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Lineman Penn Will Go To School Again This Week

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2007

Updated: 11/16/2007 12:46 am

TAMPA - The education of Donald Penn continues Sunday at the Georgia Dome, where Professor John Abraham plans to administer a lesson in the art of the pass rush.

Abraham, whose quickness off the right edge poses a problem for the NFL's best left tackles, lies in wait for Penn, a 24-year-old undrafted free agent who assumed a starting role Oct. 7 at Indianapolis following a season-ending knee injury to Luke Petitgout.

Penn, who had never suited up for a pro game until Tampa Bay's season opener at Seattle, has already faced dynamic right defensive ends like Dwight Freeney of the Colts and Tennessee's Kyle Vanden Bosch.

Freeney was credited with half of the only Indianapolis sack at the RCA Dome and the Titans never got to Jeff Garcia, who threw 31 times in a 13-10 triumph.

"It's been going good, going bad and going OK," said Penn, who started 44 games at Utah State. "I'm working every week to get better and my position coach isn't going to let me relax at all."

Penn's got that right.

Offensive line coach Bill Muir isn't cutting his emergency starter any slack as the 5-4 Bucs attempt to win a third NFC South title in six years.

"Thank God Penn ain't where he was, but he ain't where he's gonna be," Muir said. "Still, the needle's pointing up and he's making progress. Is he doing everything I would like him to do? No. My expectation is play like a starter. He's not there yet."

Penn is the first to acknowledge the extent of his growth curve, but he hasn't been embarrassed through his first five starts.

"He's playing great," said rookie left guard Arron Sears. "He knows there are no days at the beach in this league, week in and week out, and he's got John Abraham on Sunday. Penn will have to come to work this week."

A chronic groin injury limited Abraham to seven starts and four sacks in 2006, spoiling his first year in Atlanta. The former Jet is now healthy and he has registered five of his six sacks in the Georgia Dome, where crowd noise will add to Penn's plight.

"The thing about John Abraham is that when he wants to play, he's dominant," said Bucs tight end Anthony Becht, who played with Abraham in New York. "I've seen him at his best, going up against him every day in practice. The guy can take over a game."

Penn's primary job Sunday is to protect Garcia, a k a The Franchise.

Keeping Garcia upright is a priority for Tampa Bay's young offensive line, but the 3-6 Falcons have been competitive in most games, thanks to a solid defense.

"John's been healthy and very effective for us," said Atlanta's first-year coach Bobby Petrino. "I think he'll get even better the last part of the season because we've gotten better inside with defensive tackle Rod Coleman back. That will help John a lot when they can start flushing things to him and not being able to step up underneath his speed."

Penn admits he was apprehensive going into that initial start at Indianapolis. Six weeks later, the butterflies have taken flight.

Besides, there's not enough time to be nervous.

"Abraham's a great player," Penn said. "He plays big and I've got my work cut out. It's the same thing as Dwight Freeney week - stay in and watch a lot of film."

Penn is seeing Abraham in his sleep this week. With Muir riding him, Penn knows the challenges are just beginning.

"If I get a compliment from Coach Muir, it'll probably be at the end of the season," he said. "Right now, he probably sees more potential in me than I see in myself. This is a dream come true for me, a great opportunity, and I'm not going to let myself get comfortable."

Penn credits veteran center John Wade for keeping him poised on the field during adverse situations and says Petitgout has been eager to offer him advice, based on nine years of NFL experience in the trenches.

As if he needed a reminder, every time Penn gazes at No. 7 in the huddle, he realizes the enormity of the task at hand.

"I love Jeff Garcia ... he's a playmaker," Penn said. "He's like me - there wasn't anything given to him. He had to work for everything he's got, just like me. You can't help but appreciate a guy like that."

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