Graham Barton “Has Really Answered The Bell”
August 28th, 2024
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht talks about his two new starting offensive linemen: rookie Graham Barton (right) and Ben Bredeson.
Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht talked to media today and made it clear he has high expections for his first-round draft pick.
That’s center Graham Barton out of Duke, who will try to make fans no longer ache and yearn for retired Ryan Jensen.
“Graham has really answered the bell,” Licht said.
That bell next rings in 11 short days when the Bucs will host Washington and their big defensive front.
Joe was pumped for the way Licht referenced Barton. He didn’t try to say anything like, ‘He’s coming along. Or he’s in a good place for a rookie.’ Licht answered with great confidence.
Also, the GM thinks he got a steal in inexpensive free agent guard Ben Bredeson. He’ll start at left guard.
“Ben has fit right in. You know, he’s got just a great way about him in that [offensive line] room, too,” Licht said. “He’s a two-time captain at Michigan. Very few people can say that. His ability though, too. He’s been a real pleasant surprise for us.”
Bredeson, 26, sort of got caught in the dirty laundry of a Giants team in constant flux. The Bucs paid him a few million bucks but he’s certainly a player that could be worth a lot more, and it seems that’s what Licht is seeing.
Joe is so, so optimistic that the Bucs running game won’t suck for the third consecutive season.
August 28th, 2024 at 12:51 pm
This sounds nothing but good. 🙂 GO BUCS!
August 28th, 2024 at 12:58 pm
CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM
He grades really low. He allowed a high number of sacks. He’s been injury prone. Licht doesn’t BS. Fingers crossed. Time will tell.
August 28th, 2024 at 1:18 pm
If they stay healthy and Barton continues an upward trajectory learning on the fly, this OL is absolutely going to improve the run game. 32nd to no worse than 24th. The national media is overlooking this key piece of the team. We were like the 27th best OL in the league last year and could be 7th this year.
August 28th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Bart and Bred – Chime! Chime! All sounds positive.
August 28th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Bred didn’t grade out that well last year. Let’s hope the scheme fits him better here than with the Giants, and Cars and Pic can coach him up.
August 28th, 2024 at 1:30 pm
Joe, Just a side question, Why did they pull the Jason Licht press conference video. Was watching it on another site and then it said video unavailible. Weird ??
August 28th, 2024 at 1:52 pm
With the primary weapons of White, Otton, Evans and Godiwn. And then throw in support of Palmer, McMillan, Johnson, Irving, Tucker and Culp this offense has the weapons and scheme to really attack.
If this OL holds up and looks NFL average this offense will be fun to watch.
August 28th, 2024 at 2:17 pm
Bucs signed rookie QB Michael Pratt out of Tulane. Looks promising. Could be our backup QB next season?
August 28th, 2024 at 2:25 pm
1buc4you “Joe, Just a side question, Why did they pull the Jason Licht press conference video. Was watching it on another site and then it said video unavailible. Weird ??”
I wasn’t going to bother answering this question as it seems so unbelievablyobvious Joe has nothing to do with your video not playing that Ithought it had to be an inside joke, but then I thought, “Wait a sec.. Ppl ARE pretty stupid!” so I decided to respond with search Google for “troubleshoot video unavailable” to throw a dog a bone. “LOL, you got me..” is my alternate reply if that was a “joke”
August 28th, 2024 at 2:39 pm
I hope our expectations take in consideration our new OC and a slew of new and young players
By midseason, we’ll see a different team with many rising stars
August 28th, 2024 at 2:59 pm
Our GM knows how to put an oline together. You lose two studs unexpectedly and in a couple of seasons, in cap hell no less, they look to be set at Oline for the next half decade or longer. When extensions are you only concern you’re doing well.
August 28th, 2024 at 2:59 pm
One thing that does get mentioned occasionally here that has me uber excited.
This team has chemistry and character!!! Other than than the momentary lunacy of Randy Gregory, Todd Licht has been perfect in assembling a TEAM!!! No more Swaggy’s and the other malcontents the Bucs became famous for.
This seems to especially be working out on the OL!!! I think all the pieces are now in place for a championship OL. All that’s needed is some time playing together and health.
