Gruden names starter at left tackle, can't help but waffle like an ice cream cone

The Washington Redskins named their starting quarterback on Sunday and a day later, have named his lead protector. Just as it was obvious the job under center belonged to Case Keenum and Case Keenum alone, so too has the battle at left tackle been determined by obvious circumstances.

Still, when Redskins head coach Jay Gruden announced Donald Penn had won the quote-unquote competition for the starting gig, he couldn't help but equivocate.

"Right now, Donald Penn is probably a starting left tackle, right now,"

What a way to stand by your convictions, coach.

Penn was signed during the offseason, after it became apparent that Trent Williams' holdout was not a bluff and even more apparent the team didn't have a serviceable body to replace him.

Washington first tried to put Ereck Flowers in that spot, but saying he struggled in his stint as the New York Giants left tackle would be putting-the-ocean-floor-on-the-market levels of undersell.

Flowers ranked dead last, 50th, and 30th in pass blocking efficiency out of tackles who played 50% of qualifying snaps or more from 2015 through 2017. He ranked 93rd out of tackles who played 35% of qualifying snaps in 2018, spending time with Jacksonville after his release by the Giants.

Washington would've liked to turn to Geron Christian, but he hasn't developed to the point Gruden can trust him holding down the blind side. That led Washington to the free agent market, when Penn was inked.

It took until the third preseason game, the dress rehearsal, for Penn to take over as the starter, but the difference between he and everyone else was night and day. That's not to say his performance was transcendant, because it wasn't.

Penn was on the street as a free agent into the training camp portion of the offseason for a reason.

The now 36-year old played and started in four contests for Oakland last season, earning a woeful grade of 47.0, allowing three sacks, two hits and four hurries on just 117 pass-block snaps.

That's the reason why Gruden isn't giving a long-term vote of confidence in Penn. He still has to hold out hope Williams ends his holdout and returns. If not, the club needs Christian to step up, quick fast and in a hurry.

"Christian is very good, because he's a versatile guy, (can) play left and right, and you have Flowers that can play left a little bit as well," Gruden said to the media via 106.7 The Fan's transcription.

Washington will host the Baltimore Ravens Thursday in the final game of the preseason and the last chance for Penn to shake the rust off before the New York Giants are staring them in the face for a game that counts.

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