Donald Penn = Mentor
June 23rd, 2011
Donald Penn may not be Jenny Craig when it comes to diet advice, but the Bucs’ stud left tackle doesn’t hesitate to teach young offensive linemen the ropes.
Speaking on the Ron and Ian Show today on WDAE-AM 620, Bucs guard James Lee said his time backing up Penn in previous seasons got him on track to jump in and make everyone forget about Jeremy Trueblood in 2010.
“Being behind Donald Penn for the first two years, he kind of prepped me,” Lee said. “I learned a lot from him. My situation is somewhat that we were in the same situation. He told me just, ‘Every week you have to prepare like you’re going to start. You never know. Something may happen Saturday night or Sunday morning.’ … If you do [start], hey, that’s the bonus. But, you know, it’s all in the preparation. Each week I prepare to start. It so happened in that [Rams] game I didn’t start but I ended up going in. It’s just a blessing. And Donald, he helped me prepare for that moment.”
Hearing this got Joe thinking about when Penn explained to Joe that he sacrificed his game for the sake of covering for Ted Larsen, when he was thrust into the Bucs’ starting lineup last year.
Joe’s hopes Penn can run his consecutive game streak to 76 this season. Joe trembles thinking of what might happen if Penn went down.
June 23rd, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Yikes! Me too! As I believe Penn and Freeman to be the two most talented Bucs. Do NOT wanna think about playing with out the big Guy guarding the Left side. Not ever!!
June 23rd, 2011 at 3:09 pm
I love Don Penn. He has played better for Tampa then anyone expected, coming out of Utah.
He just does his job, quietly. I am sure Josh appreciates Donald, and feeds him too!
June 23rd, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Donald Penn is a below league average tackle. LT shoukd be the priority in the 2012 draft. Offensive line will be the Bucs biggest weakness this year.
June 23rd, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Luke Petitgout going down was one of the best things to happen to this franchise.
June 23rd, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Donald Penn has the “Old School Buc” Swagger, the stuff that made this team magic. Penn has “IT” in spades. And no one misspells his name like Baret Rudd. Penn wants a ring, like K2 and Ronde has that big fancy one they all get to see. Well Brother it’s time for another RING.
Hey Rah, put a Ring on it !!!
June 23rd, 2011 at 8:29 pm
greg b, i felt somewhat similar a year ago but penn proved me wrong this year. he is absolutely one of the top 10 left tackles in the league right now, a case could be made for top 5.
June 24th, 2011 at 5:41 am
Greg B-which Buc went to the Pro Bowl? Yeah it was Penn. Expect him back again this year, Too. People who watch the games and can break down individual match ups, frequently list Penn as the most talented player on the Buccaneer roster.
Who even sugest drafting a player, to replace your only ProBowler?
June 24th, 2011 at 6:33 am
Greg B,
Drugs kill baby. Put down the crack pipe.
June 24th, 2011 at 7:28 am
Espo- sorry Luke, but Espo is right!
HawaiianBuc- lmao!
Ok, time for another Talib story! Or maybe another expert Analysis of Ruud’s performance. That’ll get us to the weekend!
Or maybe a “Sabby expects to be back with Bucs this season” story! We’ll be posting on that one all weekend!
June 25th, 2011 at 12:11 am
Penn is arguably top 5. Neither here nor there, but the guy caught a TD pass. But on the real, he’s shut down D. Ware two years in a row. Look for round 3 this December (I believe).
I was a little surprised that we didn’t draft a LG this year. I think that will be on top of the list. Zuttah is too valuable as a swing man to count on him as starting LG. At some point, you have to think Zuttah is the next C. Or possibly we draft another C and let Faine go if he has another injury-riddled season.
June 25th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
I think Zuttah already is the starting center.