Graham Barton Struggles Outlined By Coach
November 13th, 2025
No, this has nothing to do with the Bucs’ seven failures at or within the 1 yard line against the Saints a few weeks ago.
It’s rare to get candid insight of a player’s struggles from a position coach, so Joe enjoyed this nugget after the loss to the Patriots from Bucs offensive line coach Brian Picucci.
He was a guest on the Buccaneers Radio Network and noted how and why Sunday was a special game for center Graham Barton, a comeback of sorts after a couple of rough outings in Detroit and New Orlans.
“We had a pretty good talk about this: Graham, myself [and co-offensive line coach Kevin Carberry]. I think two games prior to the Patriots. I don’t think [Barton] played to the level that he wanted to play at, especially in the drop-back pass game in the protection world,” Picucci said.
“I think sometimes he’s so athletic, he gets out too fast in some of his slides or sets that gets himself in trouble and overextends. So, he did a great job this week of really tightening down, anchoring down fast with his hands, playing long, and I was really happy.
“I was actually texting with him [Sunday] night and just said, ‘Really happy where you took it, you know, from two games ago where you weren’t excited with your play to where you were [Sunday]. And I think he really did a good job of stressing that [against New England].”
Joe loved the candor. It’s easy to forget Barton is 23 years old and didn’t play much center in college. He’s a good player and still developing.
Joe looks forward to seeing Barton on Sunday against the Bills’ soft run defense.
November 13th, 2025 at 9:45 am
37th of 37 centers in pass pro
22nd of 37 center in run block via PFF.
Has allowed 4 sacks up the middle, Brady wouldn’t be pleased with that.
November 13th, 2025 at 9:57 am
Warren,
They also moved him around due to injuries, this could very well have delayed his progress as a center. He was also dealing with a weak right side with both Goedeke and Mauch out. I think his play will stabilize now that he has been back to center for a few weeks now
November 13th, 2025 at 9:59 am
This is what happens when you draft college tackles, because they’re athletic then try making pro guards, and centers out of them. Need a center, draft one, need a guard draft one.
November 13th, 2025 at 9:59 am
Nothing worse on PFF then their grading of offensive lineman. Try Sharpe analysis or someone else.
November 13th, 2025 at 10:00 am
It’s mind-boggling for him to be struggling like this when he was so stout as a rookie, and now that he’s so much stronger physically supposedly…
It has to be (at least in part) because Mauch is out, but that can’t explain it entirely. So weird
November 13th, 2025 at 10:01 am
i thought he played a lot better than he did the past 2 games….glad the OL coach confirmed what i was thinking…
the switch the LT screwed up his technique and mechanics…
he’ll only improve from here on out…
GO BUCS!!!!
November 13th, 2025 at 10:02 am
“”Joe loved the candor. It’s easy to forget Barton is 23 years old and didn’t play much center in college. He’s a good player and still developing.””
If WBL is correct Barton is most definitely not a good player at this time.
November 13th, 2025 at 10:03 am
someone will blame bowles lol
GO BUCS!!!!
November 13th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Hodad. The facts show some of the best Offensive lineman in history played tackle only in college and inside in the NFL. Quite frankly your hypothesis is wrong.
November 13th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Was bad last year and is bad this year. He’s not a good player. Hope he becomes one. Wonder how many years it’ll take to develop a center. No rush, the Bucs are always playing for next year.
November 13th, 2025 at 10:32 am
Letting Hainsey walk was so incredibly stupid. One hell if a Center. Could have helped the grossly inexperienced Bucs coaches. Coen used to CALL Hainsey to game plan. Another HUGE Licht failure. Licht’s HUGE Ego got in the way. He should have moved slow moving Barton to guard and Hainsey to Center. Licht just has to be right about Barton at center.
November 13th, 2025 at 10:36 am
“Nothing worse on PFF then their grading of offensive lineman. Try Sharpe analysis or someone else.”
