Trash Talking Fires Up Carl Nicks
March 18th, 2012Not only is Carl Nicks here to play next to a stout left tackle in Donald Penn — literally and figuratively — he’ll be alongside one of the premier league loudmouths in Penn.
Penn has said publicly he dials the trash talk back a bit when he goes up against John Abraham, but otherwise Penn gets after his opponent verbally and physically. Luckily for the Bucs, new Bucs manbeast guard Carl Nicks says that kind of chatter fires him up.
“I met Penn at the Pro Bowl a couple years back, too. We’re going to be beasts out there, man. Penn is nasty. He gets after it. I’ve seen him play. I’ve seen him talk out there and that pumps me up,” Nicks told Tom Krasniqi of WHBO-AM 1040 last week.
Now Joe’s not about to assert that Penn will make Nicks a better player. It’s possible, but Nicks played alongside first-time Pro Bowler left tackle Jermon Bushrod last season, clearly an elite performer. The Saints passed all day long and that guy only allowed three sacks when he was voted into the Hawaii exhibition. Nicks is used to being around greatness.
However, Joe is hopeful Nicks’s presence will help bring Penn back to his Pro Bowl form. Penn’s play clearly tailed off in the final quarter of the 2011, and the Bucs can’t afford to have their most important offensive lineman playing anything but his best football.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:31 am
Joe must be joking about Bushrod. The only reason he gave up just three sacks was that Brees has great pocket presence, a quick release and the ability to step up into a pocket (created by Nicks and Evans). Bushrod isn’t an elite performer, he’s an average tackle at best. Miles behind Penn in quality.
March 18th, 2012 at 9:33 am
Can the studs on this line turn Trueblood into what we all thought he would be when drafted ?
March 18th, 2012 at 10:03 am
I think Trueblod is ok. Don’t know why people Rag on him.
March 18th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Penns play tails off at the end of every season because he puts on about 50 pounds as the season goes on.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Penns play tailed off at the end of the season because we were always down big early and with no threat of the run, how is any offensive lineman going to succeed. Defensive lineman were pinning their ears back with 7:50 left in the 1st quarter.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:11 am
@Sander – Bushrod is a great player. Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t get voted into the Pro Bowl otherwise, especially when you’re a no-name with two other Pro Bowlers on your line. That’s almost a disadvantage since voters don’t want to reward one team that much.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:37 am
@BonesMahoney
Penn played VERY well in 2010 the ENTIRE season..
EVERYONE on the team played crappy the last quarter of 2011.
Trueblood played MUCH better in 2011 then he has in any year since.
He will be fine this year. especially IF we stick to the run game(unlike last year).
March 18th, 2012 at 11:40 am
@Dave D
Pro Bowl is a popularity contest more than actually the BEST at the position.
Bushrod is GOOD but not on Penn’s level yet.
March 18th, 2012 at 11:48 am
This is going to be a VERY good O-Line…
March 18th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
wonder what Penn really weighs? I’m am guessing 350-375.
March 18th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
wow we have the best line in football.I called this when we fired gruden and hired radio I said when we get done paying off gruden we will then hire a new coach and bring in some talent go tampa.
March 18th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
So. Much. Talent. I can’t think of a more physically imposing line in Bucs history.
Next thing to worry about is depth. Ted Larsen, Hardman, Demar Dotson and 2 no names are the only guys left under contract.
March 18th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
“Trueblood played MUCH better in 2011 then he has in any year since.”
Since there haven’t been any years “since” 2011, I’m gonna assume you mean before….LOL
March 18th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
“left tackle Jermon Bushrod last season, clearly an elite performer.”
I’d put Penn above Bushrod any day of the weak. Clayborn made Bushrod look silly both games last season. The guy had no business being in the pro bowl. Bushrod will do even worse now that Nicks is gone.
@Dave D Actually, OL pro bowl selections tend to come in pairs or threes. Just look at all the pro bowls from the past few years. Pro bowl is not a solid dynamic to judge performance in any way.
March 18th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
2008 was Truebloods best year. He has steadily declined since. Especially his pass blocking. Just awful.
March 18th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
I know this isn’t a popular thing- but I am so excited to see those two guys play together!! Mr.Nicks is correct, he and Penn are alot alike. They both use Absolute crushing technique and strength to just manhandle opponents. I don’t know of any other guard or Tackle that just seem physically dominant as those two. And yeah, when you are that superior- I bet they both trash talk- lol!
I think Carl Nicks being here, will finally get Penn the recognition he deserves. He is recognized by players/ Coaches. But every fan in the league should know who Donald Penn is
I watch every season. I bet Penn is about 320 in camp. He goes up from there.
I think he does his heavy power lifting during the season- which would explain why he puts in Bulk- but seems to become more dominant. Think once he he is thru with camp and conditioning( ya wanna be light as hell for all that running)
Then I think he works on what keeps him at the top- huge brute ogre strength!
Gonna be alot RDE/RDTs calling in sick on Sundays, rather than get embarrassed against those two
The line never recovered from the lose of Sears.
This will fix her up. Big time!
March 18th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
We’ll see how good Bushrod is without Nicks playing on his left! This is the most excited I have been about the upcoming season in a long long time.
March 18th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
I mean playing the right, sorry.
March 18th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Ughh since tuesday there has been no Bucs news!! Why cant the draft be sooner??
March 18th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Can’t wait to see them run Power Left… Penn and Nicks power blocking with Joseph pulling, OUCH!!! Blount better be able to find the hole to run through there, that’s a lot of power blocking in front of him.
March 18th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
@ BamBamBuc
There wont be any holes for him to look for…
It will just be an open unobstructed view of green grass and the end zone. lols
March 19th, 2012 at 9:46 am
@ 941-Bucs Or a WIDE expanse of sweaty arse in front of him if the D has called the right play call, which is a great time to cut back right… into that field of green grass..