Offensive Tackle Donald Penn
Thursday afternoon, Oakland Raiders veteran tackle Donald Penn addressed the media to break down his dedication and commitment to this team. Penn has been a bright spot since joining the Raiders in 2014, and has started in every game during his tenure. He's prideful about protecting his quarterback and expressed why he's so passionate. After being cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013, Penn is certainly going into the matchup on Sunday with a chip on his shoulder.
Here are the quick hits from his media session:
**Penn reflected on what it's like to be back in Florida, but remains focused on defeating his former team this Sunday.
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"It's good to be back out here. Got to see a couple of my old friends, old teammates and old guys. It's going to be kind of weird. I've never walked into Raymond James Stadium from the visitor side. It's going to be something new. Looking forward to seeing some of the old guys that still play on the team. I'm just trying to go out there and come out with a win."
He talked about what's different from his preparation in years past, to what he's been doing to help him be successful.
"The big thing I do is when it's time to rest, I rest. Get off my feet. When I'm at home, I'm chilling. I'm sitting on the coach, have my feet up, lay in the bed, have my feet. When it's time to rest, I rest. I'm not running around the mall, walking around the grocery store, doing all types of stuff like that. I get off my feet and I rest when it's time to rest. I think that's a big part. A lot these guys think, 'I got so much to do.' You have to know when it's time to rest. You have to let your body rest."
Penn broke down why he thinks the team has managed to be so successful on the road this season.
"I really can't give you a certain thing. I don't know if we like going in there and overcoming adversity, being on the road. Being at home? No. I really cannot tell you, but we need to get it fixed fast. We need to start winning at home. We need to continue to keep winning on the road, but I really cannot tell you why it's like that, but I'm going to take it."
**He expressed what makes protecting quarterback Derek Carr and his teammates so important to him.
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"Yeah, I don't like nobody getting next to my quarterback. I'm talking like I get pissed at myself. I think that's why I've been able to play so long. I'm my biggest critic. I think that's why I've been able to do this for so long at such a high level because I'm my biggest critic and I'm hard on myself. In the meeting room, I'm correcting myself before my coaches. They'll start, I'll finish the sentence. I'm hard on myself. That's something big. I don't want nobody touching my quarterback. I don't want nobody touching my running back. I stick up for my teammates."
Penn shared how he believes Carr has matured as a player, and how his relationship with Bill Musgrave has benefitted the team.
"I don't want to call it gambling no more. He knows what he's doing, and he knows he's going to make it right. He's doing that and that's the growth you're seeing from last year; being in this offense again, having the offense from last year and being able to critique yourself from last year. Now [offensive coordinator] Bill [Musgrave] is giving him advice like, 'Oh, OK. You want to do that? OK Yeah, we can do that, D.C.' He's coming to Bill for advice and stuff. They're switching stuff and stuff is clicking right now."
