Oli Udoh got 1st team snaps at Right Tackle; Allen: “LG & RT are still open. Penning is progressing but Udoh will get a look at RT.” (4 Viewers)

[cwesleyc]

You can find holding on every play if you look hard enough.

 

[St. Widge]

I will say that although I have more confidence in Penning than I did after the AZ game, I'm not fully confident he is going to be good enough and I think RT, and to some extent LG, is the failure point that could ruin this season. Kubiak can do a lot to scheme around Penning's issues, but he can't fully fix it with scheme and at some point Penning is just going to have to get better in pass protection.

And, if RT or LG turn out to be the failure point, that to me would be a big strike against DA, and the front office, for not brining in a better RT to compete with Penning or a better LG to compete with Saldiveri. But, Hergel could end up unexpectedly saving them at LG.

 

[44slayer]

And, if RT or LG turn out to be the failure point, that to me would be a big strike against DA, and the front office, for not brining in a better RT to compete with Penning or a better LG to compete with Saldiveri. But, Hergel could end up unexpectedly saving them at LG.

This is a good summary. We fired PC. We didnt address any glaring weakness we had last year except LT. RT, LG, RB2, WR2, TE1, TE2 were basically ignored. You bring in Kubiak, who is going to try to implement a new offense with 1 hand tied behind his back by having to slide extra protection from a RB or TE to the right side.

Which makes you think, this is a rebuild. But Ive seen how this works in the Loomis era. Dont admit anything until you can use it as an excuse. Its not a rebuild, until you need a lifeline.....then you can call it a rebuild.

 

[DSnfla]

Having watched it again this morning, Penning has certainly maintained a good level on the run blocking. It was a bit iffy week 1, better v Arizona, and good again v Tennessee. Not perfect by any means but good enough to start for sure. That's good, especially in a scheme which emphasis the run and for which the pass is built off of the run.

His pass pro, ignoring gimme plays, is still suspect but perhaps slightly better. I saw him using his hands a bit more which is a nice improvement - more often then not he was just giving DE's his chest in earlier games. His anchor is still dodgy and I noticed that he stops his feet on contact too often/ too early. You have to maintain active feet throughout the rep and as soon as you stop your feet moving, you're going to slip off the block. Inside moves still give him trouble but I think he's feeling it a bit quicker now which helps him re-direct faster, though in my view still not fast enough. His footwork/ weight distribution isn't terribly clean which hampers his ability to re-direct more quickly/ easily. A real mixed bag and much of it not great. Expect to see a few really ugly reps though when he's left 1 v 1 on a deep drop. But, there has been improvement and that gives you a little hope.

To sum up, Penning's run blocking looks like that of a bona fide starter and perhaps with time, a plus starter. Pass pro looks sub par but there has been some slow improvement and perhaps he's now inching away from being 'not a viable starter' to being 'less than ideal' but can work with it/ around it.

Last year I said he would probably need until mid season to really settle in and he never quite managed to make it that far. Maybe this year by game 3-5 he'll be solid after working out some more of the kinks in his pass pro, and further solidifying his run blocking.

This is what I have always thought about TP. We all knew when he was drafted he needed work in pass-pro and he was not ready to start. My contention is that injuries in his 1st yr and the offseason that followed hampered his development. The coaching staff did not do him any favors starting him too soon and then benching him altogether last yr and giving him NO reps even in jumbo formations like they did in his rookie season
Your assessment I think is spot on. TP needs reps more than anything, he gets better ( although not big leaps ) every game

 

[DSnfla]

I had more hope in Jon Stinchcomb coming out of retirement after the AZ game. Fair enough though if you think he improved againts some base defenses. I give it to halftime of the Eagles game before Udoh gets a look. Thats might be a game too much.

So what was Penning's PFF rating last game?? Go ahead , I'll wait

 

[DSnfla]

WK1 vs Clowney - 9.5 sacks in 2023.
WK2 vs Parson - 14 sacks
WK3 vs Sweat - 6 sacks but 11 in '22
WK4 vs Judon - 4 sacks in 4 games but 15.5 sacks in '22

Udoh starts by WK5 vs Karloftis

Wanna bet??

 

[MikeyF]

You can find holding on every play if you look hard enough.

& so does every other NFL if you look hard enough!

 

[Kegger]

Ok, now I'm convinced TP will be a 10 year starter for us

 

[Swampy Saint]

I feel confident in Penning now
Duncan knows nothing.
Skip Bayless and Nick Wright are more knowledgeable.

Ouch

 

[Swampy Saint]

I'd make James Hurst an offer he couldn't refuse to come out of retirement for one year.

 

[Saint KayBee]

I think the three of Dennison, Benton, and Kubiak each have guys they’ve worked with in the past, currently on other rosters, that they’ve asked personnel/scouting to keep an eye on. And somewhere between cut day and week 1, they’ll monitor those guys’ availability… and if one or more of them shows free, either by being cut or buried on the depth chart, to make the appropriate move to bring him over.

I don’t think they want to make a move right now, because they’d prefer to see all they can from Penning and Udoh.

I won’t claim to know any/all of the players the aforementioned coaches have worked with, but I’ve been checking cuts around the league and the likelihood of this scenario materializing is starting to feel dire.

 

[nakadish]

I'd make James Hurst an offer he couldn't refuse to come out of retirement for one year.

God, no.