REAR ENTRIES: Let The Phoning-In Begin

June 22, 2009 at 10:13am by Scott

PENN NEEDS TO LOSE WEIGHT: Get ready for a barrage of these types of articles profiling various players that reporters were able to get interviews with during the minicamp. They’ve stockpiled several of them for the drought of Buccaneer news that just kicked off.

Donald Penn made it back to the mandatory minicamp after skipping the voluntary stuff, and when he showed up James Lee was still getting starter reps. This may be why.

“I’ve been home with my family, but [Coach] Raheem [Morris] and I have been talking every week. I’m not at the weight I want to be, but I’m good. I’ll be ready to go by [training] camp.”

Penn better watch his back since he is not only behind in conditioned but also in learning the new zone-blocking scheme and Lee has been around the whole time. Lee looked pretty good in minicamp and OTAs, but Penn simply has more talent. As long as Penn comes to camp ready to go, he shouldn’t have a problem retaining the starting spot. If Lee can keep pushing himself, he’ll make Penn a better player and almost guarantee himself a roster spot since there’s not a whole lot in the way of backup tackles on the team right now.

WINSLOW WANTS TO BE WELL-ROUNDED: Here’s another profile article, this one is on Kellen Winslow and how impressed everyone is with him, including Sabby Piscitelli, Luke McCown and his coaches. But here’s the part I was interested in.

The need for a player with Winslow’s receiving abilities is clear, but he is interested in being more than just one-dimensional. Alfredo Roberts, Winslow’s position coach in Cleveland, said the 6-4, 250-pound Winslow has aspirations of being more well-rounded as a tight end. He should get the chance playing for a team intent on running the ball.

At this point, I don’t even consider Winslow a tight end. He’s a receiver, and a really good one. We’ll see how his blocking shakes out during training camp, but I know the team kept John Gilmore on the roster for a reason.

THIS IS NEWS?: Pewter Report is saying that the Bucs are planning playing in their throwback jerseys for the home game against Green Bay on November 8. So I guess now it’s official? I dunno, I said it here two months ago. Every now and then I get one right.