Bruce Arians Explains Ted Larsen Mistakes, Usage
January 11th, 2021
Ted Larsen (on Saturday, not playing for Raheem Morris and the yungry Bucs of yore)
What might have been a truly historic night of Buccaneers pass blocking was marred by a guy that wasn’t supposed to play right guard — and won’t on Sunday.
Tonight on Buccaneers in-house media programming, Bucco Bruce Arians spoke about how incredibly well the Bucs were pass blocking on Saturday night until Alex Cappa broke his ankle.
In came veteran Ted Larsen things came unglued a bit.
(For Bucs fans who quit watching after the Greg Schiano regime, Larsen was ousted after the 2013 season but returned late in 2020.)
“The only time they got any pressure was after Alex got hurt. And Ted got in and he set wrong a couple times and got beat. But other than that, no one got any pressure.”
Early today, Arians announced that never-started-before guard Aaron Stinnie will get the call on Sunday against the Saints in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Why Stinnie? Arians implied that Larsen wasn’t supposed to play guard. “In the [Washington] game, we put Ted up just for another center because he can snap the ball,” Arians said.
That sounds good, but Larsen played for Arians in Arizona and just wasn’t good enough. If he were, he’d likely be playing in New Orleans.
Man, Joe hopes Stinnie is up for the challenge. The Bucs watched veteran Joe Haeg start for left guard Ali Marpet against the Saints in November and it was a horror show.
So it seems Haeg, who has made 38 career starts, is really on the outs while Larsen (88 career starts) proved he can’t cut it.
If Stinnie steps up and the Bucs win in New Orleans, Joe might have to buy general manager Jason Licht a year’s supply of Big Storm beer.
January 11th, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Wrap Cappa’s ankle up…..give him a few shots…..tell him to play on it…..let him know he’s got an entire off-season to recoup in Humbolt. CA….the canibus capital of the world…..
January 11th, 2021 at 6:25 pm
Yea, Larson wasn’t prepared mentally for the game. At least one of the sacks came on a play Larson was lost and didn’t know who he was supposed to block.
January 11th, 2021 at 6:26 pm
Go with Stinnie
January 11th, 2021 at 6:34 pm
Tampabaybucfan Says:
January 11th, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Wrap Cappa’s ankle up…..give him a few shots…..tell him to play on it…..let him know he’s got an entire off-season to recoup in Humbolt. CA….the canibus capital of the world…..
I go along with this and Cappa will do it too
January 11th, 2021 at 6:35 pm
This is literally why I was calling for the Bucs not to waste their 3rd rounder on a RB, despite that fact 99% of the people on this board demanded the Bucs get a RB because Rojo was a bust… dopes.
Licht has been excellent at picking offensive lineman – I don’t understand why you don’t double dip. Getting a center-guard, with the idea Jensen would be expensive to keep, would have been a great idea, you groom them for a year, and you (hopefully) have a quality backup. Why Licht can pick rookie offensive lineman but can’t find someone on someone else’s practice squad all-year, I don’t get it.
January 11th, 2021 at 6:42 pm
JOE,
Didn’t Stinnie play at G when Marpet was hurt … in the game after Haeg got embarrassed? Pretty sure he did and he did well.
January 11th, 2021 at 6:58 pm
JOE
Ah, nvm. Just realized that it was Shipley and he’s ancient history by now…. oh, well, time to shoot Cappa’s leg up with a bunch of PKs! I am I right?! Bucs may never make it this far again….
January 11th, 2021 at 7:01 pm
When the Bucs make the 32nd pick in the 2021 NFL draft it should be a CB or Safety the go O- line🤔
And YES the Bucs will be picking 32👍🏻💥🍻🏈
January 11th, 2021 at 7:47 pm
Don’t know the anatomy of the fracture. But put a plate, a couple of screws and/or a pin or two. Wrap it. Shoot in some Marcaine and he would play. Remember he played with a broken arm. Yep. One tough guy.
And yes. I am serious . . .
January 11th, 2021 at 7:48 pm
Joe, why are you being a cheap skate and buying the crap Big Storm Beer, how about some good beer like some Guiness Extra Stout !
January 11th, 2021 at 8:02 pm
Put in whomever is going to keep Brady upright!
January 11th, 2021 at 8:03 pm
Hmm… my favorite… Guinness on tap
January 11th, 2021 at 8:10 pm
Coroner..
