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New Saints guard Larry Warford working hard to replicate relationship Zach Strief, Jahri Evans had on right side



BY JOEL A. ERICKSON | JERICKSON@THEADVOCATE.COM JUN 23, 2017 - 11:30 AM

Larry Warford has always wanted what Zach Strief and Jahri Evans had together.

Drafted in the same class in 2006, Strief and Evans spent so much time playing next to each other that they no longer had to talk when a defense did something unexpected. A look might do the trick; other times they simply knew exactly what the other person would do.

Now, it's up to Warford to build a kind of camaraderie similar to the one Strief and Evans enjoyed, part of the massive responsibility he inherits after signing a four-year, $34 million deal to replace Evans in the offseason.

The process of getting to know each other has become all too familiar for Warford.

"I've played next to, I think, eight different offensive tackles now in five years," Warford said. "That's always a building process. When you play next to somebody for a certain amount of time, you know what they're going to do, you know how they see it, you start seeing defenses the same way and you don't really have to talk anymore."

Building that kind of relationship isn't as simple as a quarterback and receiver staying after practice to work on routes.

An offensive line tandem's chemistry matters most in the heat of battle, when defenses are moving around pre-snap and setting up to bring pressure from different angles.

Without a defense on the other side of the field, trying to simulate those conditions is virtually impossible.

"Team periods together are where that's going to happen for us," Strief said. "We can't stay after practice and take snaps, it's just too unrealistic."

The good news is that in Strief, Warford has been paired with the kind of right tackle he didn't always get a chance to play with in Detroit.

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Rugby Saint II

Please be a stud. Please be a stud. Please be a be a stud. Please...............

st thomas

please dont jump offsides , hold, fart in the huddle. he he he !!!!!!!

Rugby Saint II

Peat is a very good left guard. With Warford on board we are looking like a phenomenal screen team again. Look for Kamara and the screen game gaining new life again behind Ramcsyk and two dominant guards who can get up field.

I'm concerned about solidifying the center because we ain't getting any younger at that position and Unger is hurt and coming off surgery.

Armstead is hurt again. Thank God we drafted Ramczyk.

foreverfan

Payton knows a potential problem when he sees one.

Beastmode

Yeah, Center is very critical. This concerns me more than anything else. That and a blocking TE. Hopefully he will be back but without those two pieces we are set up for failure. Won't be able the run the ball consistently and Brees has to stay on the move. If we end up snagging a TE I would deem that as a large red flag. And Unger, without him it's likely doom and gloom. Look what happened to Wilson.

K Major

IMO Warford was a solid signing this offseason. Good young player who didn't command top dollar.

Beastmode

Probably going to work out. I have observed that OL Vets tend to out perform projections if they are protecting a HOF QB. Who wants to be the guy that ends his career right? Branded from that point on no matter what you do.

foreverfan

OMG... now I can't sleep at night. I'm going to need help.

AsylumGuido

Set up for failure? That's what some were saying around here last off-season and the offense was once again one of the top two in the league. We can play the full season without Unger and will still most likely finish up there in the top two or three again. Payton has been able to plug and play with every facet of the offense for the past decade.