When Donald Penn talked to Ted Larsen before last Sunday’s game against the Rams he offered him anecdotal evidence that play speaks volumes in the NFL. For Penn, his career as an NFL starter took off when after Luke Petigout tore his ACL. He played his first game in 2007 against the Patriots and has started in 50 consecutive games since then.
"“I said, ‘I got in a game, and I’ve never gotten out since,’ ” Penn said. “I said, ‘It’s up to you to do it.’ It happens that fast.”"
Last week in his first start, against the Rams, Larsen struggled at times but played well enough to give the Bucs the confidence to release the oft-injured veteran Keydrick Vincent. Despite a couple of holds and a false start, by the end of the day LeGarrette Blount and the running game were grinding out nice chunks of yardage and the Bucs offense was able to steal a win. Still, Larsen knows he has a lot of improvements to make and is eager to make his next start.
"“You only get so many opportunities, and you have to take advantage of them,” he said."
For Larsen, who is a hometown boy having grown up 45 minutes from Raymond James in Palm Harbor and played his high school ball at PHUHS, the next start will be infinitely more challenging. Lining up opposite Larsen during parts of the game Sunday will be NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Darnell Dockett. Dockett is a mountain of a man at 6’4 and 290. He’s made his living collapsing pockets, crushing ball-carriers, beating double teams and embarrassing young guards.
This will be the early litmus test for Ted Larsen. Though Dockett will also line up opposite Davin Joseph, you can imagine the Cardinals will try to scheme to get Dockett matched up against the much less heralded Larsen as much as they can. If he holds his own he may be looking at holding down the starting left guard spot for the foreseeable future. Though the plan is to move Jeremy Zuttah to LG when Jeff Faine returns, don’t think anyone’s job is secure anywhere on the offensive line. A big game for Larsen could go a long way towards cementing him as a starter.
And that would be a great story. After getting drafted and cut by the Patriots, a hometown kid ends up with his hometown team and wins the starting job? Who wouldn’t like to see that? Keep in mind though that in college Larsen was a center, and quite a good one at that. Twice he was on the Rimington watch list at NC State and he surrendered just one sack his entire senior season. But moving outside to guard isn’t as much of a no-brainer as one might think. How quickly Larsen can pick up the nuances (footwork, new responsibilities, etc…) will dictate how fast he can challenge to be the long-term starter. He’ll have his next shot on Sunday in Arizona.
Of course it won’t be easy. Darnell Dockett is a beast. He’s a handful for even the most experienced and talented guards. You can bet he’ll be looking to school the rookie. Oh yeah, and as if Darnell Dockett needs any more motivation as I mentioned Ted Larsen graduated last year from NC State. The same NC State team that stole a win from Darnell Dockett’s Seminoles last night. Docket is fiercely loyal to FSU. Not that the incentive to win isn’t already inherent, but I don’t think he’ll mind venting some of his frustrations from last night on an NC State alumnus.