Ex-Buc Marvels At Graham Barton Accomplishment
September 11th, 2025
Cameron Brate.
Joe thinks what Graham Barton pulled off Sunday has been criminally underrated, as has been the next-level offensive line crafting by Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
How many starting centers can kick out to left tackle and play well in a starting role on short notice? Joe wishes Team Glazer or Licht would order a staff member at One Buc Palace to do the research.
When has that ever happened?
Offensive line depth was a question mark entering this Bucs season. It seemed weaker than it was last year. Todd Bowles himself even said the team doesn’t have a backup center.
Well, it turns out the Bucs’ guard depth was strong with veteran Michael Jordan signed in July, straight from the zoo. He started Sunday at left guard as Ben Bredeson was stout at center after relocating at left guard. Anyone see a bad snap? Joe sure didn’t.
That’s not just depth on display, it’s versatility. And now three guys have invaluable experience at different positions.
Things will get back to normal when Tristan Wirfs returns later this month or in October, but Joe does not discount what was seen Sunday and its implications.
Former Bucs tight end Cameron Brate sounded in awe.
“Really credit to those guys, Brate said. “Michael Jordan, right, signed him off a tryout at the beginning of training camp and he’s starting left guard Week 1 and he did a great job. And then Graham like, probably the only center in the league that can bump out to left tackle, pretty incredible. So, just considering all that being Week 1 on the road, new [offensive coordinator], I thought it was pretty good by the offense.”
Brate’s take came on the Buccaneers Radio Network. (Joe listened on the SiriusXM app)
Joe’s glad Brate acknolwedged the uniqueness of Barton’s performance, one Joe hopes he can repeat on Monday night against savage Texans edge rushers.
September 11th, 2025 at 11:58 am
Bruce Matthews is the only one that I think ever pulled that off.
September 11th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
Hmmm. Or maybe get a better backup LT so you can keep four very good players who have chemistry together in tact, instead of hoping for three wildcards to be aces. But you can’t be known as a genius coach if you don’t do complex things, so here we are.
Coaches are there to assess what they have and win games. Bucs won. Right move. If the Bucs lost Sunday, then Bowles would deserve the arrows you hurl by the half hour. –Joe
September 11th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
Hmmm. What about the Dophins’ Dwight Stephenson back in the day?
September 11th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
……then Bowles would deserve the arrows you hurl by the half hour. –Joe
Nice call out Joe, wish you would do it on a few others. I can’t understand why they call themselves Bucs Fans, more like Bus Shams, not fans at all.
September 11th, 2025 at 12:18 pm
Charlie Heck must be some kind of prize. Obviously Pat Kirwan was spot on about him. Jason must be scouring the planet looking for a replacement if Heck waves the matador cape that badly.
September 11th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
Hey Joe, where’s that Whatevs creep? What a troll and a yahoo. Sure, genuine fans have a right to criticize their team(s). Aqualung has that right as do we all. Being a Bucs fan is a rollercoaster. Whatevs is NO fan, just a bloviating phony. Barton is very talented, and he’s proving, yet again, that Licht is the best GM in Tampa Bay history. I hope Bowles and Grizzard are aware of the refs as they gameplan. C’mon, Bucs, 2-0!!!! Break the MNF curse!
September 11th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Hey Joe, where’s that Whatevs creep? What a troll and a yahoo. Sure, genuine fans have a right to criticize their team(s). Aqualung has that right as do we all. Being a Bucs fan is a rollercoaster. Whatevs is NO fan, just a bloviating phony. Barton is very talented, and he’s proving, yet again, that Licht is the best GM in Tampa Bay history. I hope Bowles and Grizzard are aware of the refs as they gameplan. C’mon, Bucs, 2-0!!!! Break the MNF curse!
September 11th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
Magnum TE
That’s how Cam Brate looks, elite moustachery
September 11th, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Aqualung getting called out. Thanks Joe! Enough of the same old tired takes.
September 11th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Where’s Whatevr? I figured he/she/it was phony. Snort! Licht sold me on his GM signing when he brought Cam Brate on board as an UDFA. I also remember all the Harvard jokes.
September 11th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
First time I’ve ever seen a seen a center switch to LT! OLine should be even better Monday night after getting reps together.
September 11th, 2025 at 1:40 pm
The Texans defense is alot better than the Falcons defense with two good pass rushers.
Their offensive line has issues as evidenced in last weeks game scoring only 9 points.
Baker can’t start out like last weeks game. Griz needs to amp up the run game early otherwise the Bucs could be scrambling at the end of game to win. The Bucs need a do or die effort to walk away with a WIN.
September 11th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
It is downright incredible. Not only did he make the move, but he played really well there too.
I’m sure his agent will make sure to remind the front office of this feat when contract time comes around.
September 12th, 2025 at 1:39 am
Calm yourself Joe. Bowles is not a good coach