Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

IIRC Penning's athleticism rated very high.

I think its more technique related than athleticism related.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

HEIGHT: 6'7 1/8"

WEIGHT: 325

HAND: 10 1/8"

ARM: 34 1/4"

WINGSPAN: 6'10 7/8"

40-YARD DASH: 4.89

3-CONE: 7.25

SHUTTLE: 4.62

VERTICAL: 28"

BROAD: 9'3"

POSITIVES

— Light on his feet with fluid movement skills in space.

— Prototypical height, weight and length.

— Imposes his will with a bully mentality and dominates competition regularly.

— Uses a mixture of crafty hand techniques (snatch, flash) to keep rushers guessing.

— Generates major torque on command to toss defenders off their feet.

— Has the quickness and play strength to operate in any scheme.

NEGATIVES

— Tends to drop his outside foot, open his hips early and create a short corner against wider-aligned speed-rushers who attack his edge.

— Pads tend to rise after the snap and he plays high too often, leaving his inside shoulder vulnerable to getting opened up by speed to power.

— Has moments where he looks disinterested or bored, playing down to competition.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

I very strongly disagree with that concept. There has to be accountability, starting jobs have to be earned. I think being drafted in the 1st round might have destroyed Penning's work ethic and gave him a sense of entitlement. Letting underperforming players keep starting indefinitely to maintain their confidence is just not an option for a competitive team. If the backup is outperforming him, the backup needs to start. And if the backup is outperforming him without the starting gig, imagine how much better the backup will be when being promoted boosts his confidence! Entitlement will destroy a team. Some players may lose confidence and spiral when benched while others may develop a chip on their shoulder and come back stronger, but just gifting low performers the starting gig to boost their confidence will destroy more than one players confidence, it will destroy the entire teams confidence, because none of the players will believe their performance will be acknowledged and rewarded. If anything, what destroyed Penning's confidence was starting him before he was 100% ready, which he may never be.

I would not count on Penning to start again EVER until he proves it. At this point he is a bust and you can hope for improvement but the minute you take that improvement for granted and say he will be fine, that is when you assure it will never happen. Does he have athleticism? Sure. So does Zach Wilson. That means nothing without well rounded skills and results. If he wants to try Guard maybe that will work, but don't pencil him in, he has proved nothing. For Andrus Peat guard was a disaster and his height meant he could not consistently get leverage and was worn down and constantly injured, for Penning it may prove no better. At this point Penning is Zach Wilson, he is Kevin White, he is Jalen Reagar. Counting on him is a pipe dream. The coaching needs to smack him in the face and see if he smacks back or bends over. And any coach or GM who drinks the Kool Aid and says Penning will be great next year and its like having an extra 1st round pick, they need to go. The fact is if we offered up Penning for trade, we would be lucky to get a 7th round pick. If he does not produce in 2024, he will likely be cut and looking for vet minimum camp invites.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

So in other words we hoped for another Teron Armstead but ending up with Robert Gallery.

As for "cutting", I simply don't see that. Not with this organization (especially while Loomis is the GM) as we tend to hold on to dead weight longer than most teams.

The Saints coaching staff needs to be committed on playing up to his strengths & build on the things that he does well.

Bring in Roaf, Stincomb etc and work with him in the off season. I still won't rule out moving him to inside @ guard. People forget Andrus Peat struggled at LT earlier on in his career, then moved to guard where he has been good in run blocking.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

I may have overlooked something. There's still a role for Penning in New Orleans.

Third-string center with the Pelicans. Those are 6 valuable fouls and you can rely on him grabbing and tripping when players are driving past him.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

Penning buckled under the pressure. That's what most bullies do.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

People keep talking about moving Penning to guard. I want to know if he can play right tackle.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

https://blackandgold.com/saints/1012...tml#post942083

This is still his main problem; he plays high with a narrow base. Looks stiff and uneasy. He looks like a small college guy that could dominate people with size and power and never had to refine his technique and then he got to the NFL and now grown men are handing him his ass on a regular basis.

I would want him to suck it up and go to LeCharles Bentley this year. He is the best O-line thinke rout there IMHO. I implemented a bunch of his stuff in my playing and coaching and it made a TON of difference.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

Right, right there.
I think that Penning is still thinking about is technique, as he plays.
During play - he is thinking "technique"; e.g. place my feet like this, have this body shape. When really Penning should have gotten the technique into automatic by now.

Re: Trevor Penning leaning into technical aspects of playing offensive tackle with New Orleans Saints
 

Honestly. He doesn't look like the sharpest tool in the shed. Maybe there is another problem besides technique.