Marshall Newhouse: Welcome back to right tackle?

With Donald Penn reportedly rejoining the Raiders here soon, that means Marshall Newhouse will go back to right tackle. What does that mean for the Raiders?

Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Monday night that Oakland Raiders Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn will be ending his holdout here soon. Penn missed the entire training camp in his holdout for a new contract worth top-10 tackle money. Will he get paid? Maybe, but what we do know is Marshall Newhouse is going back to the right side. What does that mean for the Raiders up front?

Assuming Penn can get caught up to speed here quickly, it would mean that the Raiders will be stout at four of five offensive line positions. Penn already has great continuity with left guard Kelechi Osemele, center Rodney Hudson and right guard Gabe Jackson. However, right tackle had been the black hole of the Raiders’ front-five last year.

Newhouse has come over from the New York Giants to help fill that void. While he has had a good camp with the Raiders, he has spent the bulk of his reps at left tackle. Second-year player Vadal Alexander was with the first-team offense at right tackle, but will now kick back to being a reserve.

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Oakland was able to play Newhouse some at right tackle on Saturday night versus the Los Angeles Rams.

The Raiders felt comfortable in putting fourth-round rookie David Sharpe out of Florida at left tackle. Sharpe played well and Newhouse got some

much-needed reps at right tackle. But how will Newhouse do in that starting role this year?

Hopefully it’s nothing like his Pro Football Focus grade indicates. PFF had Newhouse as the No. 50 overall tackle in 2016 at 56.4.

While his pass pro grade of 75.5 was respectable, his lousy 45.1 run blocking grade was not. Do keep in mind that the Giants don’t know what they’re doing on the offensive line.

Ideally, Newhouse will rise to the occasion at right tackle playing next to Jackson. It helps having a quarterback in Derek Carr that can move around a bit in the pocket. Newhouse will be the fifth-best offensive lineman of the Raiders’ front-five this year. He doesn’t have to be great, just not bad.

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While missing the reps at right tackle were a result of Penn’s holdout, at least Alexander got to show he can fill in at right tackle if need be. Add in that Newhouse now plays for one of the best offensive line coaches in football in Mike Tice and he should be ready to rock on the right side by Week 1.

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