Graham Barton Explains Rise Of The Offensive Line
December 1st, 2024
Graham Barton offers insight.
While the Bucs have a losing record and will have to scratch and claw their way to a potential playoff berth, one thing about the Bucs has been a joy to watch.
That’s how the offensive line may now be the strength of the team.
Oh, sure, the Bucs have a good run game, and that’s in part due to the line developing so well. Naturally, Joe would have mentioned receivers but now the Bucs really only have one tried and true receiver, Mike Evans, and even he isn’t quite 100 percent (depending who you listen to).
So yeah, the offensive line has really developed and you could say they are a top-10 unit or better when healthy.
Joe asked rookie center Graham Barton why the line has evolved into a tough force.
“Liam,” Barton said of Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen.
“He puts us in a good position to be successful. The way he mixes in play-action pass, and the way we run the ball and then quick throws.
“So when we do need to push the ball down the field we can do that because we showed the defensive line multiple looks. It kind of gives them a second to hesitate.
“It’s a testament to, one, him.”
And like Billy Mays would say, “But wait, there’s more!”
“And two, the work we put in as a unit,” Barton added. “The countless hours and tons and tons of reps. We sort of gelled as the season has gone on.”
And that, in turn, has really sprung the run game. Barton insisted he could be playing better and the line has room to improve.
“I hope Sunday was a game we can build on,” Barton said about curb-stomping the Giants last week. “I think we left some things out there at the end of the game that we can clean up on.”
Barton added all of his offensive line teammates are hungry for improvement.
“Continue to work and never being satisfied, that is sort of a key,” Barton said of the offensive line’s goal. “Always looking to improve.”
Joe sees the Bucs’ offensive line as the best it’s been since 2021, and maybe the best since the Super Bowl season of 2020.
December 1st, 2024 at 12:49 am
I agree with u Joe n, hope Bartons right n Baker n the Bucs always try 2 improve=WIN!!!!!
December 1st, 2024 at 1:57 am
Graham Barton hasn’t been an awful OL for his rookie year. I’m still impressed with his ability and consistency to be physical. Lot of really experienced and explosive DL he has to go up against and most of the time it’s 2 DL he has to be matched up against. So kudos to the rookie duke product.
December 1st, 2024 at 4:35 am
J.L. has nailed it, AGAIN ! What a great pick. Wirfs is the best tackle in the NFL, Luke went from most disappointing to a top 3 RT, Cody has dramatically improved in year 2, and Barton is a stud and future all-pro center. Jason nailed Kancey last year. Vita is a monster. But I think Jason should stick with free agent or trading for OLB talent. He has nailed it with JPP and Suh. We need a JPP or Simeon Rice type to come in and dominate. Looking like Zyon and Tykee Smith are going to be great. Defense has everything except the Edges. Anyway, Go Bucs. 35-13 Bucs win, Evans gets 7 for 120 & 2 TDs
December 1st, 2024 at 5:12 am
Not dissing on the 2020-21 guys but I truly see these dudes as equal or better. The weak link is of course Bredeson but he has outperformed his contract for sure. We have a JAG at LT right now but with Wirfs?
Donovan was never nearly as good as was claimed. Cappa although good has not been exactly All Pro.
We need to find some depth. My hope is that Klien can be the guy at LG. If that pans out Jason may have a hard time paying all these dudes. Wirfs, Mauch, Barton and Goedeke have All Pro talent. Hainsey (looked excellent filling in for Barton) and now Klien? Who knows maybe even the Big German, Metz will develop. That sounds like The NFLs Best O-Line to me…PFF grades be damned.
BTW I loved seeing Hainsey out there on the goal line with Vea Sunday. Show em you are gonna run and then do it! Wow! Can you say Jumbo?!?
Go Bucs!
December 1st, 2024 at 5:24 am
the ceiling is high for this group as we watch them escalate…
the big behemoths…the big uglies…the big fuglies…whatever you like to call them…
they are really growing as a unit…
can’t wait to see big tristan back in there…
and last week skule did just fine
December 1st, 2024 at 6:39 am
One word, Liam. We can’t let a young offensive mind out of the building. When’s Bowles retirement party?
