Greg Cosell Breaks Down Graham Barton
April 26th, 2024
OL Graham Barton, the Bucs’ first-round pick..
So what should Joe make of new Bucs center Graham Barton? Well, Joe decided to consult one of the better talent evaluators in football.
And that would be NFL Films veteran analyst Greg Cosell. Typing for The 33rd Team, Cosell noted that even though Barton played three years of tackle at Duke after playing center his freshman year, Cosell thought he’d be a much better interior lineman than tackle in the NFL.
Some Cosell bullet points:.
* Came off the ball low with leverage, generating strength and power in his core as a down blocker in the run game.
* Efficient as a run blocker with his first and second steps; his second step generated leverage and power to move defensive linemen.
* Showed plus mobility and balance as a run blocker, pulling inside and outside and climbing to the second level.
* Excellent short-area quickness off combo blocks to get to linebackers at the second level, and adjusted to moving targets.
* Consistently strong as a down blocker, washing defensive linemen out of the hole; played with leverage and core strength.
* Strong leverage as a run blocker, driving low to high while staying centered and keeping feet moving to finish with power.
* What consistently stood out was his balance and body control snap after snap, as well as his core strength and contact balance.
* Efficient kick slide in pass protection with balance and a firm base; strength to anchor vs. speed-to-power.
* Consistent and efficient with technique and footwork in pass protection, good knee bend and balance.
* Showed efficient mirror and lateral movement in pass protection, as well as smooth reactive athleticism vs. counters.
* Did an excellent job in pass protection, consistently staying in his cylinder and keeping his head inside his shoulders.
* Consistently did a good job recovering in pass protection when his technique and balance were compromised.
* Looked more comfortable with short and 45-degree sets than vertical sets even on deeper drops by the quarterback.
* Has lower-body strength and strong hands to effectively handle speed-to-power, and stayed upright within his cylinder.
* Played with excellent awareness and accelerated vision, recognizing and reacting to stunts and pressures.
Joe doesn’t think Barton will have a huge problem getting up to speed in the NFL. Barton, obviously, is an intelligent dude. And going up against Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey daily in training camp will do a bunch of good.
"Once he lands his hands, the rep is over." 💪@MoveTheSticks breaks down the newest member of the @Buccaneers O-Line.
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/gfGlLbhRyK— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 26, 2024
April 26th, 2024 at 8:24 am
Go Bucs
April 26th, 2024 at 8:25 am
Bucs made a grown up draft pick. No silly vanity picks like Atlanta made. If Verse or Turner had fallen, sure, go defense. But Centers drafted in the 1st round have a 92% hit rate since 2000, and the mass exodus of elite interior linemen the Bucs experienced since 2022 needed to be reset.
April 26th, 2024 at 8:29 am
Joe, it’s been a long hard offseason. I know we’ve had our ups and downs, but this highlight video has me ready to storm Normandy.
April 26th, 2024 at 8:29 am
Ugh sucks to be me. Drake Maye goes to the cheatin Patriots and Bucs draft a Dookie. Ah well I’ll get over it soon. Go Bucs!
April 26th, 2024 at 8:31 am
Not happy…….Joe & Robert Hainsey
Happy……Baker Mayfield, Rachaad White, Liam Coen, Jason Licht, Todd Bowles, TBBF
April 26th, 2024 at 8:35 am
Made me laugh TBBF!
April 26th, 2024 at 8:35 am
Build the trenches
Can’t have a game winning TD pass or big play without great protection/blocking
April 26th, 2024 at 8:35 am
My biggest concern is the position switch! First rounders should be sure fire position ready players ready to make all pro teams in a couple of years! Barton was a college tackle. This idea because he played 5 games at C during his freshman year at Duke somehow makes him a C is dangerous territory for a first round pick! Not saying he cant make the transition but just look at the last 2 OL the Bucs drafted high and tried converting. Godeke was an absolute failure at LG and Mauch struggled mightily before playing a bit better down the stretch when the quality of his opponents decreased. While Wirfs did switch from RT to LT, he always had the size, strength, quickness to play either tackle spot. Generally there is a different mindset to playing tackle vs C/G. Usually the C has to have a higher IQ because of the mental aspects of the game. As a Duke kid, I think Barton should at least pass that part of the equation. I think that Barton fell in draft because of the concerns other teams had about the position change. I wanted Verse but after he was gone, I would have taken a CB or traded down!
April 26th, 2024 at 8:35 am
Pretty sure the Cowboys would have gone after this guy if he kept falling. At least on the NFL network they kept mentioning how they may regret trading back since Barton was there. We shall see.
I’m down to go interior OL again tonight. Just build a dominant OL and then add another RB and maybe a WR and go from average to top 5-10 on offense next year and control the LOS and be able to run out games with leads. That would help the defense as well.
I wish we had like 8 picks in the top 3 rounds so we could get everything we need lol
April 26th, 2024 at 8:37 am
We now have something like 8 starters on rookie contracts, pretty cool
Goedeke
Mauch
Barton
Otton
Palmer
Hall
JTS
Diaby
Kancey
McCollum
Britt?
Izien
Camarda
April 26th, 2024 at 8:37 am
@Waterboy
At least he has C experience, and I’m pretty sure he’s been training there all offseason and throughout the pre draft process since that’s where everyone said he should play. We shall see but I’ll trust in Licht.
I’d be fine with going after Jackson Powers Johnson still or Frazier lol, and then have Barton play LG.
