Oakland Raiders: 5 Key Veterans That Need To Step Up

November 9, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders tackle

(72) blocks Denver Broncos defensive tackle

(92) during the second quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 41-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

4. T Donald Penn

Out of all the positions on the team, the offensive line has arguably experienced the most change and criticism over the last few years. With the struggles the offense has had recently when it comes to scoring, many of the issues can be traced back to protection or run blocking. The good news is that the Raiders have brought in promising young players like Gabe Jackson, rookie Jon Feliciano and Menelik Watson. But they need someone with time in the league to push them and give them on the field direction. Donald Penn is the right guy for this.

Penn has played on 2 different teams and systems since coming into the league in with Tampa Bay in 2007. Not only is he a key position player as a left tackle, he should be one of the most vocal leaders. He has been a Pro Bowler before and knows what it takes to play at a high level. The good news for Raider fans is that Penn is already embracing this role as a leader; he showed as much during a recent interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio (courtesy of Raiders.com). This needs to continue during the entire season for Oakland’s younger offensive players to grow.

Next: A surprise leader at wide receiver?