“Very Few Holes That We Could Poke In Him”
April 26th, 2024
Man, Joe can’t imagine a rookie center in April sounding and looking more impressive that Bucs first-round pick Graham Barton did today at One Buc Palace.
Of course, that doesn’t win games, but impressive is impressive.
Barton took the stage today with Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht to his left and head coach Todd Bowles to his right.
Licht said the Bucs had lots of time to “study and dissect” Barton and “there were very few holes that we could poke in him.”
The skills and the person, the Bucs love it it all, Licht explained. He also noted that Barton, the focused Duke public policy graduate, is the kind of character dude and worker that fits Bowles’ and the Bucs’ desired culture.
Joe loved how Barton artfully deflected questions about his college major and explained that he went to Duke because he liked the people and the focus on excellence, and that his major was secondary to his primary goal of blocking like bad man.
The training camp pads come on in about 15 short weeks. That’s when Barton (6-5, 315 pounds) gets to test himself against the Bucs’ challenging interior defensive line.
Hopefully, they don’t poke too many holes in him.
April 26th, 2024 at 3:01 pm
More than welcome Big fella!!!!
April 26th, 2024 at 3:20 pm
I think this is a major difference in the Bowles Licht regime from BA. These guys actually take “character” into consideration. How many times have the Bucs been burnt by horrid character issues…can you say WASTING the number one pick in the entire draft on a VERY TALENTED cement head with zero character!
Intelligence and character DO count!
I love BA because I’m a fan of “no risk it no biscuit”. I’ll always wonder if he would have been smart enough to have dumped “Fameis” (for lack of character and smarts) Jameis if Licht hadn’t landed Brady?
I’m more impressed by the character we have at WR than any other position!
That’s because lets face it…you don’t see prima donnas much on the OL…WR’s are the worst in the league! The Bucs have one of the best WR tandems in the league and luckily we Buc fans are also blessed with the two classiest WR’s in the league!
April 26th, 2024 at 3:32 pm
StPete, couldn’t agree more with you assessment of the WR group.
I love having a badass center again along with new talent at LG. Hopefully, this will get our running game on track. Now we just start plugging holes on D.
April 26th, 2024 at 3:38 pm
ADJECTIVES
People love using the “nasty” adjective to describe OL but it’s not accurate with Barton.
Barton is “solid”. He’s in the right position, doesn’t lean, great use of hands, good anticipation, GREAT vision and recognition, and he plays big (meaning you can’t run around him).
POKING HOLE
He’s was a tough match up at OT. His arm length with speed rushers (albeit not a significant issue) was the only time he got into trouble. That won’t be an issue moving him inside.
NEW HOLE
Moving to Center will expose Barton to really big, strong men. Can Barton handle a 320-340 lbs DT? TBD.
April 26th, 2024 at 3:41 pm
@stpetebucfan….. I agree.
Character and class fully ingrained into the Bucs culture will benefit the organization as a whole. It will attract the best of the best and help keep our players and coaches. It will build a reputation throughout the league and media and fandom. That is the identity we want. Tacky little things like LFB do not serve us well. The previous coaching regime lacked in these qualities. Let’s put the past behind us and build on what I view as the most solid foundation in this franchise’s history.
April 26th, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Now I can’t wait to see which three players we get tonight. Kneeland? Newton? They’ll probably be gone, but that’s what I said about Barton at first too.
And, yeah, we have classy receivers. All of them. In fact the whole team seems to be high character.
April 26th, 2024 at 3:50 pm
The only flaw with Barton is the fact that he’s the one I wanted them to pick. I have a very poor track record when it comes to the players I like….Winston, Johnny Football and not HoF Evans (I was actually posses about that). The list of my stupidity spans decades. In other words, I’m pretty damn good at being wrong, so don’t get your hopes up too high.
April 26th, 2024 at 4:01 pm
Down the road when we inevitably experience down years, injuries and coaching changes the reputation and character of the team supported by a solid foundation will carry us and offer reassurance to the fans. Job well done Glazer family and Jason Licht. Antonio Brown may have done us a big favor. It’s highly unlikely that the Glazers will ever allow the likes of him or others that proceeded him to be brought in knowingly.
April 26th, 2024 at 4:30 pm
Showing my ignorance in the matter, just how do starting left tackles fare when switching to center in the pros I’m kinda lost for words, but I can’t help but think of goedeke going from right tackle in college to left guard in the pros and not doing well at guard.
April 26th, 2024 at 4:38 pm
Subtifuge.
Cll Barton a Center, to throw off the scent trail to Zack Frazier,Beaux Limmer, or Tanor Bortolini.
Then Barton fills in that bigger hole at Left Guard.
If Licht thinks Sua is a starter, hes gonna be disappointed.
Sua is monster strong, but slow footed. The longer hes in the game, the slower he gets. Not a secret.
Draft a true center. A lil shorter. Bulldog
Let Barton(LG)and Wirfs become long time teammates at the Probowl.
Our offense becomes lethal.
Lethal
April 26th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
@Bring Back the lawn chairs – lots of college tackles move inside at the pro level. There’s a high degree of success too.
Goedeke didn’t work out but an example would be Ali Marpet, Mauch, & Cappa were all college tackles. Even big red himself Ryan Jensen was a tackle before transitioning to center.
It works out more than it doesn’t.
April 26th, 2024 at 4:57 pm
Yep. They’re a real nice good-lookin’ buncha “Choir Boys,” these Bucs!
April 26th, 2024 at 5:02 pm
Ok, now move up in the 2nd and take Mike Sainristil. We need a guy that’s a play making dawg. This guy is Ronde Barber. He’s small but will knock your teeth out. He anticipates and breaks on the ball before it’s thrown. I believe he had 6 ints and 2 TDs. Not in his career but last season. He’s only been a corner for 2 years. I’m so tired of our guys not catching the ball when they are in position to make a play.
April 26th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Finally we can start building a decent running again. Rashad White can go up the middle for more than one yard.