Donald Penn And A Return To Dominance
January 3rd, 2013
Not too long ago, left tackle Donald Penn smothered opposing right defensive ends.
Penn still does a number on opposing ends, but former Bucs defensive lineman Steve White believes Penn can once again be a star if he does one hard-to-do thing:
Stop eating, so White Twittered last week.
@sgw94: Donald Penn has to lose weight next year. He is still decent, but if he ever wants to be dominant again he has to put the damn fork down. … He can’t bend now and that means better DL are going to get him. Doesn’t have to be that way. Shouldn’t be that way
Now Joe knows Penn has a clause in his contract that forces him to weigh in and rewards/punishes him for the results. It sure seems Penn gets bloated as a season progresses and has his best games early in a season.
Penn is not getting any younger. If, as White says — and who would know better than a former NFL defensive linemen? — all Penn needs to do is lose some weight, maybe he could do that and extend his career a few years and collect more cash?
January 3rd, 2013 at 12:11 pm
If the Little General is such a total control freak, why can’t he control DP’s weight? If they had moved up and drafted Matt Kalil last year, they would still be playing and DP would have abs of steel. He just needs a little competition.
January 3rd, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Miguel suggests Schiano should babysit Donald Penn’s mouth and stomach year round.
What pray tell else can he do to control his weight?
Make him run?
Oh no, but Miguel, Schiano runs his team too hard.
January 3rd, 2013 at 1:00 pm
The sad thing is, I think Penn knows this too.
January 3rd, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Same tune every year, eh?
January 3rd, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Consider the fact that you tend to lose weight sweating, and running around playing football means he must be eating a HUGE amount of food.
January 3rd, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Ive heard these guys can lose around 5000 calories a game. And then they splurge to make up for it. Yes they need to keep their size and strength, but just make sure the junk is left out and dont overdo it. I wouldnt know much though about that size. Ive never been over 225 and that was 15 yrs ago when I was a gym rat and about 10% bmi. I was taking in about 4000 cals a day.
January 3rd, 2013 at 2:31 pm
This is the first year I did not recognize Penn’s play decreasing as the season went on. Maybe that had to do with the fact he needed to stay in top shape to help us win with all the injuries we had. Or maybe he is just growing as a player. Either way was a very good year for him in my opinion.
January 3rd, 2013 at 2:51 pm
If we drafted Kalil we would not be in the playoff’s Mig.Barron can never be labeled a bust because the trade with the jag’s.In the end moving back one spot ment we got Martin and Barron.
January 3rd, 2013 at 2:55 pm
@BKNY
“What pray tell else can he do to control his weight?”
Fining him doesn’t work. Do you know what the definition of insanity is?
I have a novel idea. It’s called the training table. It’s also called the strength and conditioning coach who does work year round with Donald Penn. Whatever he eats outside of the Buccaneer Palace should be weighed, documented and signed off on.
Warren Sapp said the team would give him a handful of those giant sized Snickers bars on plane rides.
There are no 350LB runners because their knees and ankles are destroyed by the constant pounding. Healthy knees and ankle are very important to play football. (see Brian Price)
Penn missed most of camp because he hurt his leg training for the dreaded and totally unnecessary 110X16 gauntlets. How butch was that?
January 3rd, 2013 at 3:06 pm
@Miguel
Price’s injury was his hip, not a knee or ankle… Just sayin…
January 3rd, 2013 at 3:35 pm
A novel idea would be that you can confirm Penn doesn’t already have a team nutritionist and trainer helping him year round.
How in the hell can Schiano control Penn’s weight himself?
Penn probably eats buckets of KFC in bed; do you expect Schiano to snuggle up with him and peel the skin off his fried chicken?
Idiot statement: “If the Little General is such a total control freak, why can’t he control DP’s weight?”
Even more idiotic: ” If they had moved up and drafted Matt Kalil last year, they would still be playing and DP would have abs of steel.”
January 3rd, 2013 at 5:18 pm
BKNY…Stop feeding Miguel, it will only give you a headache from banging your head against a wall.
January 3rd, 2013 at 5:21 pm
BKNY, think of Miguel as a less entertaining Thomas 2.2…
January 3rd, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Penn’s play was sloppy and inconstitant all year. It’s obvious he is losing battles week in and week out to defensive ends who are in peak physical condition. Penn is a serviceable tackle at best and King Dom will need to look to upgrade next year at both tackle spots. As an offensive line coach I tend to focus solely on the line for the first five to seven seconds of a play and saw too much over extension and bad footwork by Penn, attributed mainly to his weight. Time to put the fork down Donald and take pride in your craft.
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:44 pm
This seems like a pointless topic.
Penn had an excellent season and by far is our most dependable OLineman.
I mean talk about picking haha
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:46 pm
5.5 Sacks allowed?
January 3rd, 2013 at 10:54 pm
If I can remember correctly he kept Jared Allen quiet for most the game when we played the vikes. That dude is a beast. I like Penn. if he can cut the weight he would be back to pro bowl form
January 4th, 2013 at 9:30 am
Penn had his best year since 2008 this year. Yes, he probably needs to decrease his weight to stay consistent, especially as he gets older. But he wasn’t terrible, and is certainly the least of our concerns on the OL.