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Scalper · 03-19-2021, 01:43 AM

Tyler Larsen - B-

Larsen is listed as OL, and could play G, but is a pure C. He started for Panthers at C when other players were injured for like half a season. He is naturally big, and fairly lean, but just doesn't seem to have that nastiness you want in a great OL or the strength his build would suggest. He is short armed and athletically limited, but plays with very sound technique, and without it he has no chance. He seems to do okay anchoring against power, but is lead footed and useless in space. You seem to see guys beating him on the edges or pushing him sideways, if I remember correctly. He seems to do much better against 0 technique guys than 1 technique (or 2 technique who stunt inside).

As I have stated repeatedly, I prefer an OL heavy on Ts and Cs. It is MUCH easier to to move a T who can play in space to G (as long as he has some strength) than to ask a G without natural foot quickness to play T (see Scherff), if mid-game injuries strike. It is much easier for a C used to snapping the ball to move to G, than to ask a G to learn to snap. Thus your backup spots should be C and T focused. It also generally harder to block the edge with infinite space than a narrow region between T and C. While you obviously need pure guards, I would rather have Charles backing up G as well as T than Martin backing up T as well as G.

We have 9 OL on roster: Lucas, Schweitz, Roullier, Scherff, Moses. Then Charles (T), Sharp (T), and Ishmael (C). Also Martin (G). That is 9 linemen. Will we carry 10? Seems improbable. Does coaching staff not like something they see Martin or Ismael? Or is this just an opportunity signing, a guy RR knows started and played well who could be upgrade over Martin or Ismael? I would guess the latter. Larson almost 30 though.

Martin and Ismael can't be smiling about this signing, Martin especially. RR had 2 centers injured year Larsen started. Could he be looking for a 3rd center, remembering the headaches? Ten OL to be sure Fitz, a geezer, and Heinecke, injury prone, or some rookie QB they are targeting, are protected? Simply let people compete? I would guess they view Larson as at least a minor upgrade over Ismael, and if they cut him costs are minimal, good Cs are hard to find, better to have an extra just in case since a player the know and like became available. But who knows.

I give this a B-. Athletically limited player who should get C grade no matter what the price, but one who started half a season and did okay against some good competition, which is more than you can say for Ismael. Thus grade bumped up to B-. If you cut him, may have burned some small signing bonus against cap, but trivial. A respectable signing at one of the toughest positions to fill, shows FO serious about improving all areas of roster, including back end, not just glamour starting positions. Can't fault taking a flyer on a guy with no long-term harm to team if he fails, and letting him compete. This is the kind of signing you love to see, as shows FO really picking through the weeds talentwise.

03-19-2021, 01:43 AM	#222
Scalper Registered User Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 419	Re: WFT Free Agency Tyler Larsen - B- Larsen is listed as OL, and could play G, but is a pure C. He started for Panthers at C when other players were injured for like half a season. He is naturally big, and fairly lean, but just doesn't seem to have that nastiness you want in a great OL or the strength his build would suggest. He is short armed and athletically limited, but plays with very sound technique, and without it he has no chance. He seems to do okay anchoring against power, but is lead footed and useless in space. You seem to see guys beating him on the edges or pushing him sideways, if I remember correctly. He seems to do much better against 0 technique guys than 1 technique (or 2 technique who stunt inside). As I have stated repeatedly, I prefer an OL heavy on Ts and Cs. It is MUCH easier to to move a T who can play in space to G (as long as he has some strength) than to ask a G without natural foot quickness to play T (see Scherff), if mid-game injuries strike. It is much easier for a C used to snapping the ball to move to G, than to ask a G to learn to snap. Thus your backup spots should be C and T focused. It also generally harder to block the edge with infinite space than a narrow region between T and C. While you obviously need pure guards, I would rather have Charles backing up G as well as T than Martin backing up T as well as G. We have 9 OL on roster: Lucas, Schweitz, Roullier, Scherff, Moses. Then Charles (T), Sharp (T), and Ishmael (C). Also Martin (G). That is 9 linemen. Will we carry 10? Seems improbable. Does coaching staff not like something they see Martin or Ismael? Or is this just an opportunity signing, a guy RR knows started and played well who could be upgrade over Martin or Ismael? I would guess the latter. Larson almost 30 though. Martin and Ismael can't be smiling about this signing, Martin especially. RR had 2 centers injured year Larsen started. Could he be looking for a 3rd center, remembering the headaches? Ten OL to be sure Fitz, a geezer, and Heinecke, injury prone, or some rookie QB they are targeting, are protected? Simply let people compete? I would guess they view Larson as at least a minor upgrade over Ismael, and if they cut him costs are minimal, good Cs are hard to find, better to have an extra just in case since a player the know and like became available. But who knows. I give this a B-. Athletically limited player who should get C grade no matter what the price, but one who started half a season and did okay against some good competition, which is more than you can say for Ismael. Thus grade bumped up to B-. If you cut him, may have burned some small signing bonus against cap, but trivial. A respectable signing at one of the toughest positions to fill, shows FO serious about improving all areas of roster, including back end, not just glamour starting positions. Can't fault taking a flyer on a guy with no long-term harm to team if he fails, and letting him compete. This is the kind of signing you love to see, as shows FO really picking through the weeds talentwise.