Penn Lobbying For More Catches

October 12th, 2009

Aside from Kellen Winslow and Sammie Stroughter, the Bucs receiver with the best hands Sunday wasn’t a receiver.

It was tackle Donald Penn.

Penn showed some savvy for a bulking 300-pound receiver, including instinctively switching hands to carry the ball as he rumbled downfield. Joe would still love to find out where Penn learned that from.

So impressed was Penn with his first NFL reception, he’s already pestering Bucs coaches for more chances, even though his reception was hardly planned, so reports eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune.

The burly left tackle provided a brief second-quarter spark when he latched onto a Josh Johnson pass deflected by Eagles defensive end Darren Howard and lumbered 15 yards to Philadelphia’s 8-yard line, where he was tackled by defensive end Trent Cole. Penn quickly got to his feet and gave the first down signal – twice.

“I told (offensive coordinator) Greg Olson he needs to make me a tackle-eligible,” said Penn, listed at 6-foot-5, 305 pounds. “Once I broke that first tackle, I thought I was gone.”

Hey, Penn showed he has some offensive skills besides blocking. Joe’s first thought after watching Penn roll for 15 yards was to try him at fullback in goal line situations, much like the Chicago Bears did with Refrigerator Perry.

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