was just cut from MIN...

and his blood is basically a solid from what I hear. Maybe he is “Garbage Pail Kid” enough for Dom to pick him up.

by Cracker Ball on Aug 2, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

He was cut for being way out of shape

And I’ll just quote Greg Cosell on him:

McKinnie below average LT. Liability on one of worst OL in NFL. C. Johnson not as physically gifted but competes. In that sense an upgrade. McKinnie 2 issues that always show up on film: Doesn’t consistently play to athletic ability, and most bothersome, doesn’t always compete.

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by Sander on Aug 2, 2011 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

He sounds perfect...

Lee, Truebllod and McKinnie and battle it out to see who is the least of a handicap.

by Cracker Ball on Aug 2, 2011 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Doug Free got LT money from Dallas

because that’s where he plays for them. We need a RT, and they don’t usually get LT money. We have the cap room to sign Free to a LT contract and have him play RT, and that would have been awesome, but I understand Dom not wanting to pay someone above their worth. Free was worth more to the Cowboys and it was also easier for him to stay put.

by Bruce McRae on Aug 2, 2011 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

What about Dahl or Clabo?

I mean come on, if your gonna mess with Jones might as well poke at dude with the g stache.

Nasty pirate zombie.. Arrgg!

by Titankillah on Aug 2, 2011 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions

List could go on and on...

Clabo resigned with Falcons, Yanda (G) back with Ravens…. Others resigning with original team… Kyle Kosier, Cowboys; Matt Light, Patriots; Jermon Bushrod, Saints; Kahliff Barnes, Raiders; Willie Colon, Steelers; Jamaal Brown, Redskins….

Very few actually moved teams, and several of them were actually cut before deciding to move…. Marc Colombo, Robert Gallery, Harvey Dahl…

by Bruce McRae on Aug 2, 2011 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Larsen will do better this season

Larsen will improve this season. I expect leaps and bounds from him this season. He will emerge this year as a good starter, and if not put in zuttah/Next best. Didn’t sports illustrated do a piece a few years ago on the best college O-Lineman in Florida? I believe UCF took the cake.

by BUCSwillDOMINATE on Aug 2, 2011 9:24 PM EDT via mobile reply actions