Graham Barton Is An Important Man
July 23rd, 2024
Heat is on.
Could Graham Barton be under too much pressure?
Josh Edwards of CBS listed rookies that must hit the ground running if their teams are to succeed. One is Bucs center (?) Graham Barton.
Edwards explains why he chose Barton at No. 7.
7. C Graham Barton, Buccaneers
Tampa Bay rushers finished dead last in yards before contact (0.89) last season, per TruMedia. The interior lacked ideal mass and struggled to create any displacement off the ball. Barton will be transitioning from left tackle but the franchise has to be under the assumption that the rookie can give them something they have been missing. The Buccaneers finished atop the NFC South a year ago. If they hope to repeat, they will need fresh faces like Barton to step up.
Gee, how in the world did the Bucs ever win two division titles the last two years with Robert Hainsey starting? Must be an NFL miracle.
But back to Barton: There may be more pressure on Barton than there was on Tristan Wirfs when he was drafted in 2020. Yes, there was massive pressure on Wirfs. However, Wirfs wasn’t transitioning to a new position tackle.
Yeah, Joe gets it. Barton played center as a freshman at Duke. Playing offensive line in the ACC is a bit different than playing right tackle at Iowa in the B1G. Wirfs, to some degree, was more battle-tested than Barton.
Does Joe doubt Barton will pick things up eventually? No. He’s a Dukie. Joe would expect no less from that brainiac college. But learning a new position on the NFL level and learning a new playbook and learning how to be a professional all at the same time? That’s a lot to ask.
Joe is confident in the following: Barton will be better in December than he will be in September.
July 23rd, 2024 at 3:53 am
If he really Is then Baker can cook!
July 23rd, 2024 at 6:24 am
the competition with hainsey seems like smokescreen. If bucs truly believe hainsey is their guy they shouldve drafted somebody else. QBs like large human in front of them. Barton will start on gameday.
July 23rd, 2024 at 7:32 am
Lots of different ways to get to 8 and 9 or 9 and 8 records – even some with a cr*ppy center.
Usually middle of the road teams have a bad starting position or two. After two years of underperforming, all good organizations move on from guys like Robert Hainsey.
July 23rd, 2024 at 7:33 am
Lots of different ways to get to 8 and 9 or 9 and 8 records – even some with a bad center.
Usually middle of the road teams have a bad starting position or two. After two years of underperforming, all good organizations move on from guys like Robert Hainsey.
July 23rd, 2024 at 7:34 am
Fully agree that Barton will be doing well by December, maybe even sooner. We don’t know what type of training he is doing on his own before camp either. So much respect and optimism for him already.
July 23rd, 2024 at 8:05 am
With the lack of talent with the interior O-line the last two seasons and NO secondary besides AWJ it’s a miracle we won the division twice even in a weak division. For that alone I will say coach did a great job.
July 23rd, 2024 at 8:12 am
Joe will you be at Practice tomorrow? If so can’t wait to read about the practice notes. When is the 1st padded practice? That when I will actually care to read about O-line and D-line practice notes.
July 23rd, 2024 at 8:37 am
The joint practices will be telling for Barton and the OL, with real hitting in pads. I’ll be at the Jags’ practices to see Barton. BTW, the Jags’ practices are free and they have one in the stadium.
July 23rd, 2024 at 9:19 am
What will the first offensive play from scrimmage be against Washington on opening day?
July 23rd, 2024 at 9:49 am
I get that Robert Hainsey is a good guy, a worker, and seemingly your friend but the passionate defense of Hainsey and acting incredulous to his very clear shortcomings is wild. He’s a depth guy, thats it – which is fine, but they very clearly needed a big upgrade with that weak interior line.
July 23rd, 2024 at 11:06 am
The simple solution to not putting too much pressure on Barton is this; start Hainsey until Barton is ready.
July 23rd, 2024 at 11:33 am
# Dave Pear : Probably a run up the middle lol
July 23rd, 2024 at 11:43 am
Throw him out there day 1 but don’t expect him to be a stud from the get go. May take a year.
July 23rd, 2024 at 11:57 am
@Dave Pear It will be a handoff to White up the gut only this time he will hit the hole hard without hesitation and there will actually be a hole for a 13 yard gain.
July 23rd, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Why in the world did Bucs draft a Center with their no 1 pick when they had Robert Hainsey starting?
And Bucs went 9-8 last year with Ryan Neal- why in the world did they sign J Whitehead?
July 23rd, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Oh yeah thats the ticket Citrus! Start a guy who isnt even average, but below average. We got rookie quarterbacks across the league starting day one but oh no, lets not start one of the highest graded, smartest offensive lineman in the draft. We can start Tristan Wifs, Goedeke day one, but lets not start Barton who was arguably higher graded than either in the draft. Cmon man, Barton will be day one starter
July 23rd, 2024 at 12:29 pm
THROUGH A KEYHOLE
JOE: “How in the world did the Bucs ever win two division titles?”
His statement was sarcastic, but he brings up a great point. Stats look at one thing at a time – rush rank, passer rankings, etc. The media looks at stats. It’s looking at football through a keyhole.
Licht and Bowle’s brand of Buc football is complimentary football. Offense, defense, and ST working as an ecosystem that attempts to set the other side of the football up for success. It’s a broader lens and difficult for media to see.
When TB12 came to town. Everyone gushed about TB12. Chris Simms noted the Bucs had, “The most complete team.” That’s why we won the SB and that’s why we continue to win.
July 23rd, 2024 at 1:52 pm
Football is around the corner. Bring on September!
July 23rd, 2024 at 1:55 pm
Yet another indictment of the interior o-line run blocking, even if some people still refuse to believe it.
July 23rd, 2024 at 2:13 pm
Yes, Bartonis a bit more exposed than Wirfs was. He appears to bring a decent enough amount of character and maturity to meet the challenge. I doubt the staff would knowingly overload him. They are not running scared either.
July 23rd, 2024 at 3:12 pm
I’m more worried about our guard situation than center. We need to get some decent/good play out of someone there.
@Dave Pear
“What will the first offensive play from scrimmage be against Washington on opening day?”
Play action bomb to Palmer or McMillan 😎
July 23rd, 2024 at 4:21 pm
gofortheface30 Says:
July 23rd, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Work on your reading comprehension sir. I didn’t say not to start Barton. I didn’t say to start Hainsey. If you had read Joe’s article carefully and understood it, you would have then understood my tongue in cheek comment. It’s all about player development. The CBS scribe writes something very carefully crafted. Joe leads with “Could Graham Barton be under too much pressure?” Read Joe’s article carefully. I knew my comment would get a rise, but not from whom. Joe no doubt knew he would get a rise as well.
July 24th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
.89 yards before contact and somehow it was White ‘s fault. Hainsey was in the backfield more than White. He will be hard pressed to see the field this year or ever again. Last year on his contract then down the road. But bye. Mauch and the two free agents on the hot seat now. I hope we can pick up a guy or two in the last cut downs. I’m not too confident in those guys. Not much of an improvement from last year that is readily apparent. Big gamble by Licht IMO. But go BUCS!