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.” (1 Viewer)

[St. Widge]

I think a big part of it is injuries. If I remember right, I believe they had Udoh playing at guard till the last couple of weeks?

It looks like Penning is putting in the work to get better, even if his progress is not as fast as anyone would like. The only two questions to ask are can he develop, and can the Saints work around his deficiencies while he develops? I think they do like last year and assume the answer is "yes" till Penning proves otherwise. But they also need to make sure they have a plan B that's not in the training room.

I guess I'm just wondering if DA and Kubiak have decided that given how he has played so far, they would prefer not to risk starting Penning and hope that Udoh can show to be better than him at RT until or unless Penning shows significantly more improvement. That seems like as good a reason as any to now be giving Udo 1st team reps. Penning isn't where they need him to be and they are trying to see if Udoh is where they need to be at RT.

It could also be part of a plan to motivate Penning similar to how DA has chosen to go to the press about Miller, no LG taking the job, no Safety taking the job opposite of Tyrann, etc. Maybe he hopes to bring out more in Penning and Udoh by saying someone needs to take the job to the press.

It's not the typical strategy you see from coaches as most seem to want to keep that stuff "in the locker room", but that may be what is going on. Payton would just just openly work out a bunch of guys at a position he thought wasn't performing to their potential to send a message. But DA is clearly different from Payton. We'll see if it works.

On a side note, despite how critical I am of Penning, I do think he is working hard to get better, he did get a little better last week, and I am pulling for him to continue getting better because he has all the physical tools to be a great OT. I just don't think he's ready yet so I hope either he improves a lot in the next few weeks or they find a better starter at RT before the Carolina game.

 

[MikeyF]

Hergel started at North Dakota then transferred to Texas St where he played 2 seasons . then as a 5th yr SR, he transferred to Boston College . You might want to readjust that since he only played at BC for 1 yr

No! I'm not changing my statement or "readjust"
I never said anywhere in my post he had 4 years at BC!
He played for a Power 5 Conference!

It is pretty impressive that he started out at a lower level and he had the confidence in himself to keep moving up.

 

[Saint KayBee]

I really hope that a solid RT is available on waivers or in trade. But, I'm not holding my breath. OL depth in the NFL is very scarce and teams just aren't cutting or trading good OL at any position much less at Tackle. But, lets hope someone makes a mistake and we can benefit.

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.

 

[sportsaint]

I really hope that a solid RT is available on waivers or in trade. But, I'm not holding my breath. OL depth in the NFL is very scarce and teams just aren't cutting or trading good OL at any position much less at Tackle. But, lets hope someone makes a mistake and we can benefit.

Finding a tackle that just does the fundamentals is 5 steps better than what Penning brings, so anyone that does that is already worlds above. Like others said, let Penning develop behind another tackle for the season and hopefully step in before the end of the season

 

[perret318]

You are absolutely right. He played DE and TE in high school then converted to OT in 2017, his redshirt season. He played ONE game at RT in 2021.

Let's add those games up.

Redshirted 2017 - converted from DE and TE.
2018 - Played in 4 games, no side specified.
2019 - Started 15 games at LT
Spring 2021 - Started 4 games at LT and 1 at RT
Fall 2021 - Started 12 games at LT

That's 31 games started at LT and 1 (ONE) at RT in his college career. So, 32 games at OT going into the NFL. Add the few starts he has got in the NFL and the injuries that have riddled his seasons and 1st TWO offseasons and you have a very inexperienced OT.

So, what you're saying is that the problem isn't that he's been given enough time to develop at a new position and isn't performing, it's that this was a bad pick from the very start if we planned to put him at RT. Got it.

 

[Andrus]

 

[St. Widge]

Finding a tackle that just does the fundamentals is 5 steps better than what Penning brings, so anyone that does that is already worlds above. Like others said, let Penning develop behind another tackle for the season and hopefully step in before the end of the season

I agree, but I'm not sure teams will be cutting guys that can do the fundamentals. OL depth in the NFL is very shallow.

 

[Goatman Saint]

This is my major concern. If you have 6 guys battling for an OG spot on the last day of training camp it means you have no one. Same at tackle. If the battle is between those two, a 6 year middle of the road backup and Penning, maybe Rattler should be the starting QB as he runs the best

 

[DSnfla]

I said this a couple of weeks ago and it's as true today, whatever Penning's journey so far (played a lot, played a little, hurt, not hurt, whatever) he needs to produce. It's going to get very binary, very soon and understanding the context only goes so far, loving the potential only goes so far. The debate about whether he should be better than he is or where he should be now based on his journey is becoming moot. He needs to produce, he needs to demonstrate competency, he needs to show he can be trusted to deploy what he's been taught to be an effective member of the OL.

It's that simple. For me, he's not demonstrated that yet. His run blocking was better last week and I hope that we don't see a backslide there this week. But his pass pro is still highly suspect unless it's supported. No pressures, no sacks etc doesn't matter - it's always the process, not the outcome. And the process, from what I saw and in my opinion and taking into account what I don't know, wasn't good enough.

