Greg Gaines Offers Feedback On Graham Barton
July 26th, 2024
Thirst for Bucs knowledge.
Bucs defensive tackle Greg Gaines is easily an NFL veteran. He’s entering his sixth season, just about double the average NFL career lifespan.
So Joe thought, who better to ask about Bucs rookie center Graham Barton. Well, Joe may have been premature.
“It’s hard to say without pads on yet,” Gaines confessed. “We’re not going full speed yet.”
Yes, the pads will come on Monday, per Todd Bowles. Tomorrow, the Bucs have a day off and practices resume Sunday. Still, Gaines said, even in underwear football, you can get an idea of how a rookie is coming along, even in this early stage of training camp.
“I think he’s doing pretty good,” Gaines said. “He seems to have a handle on the playbook so far. Being a center, you have to do a lot. Coordinate the whole line, all the blocking schemes. He seems to be doing well with that.
“He seems to have good feet. He seems pretty athletic.”
It appears the Bucs are sort of taking their time with Barton. First, the team has never publicly referred to Barton as a center much less a starting center. And in the first practice of training camp, Barton split time between the first- and second-teams.
So Joe asked Gaines if he thought it was better for the Bucs to take their time with Barton or if he should just be thrown in the deep end of the pool and fend for himself.
Gaines believes with the many responsibilities a center has and how it can directly impact the play of the offense, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“A lot of positions, especially center, it takes some time to really get down,” Gaines said. “There are weird things that come up and a veteran center would know what to do whereas a brand new guy might struggle with and that screws with the entire offense.
“I think it’s good, especially for a center, to ease him in.”
So there you have it. Gaines believes Barton is showing promise. How well he’s transitioning from an ACC left tackle to an NFL center? Get back with Gaines after the two have locked horns for a few practices.
July 26th, 2024 at 12:13 pm
That certainly sounds like a promising report.
July 26th, 2024 at 12:13 pm
He’s going to start regardless. He’s practicing with the 1’s
July 26th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Odd how little emphasis (and even mentioning) the pre-season games are given and “talked about.”
I’d be interesting to know if they’re planning on playing-the-starters, or being cautious about possible injuries and playing mostly “the depth.”
With pads-on practice, they still won’t be playing as if it’s a real game; very few teams do. So, when are the actual game-conditions going to occur to answer these athletic/play-management questions about Graham Barton, if not in the pre-season games?
Ask about plans for the pre-season games, please (I know, Bowles: “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”) Nevermind.
Actually, I’m “good” with:
1) Athletically – NFL.com overall rating: 90%
2) Mentally – “Went to Duke.”
That should equal an auto-upgrade in the all-important “inside-O-line-run-blocking” no matter what happens, Pre-season.
Lions, Eagles, 49ers and Chiefs (Falcons humiliation-wins): can’t wait!
July 26th, 2024 at 1:14 pm
Splitting between the ones and two’s isn’t a bad thing. Gives him experience with both the starting, and the backup QB
July 26th, 2024 at 1:41 pm
Yeah he’s a 1st rd pick and he’s a good OL and player make no mistake about that. Also to be fair to Barton Wirfs wasn’t even there all
Summer as he was holding out for a new contract. I think once pads are on and preseason comes along it will mean more to these guys.
That’s always how it works. Worst case scenario we move him to LG and start someone else at C which is what I said on draft day.
Sucks Ali Marpet retired and Ryan Jensen hurt. Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski , Leonard Fournette, and Antonio Brown. Losing all them guys sucked for our elite offense. We were stacked for real. A couple more years and we will be there again. I have string guy feeling about it. Yep defense is almost complete also. We can be a really good football team this season, it is a tough schedule though.
July 26th, 2024 at 1:47 pm
A lot of people have already been speculating drafting a RB in rd 1 next year. That’s kinda crazy. Tampa bay doesn’t even run the football. Lol.
If you ask me about what’s next I’ll say skill positions, weak link upgrades.
So the positions to upgrade would be OLB/CB/DE. On offense it would have to be TE/RB/LG/C. Whichever one Barton isn’t playing draft that one.
Hopefully we can get all these holes fixed in one more offseason. Then we’re right on track with where we need to be.
July 26th, 2024 at 1:54 pm
Easing him in is alright as long as we don’t ease him in like Trask.
As far as next year (long way off)….but I’d like to see a replacement for LVD, possible replacement for Godwin (perhaps we already have that with McMillan…..and an additional edge rusher.
If a top TE is available, that would help.
July 26th, 2024 at 4:54 pm
Well the clock is ticking. They need to make a decision on the direction they’re going w/ Barton for this season. If he’s not going to start at center then they should be giving him mucho reps at LG. Otherwise, they might end up getting caught with their “Richard” in the wind. Couple of weeks after the pads come on is plenty of time to get a plan sorted out.. Doesn’t mean he can’t end up playing center but give the man a little breathing room. He’s coming off a full season followed by preparing for the draft..Nothing wrong at giving him first dibs to earn the LG spot this year w/ an eye towards gearing up for center next year. Look, it’s not like he’s been starting center at Georgia the last two seasons. He’s effectively never played the position.
July 26th, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Start him! Right from the rip he’ll be fine
July 26th, 2024 at 10:53 pm
Gotta love the Bucs fanbase! 2-3 days into training camp and their already looking at the next draft!!!!!
SMH!!!!!!!
July 26th, 2024 at 10:57 pm
The next
draft is going to suck!
Because we’re going to be drafting 32nd!
If you have any other expectation, you’re a loser
July 27th, 2024 at 4:22 am
Graham will be starting. He’s the real deal. I think heat was mentioned awhile back and that could be a factor getting used to right now. Graham will be good to go. Only two more weeks before our preseason game. Can’t wait.
July 30th, 2024 at 12:36 pm
Would love to see them bring Jensen in just to help get some of th little things in Bartons head. Just as was suggested by Gaines. After all he still gets a check from the Glazers and still has a ton of respect at One Buc.
Go Bucs!