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Oakland Raiders: 5 best offensive players heading into the bye

By John Buhler

SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 18: Guard Kelechi Osemele No. 70 of the Oakland Raiders points up to the sky during his team's game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 18, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 18: Guard Kelechi Osemele No. 70 of the Oakland Raiders points up to the sky during his team's game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on December 18, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 08: Marshawn Lynch No. 24 of the Oakland Raiders shakes hands with Donald Penn No. 72 after scoring in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 8, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – OCTOBER 08: Marshawn Lynch No. 24 of the Oakland Raiders shakes hands with Donald Penn No. 72 after scoring in the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 8, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Utah State Aggies. Donald Penn. 3. player. 28. . Left Tackle

Everybody was so mad that Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn held out for all of training camp. It was perceived that his request for a pay bump would wreck the Oakland front-five’s continuity. Being that Penn is a professional and kept in shape during the offseason, no, the continuity did not waver.

According to Pro Football Focus, Penn has a 79.0 overall grade. He is knocking on the door of being above average among all graded tackles. Penn has been an efficient player this season for the Silver and Black. He has graded out about equally well in pass pro at 79.2 and run blocking at 79.5.

You can purchase either the PFF Edge or PFF Elite packages at Pro Football Focus for all your Raiders and fantasy football needs.

To see Penn grade out better in run blocking is a little odd given how dominant he is at setting the edge in pass pro. Perhaps the move from power to zone is better equipped for his offensive line skill set? However, that may not be the case for some of his offensive line teammates.

You have to admire the lunch pail mentality that Penn has to playing football. He is a technician out there on the edge with a great understanding of angles and leverage. It would not be shocking for him to have as long and as productive of a career at left tackle as Andrew Whitworth for the Los Angeles Rams.

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