300 lbs on an ankle isn’t the same…
Oh never mind.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:22 pm
The entire key to this game is not our defense but our Offensive line. The last 2 times we played the Saints our o line got dismembered. I mean The Saints beat them down to the ground something terrible. Brady was hit hard and often. Their D seems to salivate at the thought of playing us. So..I hope we have a helluva game plan cause we will need it. Protect Brady and we win. If not, them saints will go marchin in..Again.It’s just this simple.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:50 pm
I don’t understand how a lineman is supposed to be effective with a broken ankle. If you dope him up enough so he doesn’t feel anything how is he supposed think about what he is doing and react correctly to the line calls?
Sounds crazy to me.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:59 pm
Yeah, that was weird to see Larsen playing.
He was just brought in, to replace Shipley as the backup center!
We are gonna miss Cappa. He is a bad man! He was really throwing defenders around lately.
Stinnie should be ok. He’s a big strong guy, who’s been around for awhile
And for a the would be Oline experts, did you notice Donovan Smith crushing Chase every play? Chase was on the ground- more than he was on his feet!
Job well done, Donovan Smith. You played like an elite Left Tackle
January 11th, 2021 at 9:46 pm
This is why it’s hard to grade o lineman. I know it looked like Larson got beat twice but I could have sworn both times the defender came right between him and Jensen and both times Jensen turned and let him go for Larson.
He was probably doing what he was supposed to do but it seem to me he should have helped Larson. But I don’t know the play call for the O line, so there you have it.
Well this really sucks if the top two back ups that have playing experience aren’t good enough. Makes me wonder what the hell were they waiting for in trying to sign someone else
January 11th, 2021 at 9:52 pm
OK, is anyone watching the championship game?
1- Devante Smith: 12 catches, 225 yds, 3 TDs.
(It’s not halftime yet)
2- he is speedy and elusive. Some of the misdirection they use with him in motion before and during the snap… I hope the Buccaneers are watching this!!!
They could easily do a couple of these types of plays with Antonio Brown.
Watch the play design on his second touchdown. You can totally picture him and Evans lining up on one side and running something like that.
January 11th, 2021 at 9:57 pm
Sorry off topic….Lets go Bama LETS GO!!!!!!!!!
January 11th, 2021 at 9:59 pm
Hopefully Kappas shattered ankle doesnt mean that my dreams are also shattered 🙁
January 11th, 2021 at 10:07 pm
I can’t stand Alabama or Ohio State but it is impressive.
D Smith- The Heisman winner – has more yards and touchdowns than the entire Ohio State team at the half.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:10 pm
I get absolutely sick of watching Alabama win, year after year.
But, because they always win, they get the very best kids in the nation.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:20 pm
The Eagles were correct in tanking to move up from 9 to 6. In the last 3 years Herbert 6, Josh Allen 7, Quinten Nelson 6. I’m not sure if D. Smith will be there but he wouldn’t make it past 6 if I’m the Eagles.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:26 pm
Laura Rutlidge is handling the Alabama vs Ohio State game for ESPN 2 and she is real eye candy!
She is from St Pete too!
What a cutie!
January 11th, 2021 at 10:34 pm
Looked like Ted Larson was zone blocking on the play where where Jensen helped the left guard. He was watching his piece of turf and Jensen opened a hole by helping the left guard. None of us will know the blocking assignments but how is Larsen supposed to block somebody and turn them to the right to create a bubble if the middle is wide open.
January 11th, 2021 at 11:53 pm
@Tampabaybucfan —
LOL on wrap Cappa’s ankle and offseason him in the cannabis capital.
January 12th, 2021 at 12:08 am
I was ridiculous how the broadcasters were blaming Jensen for those 2 sacks up the gut. Larsen looked completely lost.
January 12th, 2021 at 12:43 am
WHO EVER PLAYS SUNDAY WILL HAVE TO PLAY THE BEST GAME OF LIFE THAT IS HOW WE WIN. THE BEST TEAM WILL WIN.LETS GO DOWN TO THE SUPPER DOME AND TAKE IT !!!
January 12th, 2021 at 3:09 am
Haeg is a right tackle, Larsen is the backup center. Stinnie is a guard. Time to step up Aaron. Go Bucs!!
January 12th, 2021 at 3:39 am
@Joe: Thank you for being one of the few to correctly spell “yungry”.🍻
January 12th, 2021 at 7:31 am
Brady salivated over being the underdog it pisses him off and flashbacks about being drafted 199 and Belichick discounted his abilities at 43. He will be 110% motivated and he will get the team to buy in as well. The deciding factor could be coaching and I give that to Payton. Why didn’t Bucs go for Dan Quin as new.DC, we all know Bowles is leaving and he sucks anyway?
January 12th, 2021 at 2:53 pm
People the ankle is fractured its not a ligament tear. Shots are great but a fractured ankle is northing to be walking on playoffs or not.