Graham Barton Talks About The Secret
September 7th, 2025
So inside the ecstatic Bucs postgame locker room, Joe got 1-on-1 time with Tampa Bay center/left tackle Graham Barton.
In case you missed it, the Bucs rolled out a massive shakeup of their offensive line today with Barton moving from center to left tackle and free agent Michael Jordan starting at left guard and Ben Bredeson moving to center.
There were hiccups, but the pass blocking was rather strong and the Bucs got the “W.”
Barton told Joe he was informed that he’d be starting at left tackle after training camp broke. “It was enough time. I got four practices at [tackle] with a couple of reps sprinkled in training camp.”
Barton continued, “”Look, you gotta do whatever it takes to get a win and I’m going to do whatever is the team asks and be the best I can be in the role, and today that role was left tackle.
How did the secret not get out? Lots of Bucs were surprised it didn’t leak, but Barton said he wasn’t sworn to complete silence.
“Yeah, we wanted to keep it in-house but I told my friends and family. I didn’t want my parents to turn on the game today and wonder what was going on, Barton said.
Joe asked Barton if today was sort of a middle-finger moment to the predraft scouting gurus out there who said he was an NFL center after playing left tackle at Duke.
The second-year beast laughed. “Yeah, I think that was part of my predraft background that I heard all the time, that I had the versatility but I wasn’t looked at as a left tackle,” Barton said. “It was fun to get a chance that I could show out there today that I can play anywhere and be versatile.”
As for adjusting to the playbook at left tackle, Barton said it’s no big deal.
“That part’s quicker than you think because being at center you know what guys got to do on both sides,” Barton said. “A couple of things here and there, a couple of technique things I need to fix.
Barton credited all the Bucs offensive linemen with tackle experience. He said they all helped him with film study on NFL edge rushers leading up to today’s game.
September 7th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
So what advantage was gained by this “secret”?
September 7th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Fantastic attitude and happy to hear the support from his line mates. I thought he did great.
September 7th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Shiver me timbers! What a secret to keep, dead men tell no tales!
September 7th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
What the heck happen to Heck?
September 7th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Except for Bucky getting stuffed on most 1st downs….the Oline held up quite well.
What does this say about Heck?
September 7th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
It’s a win, but it was FUGLY.
September 7th, 2025 at 5:38 pm
Heck will be sporting a bulls’ cape tomorrow morning.
September 7th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
Never heard of that left guard before today
September 7th, 2025 at 5:42 pm
Secrecy that didn’t make a difference.
September 7th, 2025 at 5:44 pm
Well the secret if your the Falcons you are preparing for a certain person ahead of you. It changes the tape on what you were watching, seems pretty simple to me? Go Bucs!
September 7th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
Some fans are never happy with a Win!
September 7th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Just cut Heck now
September 7th, 2025 at 5:48 pm
Barton did very good at LT. And did anyone see Bucky blocking that big DT that surely wouldve got to Baker in the 4th i think? Man that was awesome. GJ Bucky!
September 7th, 2025 at 5:50 pm
Did Rashaad white play?
September 7th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
Great draft pic! Going from Center to LT in the NFL … wow!
No Culp and 1x Tucker run? This offense has a lot of opportunity to grow.
Tucker’s kickoff return and Tez’s punt return were pretty!
September 7th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
Tucker Says:
September 7th, 2025 at 5:50 pm
Did Rashaad white play?
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Yeah, and he lead the Bucs running backs at 7 yards per carry.
Tucker meanwhile had 1 carry for 2 yards, which was the lowest average on the team.
September 7th, 2025 at 5:53 pm
It was crazy – never seen a team do that. A starting LG I’d never heard of. Barton playing LT. Our LG playing center. I was stunned. Thrilled we won, but that had me really concerned.
September 7th, 2025 at 5:57 pm
So a guy they signed last Thursday is superior to Klein?
September 7th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
Did anyone else notice that for the last two weeks all us fans were told the Bucs would be wearing the white and creamsicle throwback jerseys ? What the Hell happened? I was looking forward to that.
September 7th, 2025 at 6:00 pm
So it sounds like the Bucs hadn’t planned on using Heck at left tackle all along. Secret or not the offensive line played fairly well. I thought the run game wasn’t as crisp as in the past but 3 of 5 O-lineman playing new positions that’s to be expected. Let’s hope Wirfs comes back sooner than later.
September 7th, 2025 at 6:01 pm
Next week’s game for throwback, not sure what your source was? Go Bucs!
September 7th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
Nicely done, created a bit of confusion on dirty birds defensive game plan early.
September 7th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
Romano has experience at Guard iin the league, and consider that Bredeson did not have one bad snap. The coaches must have seen something about the Heck Experience that they did not like.
The Dixie Chicks have a really good team – but we have a better one. I hope they stck with Barton at LT if wirfs is out for an extended period.
