Green Bay — If this had been a year ago, there's a good chance Green Bay Packers nose tackle Mike Pennel would neither have been able to play where he did nor finish the way he did against the New England Patriots on Thursday night.
Pennel played 30 snaps in the exhibition opener at Gillette Stadium and he was not plunked right over the center every single down like most of the 177 snaps he took in his rookie season.
He lined up at nose tackle 13 times, but also played defensive tackle in the nickel package 10 times, left end in the base defense four times and right end in the base three times.