April 26th, 2024 at 8:38 am
Stupid thing wouldn’t let me scroll back up to change the 8… So DON’T START!
April 26th, 2024 at 8:38 am
Still… if Zach Frazier is available with the Bucs next pick I would double dip a draft this already a certain NFL center
Address all the other needs in the rest of the draft and veteran cuts coming before training camps
April 26th, 2024 at 8:47 am
Waterboy, Micah Parsons was a middle linebacker for Penn State. Has played almost exclusively edge and OLB in the pros and has done better than expected. I would think. This isn’t a rare occurrence. Plus he already has legit experience at the position.
April 26th, 2024 at 9:01 am
So far so good!!
April 26th, 2024 at 9:01 am
Asd I predicted. Good solid pick.
April 26th, 2024 at 9:07 am
Go Bucs
April 26th, 2024 at 9:10 am
If Frazier or Johnson is there at our next pick grab em, and our trenches will be nasty for years to come
April 26th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Shoot I would even consider moving up
April 26th, 2024 at 9:57 am
If JPJ is there in the 2nd (no way he is) man that would be epic!
April 26th, 2024 at 10:18 am
You know JL was doing the “we got fkn Barton dance” in his tightly whiteys at the foot of his bed last night.
If he picks another OL, this draft will be the big ugly show in my book. Come on JL, pick another top notch OL and I’ll do a fruit of the loom dance as well
April 26th, 2024 at 10:19 am
Sounds like the breakdown of a future All Pro.
Barton said he’s been snapping the football a lot the past 2 months as he knew Center would likely be his new position in the NFL.
Very happy with this pick.
I wanted JPJ thinking Barton would be pegged at LG for us in year 1. But I’m hearing there was concern with JPJ’s injury history – multiple concussions, groin and hip injuries in 2023 and then he hurt his hamstring on day 2 of practice at the Senior Bowl….
April 26th, 2024 at 10:40 am
JPJ might have been taken off the board for a few teams. The best ability is availability.
April 26th, 2024 at 12:29 pm
If we can’t have a middle of the pack rushing attack with this line then it’s time for a new running back or running backs. Tie up your excuses and get it done
April 26th, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Come on down JPJ.
There’s no way he makes it that far today.
One can hope and dream.
April 26th, 2024 at 1:57 pm
Preston Says:
April 26th, 2024 at 8:25 am
Bucs made a grown up draft pick. No silly vanity picks like Atlanta made.
Atlanta taking Penix was an insurance move with no downside. If Cousins in not able to go until week 4 or 5 it could be a lost season if they go 1 and 4 with a Taylor Heineke. Falcons can win games with Penix.
Even with the Defense they had in 2023 the failure was mainly from QB mistakes. Pexix and Nix are probably the most ready to start due to their extra starts in college.
If all goes well with Cousins then Penix will get paid to Develop for a year and will be worth a Haul come 2025 with a QB draft class that will be not even close to this years.
With the money they are paying Cousins an additional 10% makes for a smart back up plan,
.
April 26th, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Thinking the same thing 87, but only in the 3rd round…if he and Frazier are there, YEP! Other than that we need DB and LB help…
April 26th, 2024 at 2:47 pm
I felt Barton would be the guy the Bucs would get, I just didn’t know they had him ranked ahead of JPJ. Barton’s versatility makes him a JL guy. Not that they would move him to tackle, but it still gives them more options in times of injuries. If they don’t pick up another C, Hainsey won’t be going anywhere as he has experience playing G. We have had injuries along the line before, so depth is not a bad thing. And the OL coach is new, so the coaches might see him in a different role or find that Hainsey could be coached up to make him better. His natural position was G just like it was with Ali. And Hainsey really has no trade value in my opinion.
April 26th, 2024 at 3:46 pm
I don’t know about All Pro but even a Pro Bowl Center would be awesome!
Imagine an OL that begins with 40% of the best OL in the league. If Goeddeke grows even more and Mauch figures it out his second season the Bucs OL could become genuinely scary!!! I LOVE it. I love smashmouth power along with the no risk it no biscuit.
Teams with great OL”s have a lot of advantages…bad weather no sweat…passing game off a bit..no sweat.
I’m getting jacked! I want the Bucs to build an OL capable of going all Arnold in Conan the Barbarian.
Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.
I remember standing up to an arsehole Sale Manager in radio. The GM had to settle the battle between his Sales Mgr and his “Morning Man’.
He took me for a walk and said…SPBF…you were right and you made your point. Your problem is that you do not know when to quit. You crushed him (he literally went to his office and cried) and never let up. You NEED to learn when enough is enough!
Perhaps…but not on the football field…built the best freaking OL in the league and start crushing the enemy! Never let them up!
April 26th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
He didn’t do anything in that video at center! LOL
Give me a break, the defender was running the other direction and he used the guy’s momentum against him. I could have easily blocked that guy myself on that play!
Do better with your video clips. Hopefully theres better examples of him at center to see.
April 26th, 2024 at 9:56 pm
Clean house you could easily just go to YouTube and see for yourself. The kid was starting center at 18 years old at Duke University. He’s about as close to a sure thing at #26 as you can get.
April 28th, 2024 at 5:14 pm
The more I read about Graham Barton the more excited I get. I would bet that Hainsey will be backup center.
Sua Opeta, Ben ‘Bread’ Brederson and will compete for other Guard spot opposite Cody Mauch.