September 7th, 2025 at 6:09 pm
The line was surprisingly decent in paa pro after they settled down, but obviously such little practice as a unit means bad run blocking. I’m baffled by the teams personnel decisions. What would we have done I’d Jordan was signed to an active roster last week? Klein? And if he’s better then why weren’t their situations swapped? I hope we plan to sign him up active roster.. every team will see our game. We also have 2 backup tackles on active roster we apparently ever planmed on playing. Confusing. I was similarly confused when it seemed like they were happy to roll with trask at backup and the sudden switch where they even had someone else on practice squad they preferred
September 7th, 2025 at 6:16 pm
Very impressive. Not something you see every day.
Excellent drafting by Jason
September 7th, 2025 at 6:19 pm
When Tristen wnt down I wondered if they would consider Barton at LT since he was a formal LT in college, but I thought they wanted to keep his developing at center.
September 7th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
Well I would have liked to see Barton getting comfy at C but this made sense to me all along especially with Brederson having C experience.
Klein is probably better on the right side so they spared him a Goedeke situation.
Please be ok by week 4 Tristan!
September 7th, 2025 at 6:34 pm
The O line looked pretty trash to me today.
September 7th, 2025 at 6:39 pm
Not even the announcers didn’t make a comment on our line change ,that I know of. I was wondering what was going on. Happy we won definitely a nail biter.
September 7th, 2025 at 7:06 pm
Jeebs I thought run blocking was bad, but I felt like Baker had a fair bit of time back there most of the time
September 7th, 2025 at 7:35 pm
We could not get anything going between the tackles. Grizz should’ve run more off tackle. Without Barton in the middle run game suffered.
September 7th, 2025 at 7:47 pm
Obviously, Heck wasn’t cutting it. The run blocking was not great but pass blocking was pretty decent
September 7th, 2025 at 8:33 pm
All I can say is get healthy Tristan. We need you buddy.
September 7th, 2025 at 9:11 pm
This is why Jason Licht is the GOAT! Our depth on the OLine is always deep, and today showed, it wasn’t perfect but they did a great job all things considered
September 7th, 2025 at 9:13 pm
Wow Rod Munch is back with commenting first. I guess since Trask isn’t on the team he has time to post as Rod Munch as soon as an article drops
September 7th, 2025 at 9:38 pm
Proudbucsfan we get our asses whipped every time we wear those. The team was Fn horrible in those days. We are a solid team in these colors.
September 7th, 2025 at 10:27 pm
Hey Grizz, where is the pre snap motion. Not nearly good enough on the ground. Hmm , anyone notice Jags rushed for about 250 yards today.
Let’s get it back the way it was. If it’s not broke don’t fix it.
As always Go Bucs.
September 7th, 2025 at 10:49 pm
Joe, did you find out if it was because Tristan is injured? Is it a season long change?
A reporter must have enquired at the post game conference.
As to Heck, just because he didn’t play it doesn’t mean he’s a dud, as some people here are claiming. We don’t have enough info to make an assumption like that.
September 7th, 2025 at 11:52 pm
Instead of a secret, how about play in preseason? Who ever heard of a secret O-line? Was Rah supposed to change his game plan on D when he sees who is playing Center?
September 8th, 2025 at 1:02 am
Noclu4u Says:
September 7th, 2025 at 10:27 pm
Hey Grizz, where is the pre snap motion. Not nearly good enough on the ground. Hmm , anyone notice Jags rushed for about 250 yards today.
Let’s get it back the way it was. If it’s not broke don’t fix it.
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Agree! I had the exact same thoughts.
September 8th, 2025 at 1:57 am
If Rah is smart he wants to know who is playing where on the line 132.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:24 am
White Tiger Says:
September 7th, 2025 at 6:04 pm
Nicely done, created a bit of confusion on dirty birds defensive game plan early.
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Can you describe this confusion that rattled the Falcons? Because I’m pretty sure they didn’t care, or change a single thing.
September 8th, 2025 at 3:28 am
Noclu4u Says:
September 7th, 2025 at 10:27 pm
Hey Grizz, where is the pre snap motion. Not nearly good enough on the ground. Hmm , anyone notice Jags rushed for about 250 yards today.
Let’s get it back the way it was. If it’s not broke don’t fix it.
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I was watching the Jags game as well during commercials and after the Bucs game ended since they got weather delayed, and this Bucs offense, and the Jags offense, did not look the same at all. The Jags looked like the Bucs last year – all the same motion, misdirection, effective running, mixing it up, etc. I really worry that losing Coen is a much bigger deal than people think. The play calling today by Gizz was really predictable and the play was sloppy. Really hoping that was just the offensive line changes – and to be fair, if Baker isn’t so off target most of the game, the Bucs win it going away.
September 8th, 2025 at 5:54 am
Wirfs and barton both on the left is gonna be awesome
September 8th, 2025 at 6:27 am
Great win.
Anderson and Hunter are two different animals in Houston.