I also said a few weeks ago that either Penning would demonstrate his competency or else it would likely be someone else starting. Now, we aren't exactly spoiled for choice but if Udoh shows a bit more consistency and competency, I think he will be starting week 1. Penning has not set a high bar and it's pretty sad that we're unsure Udoh can surpass it but it is what it is. Feels a bit like watching a dunk contest between two 8 year olds...

I agree he does need to produce no matter what has happened so far. What I do think is and last yr demonstrated to me is that for the most part TP improved with every game. And that is true so far this yr even playing a different position. With Udoh I think what you see is what you're going to get. And according to his past performance, it's not that good. We still have not seen what this O will really be yet. My guess is that if TP or even Udoh is starting the RT position will get a lot of help in one way or another. No matter who is in there 3rd and long is going to be a challenge. But if history holds true and TP starts there's a decent chance by season he could be an OK RT

 

[DSnfla]

Sorry, but I am not at all understanding what this has to do with my post.

??? You said "
if his coaches were not happy with the techniques he was using in certain situations, etc.

For all we know, after watching the film, the coaching staff may have thought he played absolutely terrible. We just don't know."
I responded to the fact that Marrone was the coach primary responsible for making those decisions. And asked where he is the OL coach right now after we fired him? Why is that hard to understand?

 

[St. Geezy]

??? You said "
if his coaches were not happy with the techniques he was using in certain situations, etc.

For all we know, after watching the film, the coaching staff may have thought he played absolutely terrible. We just don't know."
I responded to the fact that Marrone was the coach primary responsible for making those decisions. And asked where he is the OL coach right now after we fired him? Why is that hard to understand?

If you re-read the posts involved though, I was clearly referring to this season, the SF film portion of his post, which has absolutely nothing to do with Marrone.

Why are you so angry and on edge all the time about this one specific subject? You become completely unglued anytime anyone dare says Penning didn’t play well, to the point where you’re not even reading posts thoroughly before immediately going off on people, as if it’s just some sort of instinctual trigger that is personal to you. This is even in the face of evidence that the coaches, a second and completely new offensive staff mind you, may be setting the stage to replace him, or at a minimal, aren’t completely sold on him.

The guy clearly isn’t playing well, and you’re treating everyone, including respected media members, some very respected long time NFL coaches, as well as a renown offensive line training specialist who has commented negatively on Penning, as if you are the only one that has a clue and you talk down to anyone that has the audacity to suggest otherwise.

I don't see how any person could objectively look at this player's film, read the comments from coaches, see this player benched for an entire year, see his off-season coach make negative comments, then see this news where it appears they're preparing to make a change again, and still be THIS deeply in the player's corner and insulting others behind him unless he's your son or nephew or you're the person that scouted him and you feel like your reputation/job is on the line.

 

[dpwga]

just days before our final preseason game and we are treating the RT battle like it's a frenzied fire drill. This is an embarrassment of DA, the OL coach and Mickey Loomis that we have penned all our hopes on Penning being a perfect fit for RT. We should have had at least 2-3 new OT's signed to battle for this position - but still hoping that Penning wins the job. This should have been addressed back in April - not he end of August.

And if you think about, we penned all our hopes that we could draft a starter at OT. If that had failed, we would now be up the creek without a paddle more than we already are. Thankfully Fuaga looks like he is ready as a rookie to play OT now.

 

[MikeyF]

just days before our final preseason game and we are treating the RT battle like it's a frenzied fire drill. This is an embarrassment of DA, the OL coach and Mickey Loomis that we have penned all our hopes on Penning being a perfect fit for RT. We should have had at least 2-3 new OT's signed to battle for this position - but still hoping that Penning wins the job. This should have been addressed back in April - not he end of August.

And if you think about, we penned all our hopes that we could draft a starter at OT. If that had failed, we would now be up the creek without a paddle more than we already are. Thankfully Fuaga looks like he is ready as a rookie to play OT now.

The problem with your arguement is in the 5th post up by St. Widge!

Who do you sign especially without breaking the bank...
We had to bring in Udoh who is also completely unproven...

Who would have known one of the top RT's in the NFL in the prime of his career would be done...

 

[Swampy Saint]

The problem with your arguement is in the 5th post up by St. Widge!

Who do you sign especially without breaking the bank...
We had to bring in Udoh who is also completely unproven...

Who would have known one of the top RT in the NFL in the prime of his career would be done...

My gut tells me that they could have done more to be prepared.
I think someone will probably be available via trade in the next week or so. Albeit, an average player.
However, they seem comfortable with who they have.

 

[St. Geezy]

My gut tells me that they could have done more to be prepared.
I think someone will probably be available via trade in the next week or so. Albeit, an average player.
However, they seem comfortable with who they have.