Graham Barton Starts At Left Tackle
September 7th, 2025
New left tackle.
UPDATED: On the Buccaneers Radio Network just now (12:37 p.m.), Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht said Graham Barton will start at left tackle and Ben Bredeson will start at center today in Atlanta.
The Bucs will start Michael Jordan at left guard. Barton played left tackle at Duke through most of his college career.
Licht also did not mention any injury to Charlie Heck, who was scheduled to start and practiced all summer at starting left tackle.
Joe finds this almost shocking, though Licht has discussed this possiblity in the past if Heck was not up to the task. Maybe they thought he wasn’t up to the task?
September 7th, 2025 at 12:43 pm
You got to be kidding me
September 7th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Not sure about this.
September 7th, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Great decision to protect baker. This guy was a beast at LT in college
September 7th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
What in the Heck is going on?
We’ll see how this goes, but this is one of the most “WTF” gameday changes I can remember
September 7th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
Fire Licht for the complete mismanagement of this team from the trainers to the free agency signings. What a joke
September 7th, 2025 at 12:45 pm
So much for continuity and chemistry. I’m shocked though that they’d mess with the Center position since EVERY play starts with the snap to QB. Barton learned some valuable lessons last year especially in the Commanders game. I feel far more secure with Barton snapping the ball than Bredeson. I do not see any experience for him at that position.
This is a MAJOR move! We’re about to test the wisdom of the New OC his very first game!!!
September 7th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
If I have to watch some BS from the Bucs today bc of stunts like this, after suffering through Billy Ball last night, I’m going to rage.
These guys better be making the right call!
September 7th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
Seriously- who’s playing left guard? Klein?
September 7th, 2025 at 12:46 pm
Calm down weaklings, they know what they’re doing.
September 7th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Well this sounds a disaster – so much for getting Heck ready
September 7th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
Seasons over if baker gets injured. Simple as that
September 7th, 2025 at 12:48 pm
Hopefully they arent outsmarting themselves
September 7th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
WTF
September 7th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
That’s a whole left side shake-up. Never been a fan of multiple moves in an injury situation like this. Replacing one guy is a lot more straight forward. Speaks volumes about how much (little) they think of Heck. Potential for disaster just took a big jump in the wrong direction Fingers crossed.
September 7th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
Maybe behind close doors they were practicing this. You never know
September 7th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
I’m so confused. Why would you start 3 guys out of position? Why are we starting a guy elevated from practice squad instead of Klein in the mix? Is Barton really better at LT than heck? Seems like negligence if that’s the case at the backup spot. This has me extremely worried
September 7th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
This was a sound decision. Nothing against Heck but I trust Graham Barton over Heck any day. I have a bigger question mark about Ben Bredeson starting at center. How much practice did he get under center during training camp?
September 7th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
If OLine coach Carberry approved, then I’m good with it.
LFG!!!
September 7th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Something ain’t right! Heck practiced all summer and now we are screwing around with the whole offensive line? WTF! Yikes!
September 7th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
They know something, something. Agree with Bakerfan. Maybe they were practicing this behind closed doors.
September 7th, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Well if Heck is not injured….What is Bowles doing.
September 7th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
As Mr. Spock would say, fascinating.
September 7th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
wow.
September 7th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Wow
That’s a huge shake up for a critical divisional game
September 7th, 2025 at 12:56 pm
Is this what they were hiding behind the garbage cans
September 7th, 2025 at 12:57 pm
Smokescreen baby!!! Wow!
September 7th, 2025 at 1:00 pm
Craziness…. Either something is rotten in Denmark or all the stories about Heck starting have been the biggest diversion since Normandy…as Moe Howard liked to to say, “Weshallsee.”
September 7th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
Wtf?
September 7th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
Don’t like this at all. Messing with the line like this can cause problems and snap issues.
September 7th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
Wtf
September 7th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
Ummmm, defense again ???? Need speedy linebackers
September 7th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
This is awful. WTF?
September 7th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
Bowels blows!! Yea good time to switch it up
September 7th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
This IS CRAZY!!!! At the last minute, we shuffle the line in THIS way. 3 – THREE positions, not just one. Heck + a TE couldn’t hold up? Horrible. I’m pissed. Would have liked to known BEFORE Sunday (for betting purposes).