December 1st, 2024 at 6:50 am
Positive words from Graham. He is a rookie and is still improving. Agree with garro too. We do have a lot of talent. Definitely would like to see more of Elijah Blue too.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:23 am
Keep Liam. Hire Saleh.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:25 am
Knock off the anti-Bowles crap. Who do you think helped Licht bring Coen here? This OLine is starting to jell. That’s one big reason why BM is able to throw it to his TEs and RBs (like White), plus do his usual heroics (and scare us fans to death worrying about Buc Luck). BTW, I notice Detroit has still only lost 1 game so far this season. Wonder who beat them fair and square? Hmmmmm.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:35 am
Let’s see – who is the only head coach in the NFL with a losing record for two franchises, who gave Tom Brady the only losing season he ever experienced in his entire life, who is supposed to be a defensive masturmind and yet oversees the league’s worst pass defense over the last three seasons, who is renowned for failing at situational football every time?
Hint – his last name sort of rhymes with bozo.
December 1st, 2024 at 7:57 am
Nice to finally see the oline as a plus position group, but that is what you are paid to be.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:27 am
@garro – loved that Jumbo pkg with VV. Show the D we’re coming and run right over them!
December 1st, 2024 at 8:29 am
@Orl it’s not personal. It’s business. With a defensive head coach, unless you have Tom Brady, you’ll win a championship once every 20 years. Today, with all the rules, it’s about scoring points and the way to do that is to have an innovative offensive mind at HC.
December 1st, 2024 at 8:32 am
We fired Tony Dungy
December 1st, 2024 at 8:39 am
Is Godeke going to be a long term starter or are the Bucs looking to improve his position. He has been merely average with a touch of plus.
I suspect he’s going to have to beat out some quality competition and he is in Hainseys class on talent
December 1st, 2024 at 8:58 am
The pass blocking has been very good with Barton moving the inside defender away from Baker’s vision. The run blocking is improving but inconstant. Bucky had a couple big runs last week, but there were also some runs with very short gains. Still some meat on the run bone. LFG!
December 1st, 2024 at 10:22 am
@ Dave Pear. Keep the 2022 season in context when you talk about our losing record. JBF as well, has a tendency to re-awaken the record of that 2022 season in order to make a point, and yet it’s amazing how annoyed some of the staff at JBF get when we leave players in the game that didn’t need to be left in the game…then they get injured. This is Monday morning QBing.
Again, let’s remind you and anyone still reading these comments that we were playing for NOTHING in that last game of 2022’s season vs ATL. We had clinched not only the division but a playoff berth with or without that game. I just don’t understand why we care that we were 8-9 or 9-8 going into the first round of the playoffs? Does anyone really care after that season ended that “we might have lost in the first round to Dallas, but we had a winning record!” …who cares?
Bowles went up in that game and he pulled his starters. We keep Brady in and/or Evans, and then they get hurt before we are able to play Dallas in the playoffs and Bowles would have been crucified on Dale Mabry. You hate Bowles you blame him for everything, even when he finally does something right for a change. It was a sound tactical decision prepping for the first round of the playoffs.
December 1st, 2024 at 11:39 am
It would suck if we lost Liam after the season. As Barton made clear, the system and play calling help the offensive line. It is not just the bodies, but the play calling as well. Both are important.
December 1st, 2024 at 1:13 pm
Zoo – facts are facts. Anything else is an excuse. After the loss that gave Brady his only losing season in his entire life (and I’m sure Tom’s grateful for that record being ruined), the Bucs came out flatter than a silicon wafer, at home, in the playoffs, and made the Cowboys look legit……for that game only……after soiling the bed for weeks, and the following week.
That season followed the infamous collapse in the last 35 seconds of Rams playoffs after Brady heroics led them to a tie. That should have led to a firing, but instead it led to a promotion.
Ronde Barber says it true – “You are what your record says you are.”
Coich is a Loser. Period.