August 28th, 2024 at 2:59 pm
Graham Barton …a leader with a fantastic character and he is very large
August 28th, 2024 at 3:05 pm
‘Joe is so, so optimistic that the Bucs running game won’t suck for the third consecutive season.’
Music to my ears Joe. I’m just as optimistic. Of course, that’s a double-edged sword. IF our running game turns out to be awesome, Bowles will want to use it more & more (we COULD end up averaging 45% run-pass, maybe even more).
And IF that happens, we’ll probably have fewer passing attempts this season than last season. With a bunch of mouths to feed in the passing game … Evans, Godwin, McMillan, Palmer, Otton, White (for starters) … somebody will get short-changed. Being really good at running the ball COULD create one heckuva dilemma (in a good way from a winning perspective though).
August 28th, 2024 at 3:07 pm
StPete … ‘One thing that does get mentioned occasionally here that has me uber excited.’
Please tell me St Pete that you’re not getting ‘uber-excited’ in the same way that Jameis was. At our age, that could be dangerous. (Sorry, the devil made me do it).
August 28th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
Baldinger mentioned last night on the NFL insiders his Rookie to make an impact this year is Barton,,, not everyday the Bucs get a shout out on the network ,,
Could be a Duke thing but it was still good to hear
August 28th, 2024 at 4:09 pm
LMAO D.R.
Yeah I no longer get that “uber excited”. But there’s not a lot I share with Fameis. He’s are more athletic, and wealthy, I like to believe I have more brains and character. But that may be selling JW short. He’s still a young pup and perhaps he’s grown up. Hope he makes it as long as we have!
August 28th, 2024 at 5:10 pm
Everyone is raving about all these UDFA’s making the team . I find it worrisome . Do we have only average players they are competing against in training camp and it makes them appear better than they actually are ? We have to be one of the youngest teams in the league. I do believe our starters are capable of going toe to toe with anybody but goodness we are young at depth . On the silver lining side of my grey cloud it should pay dividends later when the inevitable injuries come .
As always Go BUCS 🏴☠️🏴☠️
August 28th, 2024 at 5:12 pm
I also want to make a prediction . Elijah Klein will be the starting left guard by week 10 . As always Go BUCS 🏴☠️
August 28th, 2024 at 5:49 pm
Noclu4u … ‘We have to be one of the youngest teams in the league.’
You got me curious. Spotrac shows us as the 2nd youngest team in the NFL at 25.7 years. Youngest is Green Bay at 25.2 years, and right behind us is the Rams (also at 25.7) followed by the Eagles (at 25.9), the Chiefs (at 25.9) and the Jaguars (at 25.9) then the Lions (at 26.0).
The difference between us (ranked #2 at 25.7) and the Saints (ranked #22 at 26.7) is only 1 year in average age. Miami’s the oldest team right now, and they’re only showing 27.3 years. Heck, that’d probably be us if we still had Tom Brady on the roster.
August 28th, 2024 at 6:52 pm
Bredeson got a tough break.
He is technically a very good linemen. He has the speed and strength to excel.
But he has the 3d shortest arms ever measured in NFL history.
Why does that matter? When a defensive linemen lunges at you, you wanna employ a “punch” to dissipate his momentum. You take one or usually both arms, and give him a powerful jolt. Done right, this causes him to “pause” for a split second. You use this second to get your hands on the defender, and steer him in which ever direction you need to.
Linemen with very short arms lose that powerful technique. The defender can get his hands on you, before you can hit him. He is able to get in close to you, where you arent able to employ your strength as effectively. He can use his arms to move you aside.
Defenders read the scouting reports. They know this a weakness they can use against you.
Watch the Giant games from last year. The defensive line men are always in close to Ben, and have their hands on him.
Its a weakness. And in the NFL- where everyone is a world class athlete, that big of a weakness will get constantly exploited.
August 28th, 2024 at 7:31 pm
@DR, That’s a high class dilemma to have. Running the ball effectively won’t hurt you in many games. If we get in a shoot out, we’ll have to depend on muscle memory from when all we could do is pass. Baker likes to sling it and we do have the WRs. I could get used to a little smash mouth.