Graham Barton Talks About Wanting To Hit Teammates In The Face
May 27th, 2025
Bigger Graham Barton.
Joe often references how a first full offseason in an NFL weight room should do wonders for a second-year player.
And that’s not just the expertise of the training staff.
Getting pushed by professional teammates is part of that positive impact.
Consider Graham Barton, the Bucs’ first-round pick last year. The starting center is in the midst of his first full offseason training with the Bucs and the likes of freakish strongmen Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, along with starting guards Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch.
The intensity has hit extreme levels Barton said today.
“We work our butts off. [I] definitely got a lot stronger,” Barton said. “When you’ve got guys who want to do so well at their jobs and are so hungry, you know, to continue to improve, it’s just constant competition in there. At times you want to hit each other in the face. It really is good for you. We have fun.”
Barton went on to say he enjoys the “grind” and “I feel like we all got a lot better.”
The Bucs’ offensive line room is unique in several ways and that shows up in Barton’s offseason experience. The core group has no old veterans who take more offseason time out of the gym. Bredeson is the old man of the group after just turning 27 in February.
It’s got to help Barton to be surrounded by workhorse players still striving to reach their primes.
May 27th, 2025 at 5:54 pm
Every O-Lineman should be benching at least 415 lbs. which is not a lot when you weigh 300+ and are an athlete for a living. Really a 500 Pound single REP bench is the Gold Standard for O-Lineman. I would love to know what each of their Individual 1 rep Maxs are JOE. Please ASK them JOE–they all know. Go Bucs!!
May 27th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
Our OLine has led the turnaround for the Bucs, and made all the difference. Every one of them isn’t just huge, but also totally devoted to being the best & to each other. Baker, our RBs, our TEs, and all of our receivers are truly blessed to have those beasts opening holes for them & protecting them.
May 27th, 2025 at 6:12 pm
A good football team starts in the trenches, especially the offensive line. We’re a good football team. And getting better. No surprise it’s starting with our offensive line. I like our second year centers attitude though. Sky’s the limit for this team.
May 27th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
If all the starting O Linemen can bench 500 lbs. it will/would make the news. IMO
May 27th, 2025 at 6:25 pm
All under 27. Damn. This is a young veteran team. That’s why they will be SB contenders for the next 3-4 years on this current roster.
May 27th, 2025 at 6:35 pm
Bro, if him and Mauch are getting even bigger, DAMN! We might be 1a 1b with the Eagles this year as far as O Line.
May 27th, 2025 at 6:53 pm
They most certainly *ARE* getting much bigger. Most NFL players do- especially from rookie to second year. And you can bet they all pushed each other to work much harder than any other team. That’s how you get much better! A guy like Wirfs just being there motivates everyone around him to want to be just like him.
May 27th, 2025 at 7:17 pm
Scary to think he’s only turning 23.
May 27th, 2025 at 7:27 pm
Save that thought for Atlanta.
May 27th, 2025 at 7:46 pm
Beat Atlanta
May 27th, 2025 at 7:58 pm
My highschool friend who played tackle in the NFL, set the Auburn freshmen bench press record at 575 in 1998.
So, every single NFL offensive lineman in the NFL should be benching at least 500 lbs or they’re lazy.
May 27th, 2025 at 7:58 pm
Stomp Atlanta!
May 27th, 2025 at 8:57 pm
This man is gonna be a pro bowl center if not an all pro
May 27th, 2025 at 9:27 pm
“At times you want to hit each other in the face. It really is good for you. We have fun.”
________
Classic!
This kid should be great.
May 27th, 2025 at 9:55 pm
Saw mauch last summer here in town and he got huge. I am excited to see how it worked for graham..
May 27th, 2025 at 9:57 pm
OL is gonna be so good this season. Barton is gonna be great. Please stay healthy fellas, OL and Baker are the straws that stir this Bucs drink. Atlanta is gonna take a week 1 beat down.
May 27th, 2025 at 10:15 pm
Sometimes a fist fight is good at least once a year
May 27th, 2025 at 10:19 pm
He seems bigger than last year in his photo too.
May 28th, 2025 at 12:02 am
Kind of like the feeling most real fans got watching the Bucs pass defense in 2024.
May 28th, 2025 at 12:30 am
Wow, he has really bulked up, good, the O Line looks good, hope our backups are good too. I am not up to speed with that.
May 28th, 2025 at 1:52 am
Wow Joe, I gotta admit that Barton scared me a bit there. Not sure why though.
If our guys all got stronger in the weight room? OMG!
Go Bucs!
May 28th, 2025 at 3:18 am
The kid was HUGE last year. ” All Muscle”! This year he must be Astonishing!
And he’s what? 6’4″? I mean… how many humans do you see that are those proportions on a yearly basis on the street? None….? For most of us “maybe” once in a decade…. He’s one of the largest humans on the planet (all muscle) and his main thoughts are SMASH, DESTROY, and What’s for Dinner!
I’d feel pretty confident if I were Baker and sticking in the pocket, probably not an issue this year.
With the addition of the rookies, there’s a great chance we’re going to the Big Show.
May 28th, 2025 at 4:43 am
Loving Barton’s raw honesty! Along with the heat you can bet they feel like hitting someone in the face. He is young and looking fierce! Can’t wait for the season to start.
May 28th, 2025 at 5:14 am
Just two years ago the O line couldn’t dominate anyone! This is straight from the coach’s mouth. What a long way they have come in a short period of time.
May 28th, 2025 at 6:23 am
“Bredeson is the old man of the group after just turning 27 in February. It’s got to help Barton to be surrounded by workhorse players still striving to reach their primes.”
The thought of Wirfs still striving to reach his prime is awesome. Dude has yet to become the full beast he is capable of becoming. This line is top 3…maybe even #1 IMO.
May 28th, 2025 at 6:44 am
Bucky is going to feast with these guys blowing up d lineman and linebackers.
May 28th, 2025 at 9:38 am
@Kenton and D.R.
Agree with both of you! And guess who else does? Baker!!!
I’ve seen QB’s show love and appreciation to their OL but in Baker’s case it seems much more than just gratitude. It’s like under his smaller frame is an OL dying to escape. He just seems to effortlessly bond with these guys!
As much as I’m sure Baker appreciates his receivers and RB’s he seems to have a genuine BOND with his OL. And they go crazy when he trucks a defender!!!
May 28th, 2025 at 9:43 am
This Offensive Line is going to turn alot of heads in the League this season. LFG!!!!
May 28th, 2025 at 10:15 am
okay now this is really encouraging
May 28th, 2025 at 10:57 am
When Baker is hit late, love watching these big dudes come running. GoDonkey will straight stomp a face in the dirt.
Keep getting bigger, stronger, faster.
Speaking of speed, all of the big dudes can move and open holes downfield. Most O Lines can not do that.
May 28th, 2025 at 1:46 pm
Squats and extensions are far more important than bench pressing. The primary ability to block and maintain position is in the hips and feet. lBenxh pressing is NOT football playing. A disproportionate number of NFL linemen were high school and/or college heavyweight wrestlers. From that sport, they bring foot position/control and core/hip strength to football. It’s about athleticism. And, athleticism spawns in the core, not the chest.
May 28th, 2025 at 4:27 pm
Well, he certainly looks bigger than last year. He already was impressive last year. Now just get this snaps a little sharper.