Marshall Newhouse playing left tackle in Donald Penn’s absence
Throughout the offseason, the conversation was about who would be starting at right tackle for the Oakland Raiders. Now, as training camp is under way it’s who is playing left tackle while Donald Penn continues to hold out.
The offensive line, which is the strength and stability of the team, now seems uncertain.
Marshall Newhouse was brought in to fill the void at right tackle, but early in camp has been seen starting on the left side. Vadal Alexander, who was expected to offer competition to Newhouse for the right tackle job, is now getting the first-team reps.
The current Donald Penn-less line: Newhouse at LT, Alexander at RT.
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) July 29, 2017
After practice Sunday, Newhouse met with the media to discuss his first two days as a Raider. This is what he had to say when asked about his comfort level playing left tackle.
"“I’ve had a lot of reps at left tackle, it’s just something I played in college and that flipping, which is normally not an easy thing to do, has been more comfortable because I’ve done it so much.” “It’s both. It’s physical, you know, you’ve got your hips and your hands, and the set is different, but it’s mental. You’re basically flipping all the plays, you have a different feel for the quarterback. One side is blindside, one side is not, so both sides are important. There’s good rushers on both sides, but there’s some physical differences, and a little bit of mental too"
It’s worth noting that Newhouse did start 16 games at left tackle in 2012 as a member of the Green Bay Packers.