September 7th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
O dear god
September 7th, 2025 at 1:18 pm
My comment to Joe’s article on Heck — no Excuses on September 6th:
When I read this from this Joe — “Joe doesn’t want to hear excuses for anything Charlie Heck”
All I think of is that LT is the 2nd hardest position to secure on an NFL team. To act like — one of — or the best — OT in football can be replaced by a journeyman — just because he has been here all offseason and we think our scouting and coaching of the line is good — is hyperbole about the scouting and coaching —
and underestimates the key thing — the player at LT is the biggest part of the equation.
Saskbucs comment just after mine:
I’ll believe it when I see it. I want to agree but fear this Heck stinks. Dont think the coaching is taking the stench off. Hope I’m wrong, but it’s why I’m praying they run the ball a ton. Looks like that big bugger can run block decently.
September 7th, 2025 at 1:21 pm
Ha neither is Barton.
September 7th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
Shocking!!!!
September 7th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
It appears my fears about Charlie have been validated. Yikes. Rough start to this game. Offense looks worse than the D somehow.
September 7th, 2025 at 1:30 pm
Just get rid of Bowles please. What team changes half of the line on game day
September 7th, 2025 at 1:31 pm
Obviously this move is NOT working. Just baffling.
September 7th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Back to the drawing board I suppose. I think sometimes people try to be too clever? Maybe they should have started Heck, who at least has started more games the past year at Tackle than Barton and slid protection to that side.
September 7th, 2025 at 1:45 pm
SHOCKING!
September 7th, 2025 at 2:10 pm
I am not a fan of this much movement on the O-line. The last time I saw this was when KC did it when they faced the Bucs in the Super Bowl… and how many miles did Mahomes run that day?
For Baker’s sake, I hope the results are far different.
September 7th, 2025 at 2:37 pm
If this was the plan all along, I’m OK with it. If it’s a panic move… not so much. Line has settled down soo.. so far so good.
September 7th, 2025 at 2:39 pm
entire training camp to deal with this and they panic on game day shame
September 7th, 2025 at 3:03 pm
That is a great strategy with our situation to be honest
September 7th, 2025 at 3:55 pm
I don’t know what is going on with Heck but theres like 3:min left & Barton has done a good ,efficient job as a LT.
September 7th, 2025 at 4:11 pm
Barton is our Left Guard. He’s our center.
If Jordan is at Left Guard, then Bredeson is our Center?
So you’ve got 3 guys at positions they have never played for the Bucs.
Insanity.
I don’t think our offense will be in sync today.
Looks like we will probably start off with a loss.
September 7th, 2025 at 4:33 pm
Last minute shuffling our line was a mistake. They looked out of sync all game. We are lucky to have still won. We have a lot to clean up for next week. LET’S GO
September 7th, 2025 at 4:36 pm
Well sheesh. I only found this out at halftime. Good job Barton!
September 7th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
Check back 2 weeks ago. I told you this.
September 7th, 2025 at 7:40 pm
All you guys are idiots you need athleticism at LT Barton is the most athletic great move.
September 7th, 2025 at 9:00 pm
@firethecannons… this has been on for several weeks now. Not game day.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:53 am
Makes you wonder why they didn’t just match the Justin Skule offer from Minnesota.
September 8th, 2025 at 5:12 am
Well you know what I didn’t rollback the tape yet, but I’d say TB made the right call here. I was actually somewhat more worried about LG and RT even from the Bucs TD plays as I just saw highlight.
I would have to say I think Baker was not sold in the first half as much with this idea as he was the 2nd half, but I think it was the right choice.
Lose a lot of reps, experience, confidence with line shift changes. Hard to win with lot of OL/DL changes especially OL. Losing the blindside T is obviously a bigger problem. I think we did this one right. Who played LG? Says Ben Bredeson played C? He looked good no fumbled snaps. So I mean that’s always a plus!
I believe this is a truly safe move and in the end hopefully by week 5, that Wirfs and this OL is 100%. It’s a gamble sure, but it’s best odds of keeping your QB upright. I like the risk it for the biscuit approach.
Now you gotta wonder if GoDeke gets traded when Wirfs comes back to LT and if Ben plays C rest of the season, and if Barton takes over the RT position.
Ben looked good from what I saw. It’s all about chemistry and invested time with your QB. We made it work. Anyone see the numbers yet from PFF for the OL?