Liam Coen Explains Graham Barton-Robert Hainsey Competition
July 21st, 2024
It sounds like stud first-round pick Graham Barton won’t be gifted a starting job at center, and no, he’s not competing for a starting guard gig.
New Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen hopped on The Sick Podcast — Pirate Parlay recently and raved bout Hainsey’s true leadership and professionalism, calling the fourth-year center a great dude to be around.
Coen wants Barton to be a leader as a rookie center, but he’s more concerned with Barton avoiding mistakes.
It smelled to Joe like Barton had an expected learning curve through spring practices.
“Graham will have to minimize just kind of the snafus in order for him to be able to win that job,” Coen said. “And Hainsey has to continue to play at a consistent high level for him to win that job. It’s definitely something that we have to move through.”
One thing Joe knows about Hainsey, who is a popular punching bag for many Bucs fans, is that he is a hungry dude with a tremendous work ethic. Now he’s in a contract year after two years as a starter — and Joe has no doubt Hainsey is crazy motivated.
Out of Notre Dame with a finance degree, Hainsey is smart dude like Duke graduate Barton, perhaps even smarter. So Joe doesn’t expect that Barton landed in the offensive line room and stood out as a super genius.
Of course, Joe believes Barton wins the center job, but it might be a closer competition than it appears on the surface.
Regardless, Joe’s confident the Bucs will roll with whomever they think gives them the best chancce to win in the critical Week 1 game against Washington at The Licht House.
July 21st, 2024 at 10:22 pm
Good for Liam. Competition breeds excellence. I think we all know who starts opening day, barring a Logan the Oaf incident.
July 21st, 2024 at 10:54 pm
Maybee Baarton needs more time, Hainsey should not be resigned for 2025, he is too small and not physical enough and likely a reason the run game sucked so much
July 21st, 2024 at 11:02 pm
Agreed Joe. Hainsey is not an All Pro center but he is not the root of the problem either. The whole interior line looked like crap at times. Hainsey had guys on either side of him who left alot to be desired lat year. He improved greatly after stepping in for Jensen. However I dont think he wins the job this year.
I really do wish they started Barton at LG though.
Go Bucs!
July 21st, 2024 at 11:46 pm
I’m loving Coem’s attitude about this offense. It is difficult to come out swinging at C first year. Could put Barton at LG and that can hopefully help Hainsey’s game.
July 22nd, 2024 at 12:55 am
Let’s not fool ourselves, Graham Barton will be the starting center week 1. It just is what it is. That said I’m all for competition at every position and letting the chips fall where they may.
July 22nd, 2024 at 2:21 am
Put Logan The Oaf exclusively on the kick return team. Maybe he can fall on a few opponents in preseason instead of his own guys.
July 22nd, 2024 at 5:22 am
All in on Coen. Good strategies!
July 22nd, 2024 at 5:43 am
This is all coach speak lol. It’s Baker vs Trask all over again.
July 22nd, 2024 at 5:52 am
Yeah, Hainsey is going to win the job, and get a fat contract to be the Bucs starting center. Just like Trask won the QB job last year now Baker is the back up at name your NFL team. Not happening. Barton will be just what this Oline has been missing at center, a people remover. Stop the nonsense, Barton IS the starting center.
July 22nd, 2024 at 7:16 am
Guessing since Coen worked with John Wolford at the Rams that there could be a Trask and Wolford competition for the 1st backup QB position under Baker. You never know.
July 22nd, 2024 at 10:12 am
Bernie – that’s absolutely guaranteed.
July 22nd, 2024 at 10:30 am
I don’t know why nobody talks about Hainsey at LG. He’s played there before and with Wirfs on 1 side and Barton on the other he can be Solid
July 22nd, 2024 at 10:55 am
heyjude- I agree with you and somehow autocorrect likes you better as Bernie. LOL. Sorry.
July 22nd, 2024 at 12:34 pm
Can’t we move him Hainsey to LG? Wasn’t that his natural position in college?
July 22nd, 2024 at 12:45 pm
Too funny, Dave! It’s all okay.
July 22nd, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Wow I kinda remember a certain position battle last year that was really a good smoke screen. JL seemed to have his mind set from the start about Barton this draft. I don’t really like wirfs situation is pretty critical now and they throw the smoke screen on this. We already know where everybody stands with Hainsey, I think Barton has the job but just to soothe certain people’s minds it’s another ball of smoke. I think Hainsey is a real good backup for now. The smarts aren’t what matters here, it’s the physicallity the real grit Hainsey doesn’t have cause he’s a gentle giant, Let’s Go Bucs!!!!
July 22nd, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Hainsey is a below average starter and above average backup at C.
FYI – Hainsey played RT in college at ND. At the Senior Bowl, he played LG, C and RG.
July 22nd, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Hainsey will do well snapping the ball to Kyle with the number 3s this training camp. His leadership will help Kyle better master the critical role of clipboard holder.
July 22nd, 2024 at 10:49 pm
Happy for the competition. Best man wins.