Sharpe has nothing on individual OL grades mid-season, they wait until the year is over and group it in with their unit analysis.
Anyway as a metric of performance, don’t care who sources the info it lines up with how Graham has looked at center since moving back there. Before he was injured, Bredeson even after moving to OG graded out higher as a C in his time at the position than Barton.
w/o Mauch & Bredeson, he’s getting exposed.
November 13th, 2025 at 10:43 am
Hainsey was light and not as good with pass sets. He got pushed around quite a bit by nose tackles. He is having the same issues with the Jags.
Barton is getting better this year and is way stronger. If you read the article, his problem was a technique issue and easily fixed. Go back and watch last Sundays game. He wasn’t susceptible to bull rushes. Or twist games.
Did you not grasp the content of the article? There have been several other commentators congratulating Barton on his noticeable improvement.
November 13th, 2025 at 10:49 am
Barton wasn’t very good last year either. Don’t want to hear the tired excuses of who is lining up next to him – you draft a C in the 1st round, he should be special and a difference maker. He doesn’t appear to be any better or stronger than last year.
I know it’s sacrilegious around here to rag on Licht’s impeccable drafts, but maybe people are praising him a bit early. His 2024 1st and 2nd round picks are not looking good.
November 13th, 2025 at 11:29 am
Hearty…
Barton last year was a very solid center, especially for a rookie. In fact, our offensive line was graded amongst the best in the league and most of the criticism that came in was directed at the guards.
The guy is in his second year in the NFl and his second as a center, and on top of that has been moved around to shore up injuries at LT. He was doing much better last week and was doing well before he moved at LT for a few weeks. Just give the kid a bit of time to settle back into his role
November 13th, 2025 at 11:33 am
I haven’t been impressed with his play this year but some of you guys are way too down on him.
Like Joe said, he’s 23, didn’t play C in college and he started this season with a crash course for NFL LT duties. Revolving door at the G positions beside him. What’s Wirfs excuse? What’s Winfields? What’s McCollum’s and Bakers?
He is strong, smart and athletic. Barton is almost the least of our worries.
November 13th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Gave up the booty in the regular. His primary blocking stance was lying on his back. Stop the sugarcoating. It’s insulting
November 13th, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Graham made some rookie mistakes last year, in penalties too. He also was moved around this season. Some rookies take a little longer getting acclimated into the NFL from college. Maybe the Bucs isn’t the right fit. Whatever the reason, he may do well the rest of the season.
Another post of Joe’s, Graham had mentioned the bye being great mentally. So you never know what is going on with another person. Rooting for Graham. Good kid.
November 13th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
To be fair, Ryan Jensen did not start at center for Ravens until his fourth season .
He came out as center but only got in one game at center in his first 3 years.
I’d like to see what he could do at guard where a lot of college guards end up playing.
November 13th, 2025 at 12:07 pm
The OL has been a mess all season and Barton has struggled to keep it together, being the only guy who has played every game on the line. When he wasn’t playing out of position at left tackle, he was helping out at least one scrub guard playing next to him and sometimes two. He’s been heroic, as far as I’m concerned.
November 13th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
@Jeff,
Hainsey was garbage bruh. Light in the ass and got tossed around. He may have had 1-2 games that were serviceable that were worth remembering. Serviceable = his name didn’t get called on a penalty or a sack/pressure.
November 13th, 2025 at 12:52 pm
Really need Barton NOT to be just another guy.
Go Bucs!
November 13th, 2025 at 1:02 pm
I think he will be fine his move to lt was amazing calm down
November 13th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Barton is as soft as the Bucs pass D on 3rd and long
November 13th, 2025 at 1:32 pm
Awwww yes the pff dorks that never buckled a chin strap in peewee football
November 13th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
“Awwww yes the pff dorks that never buckled a chin strap in peewee football”
ah yes, the avg American-idiot(great and relevant song in this day and age) that can’t read better than a 5th grader, bashing the work people put in to provide data points to those of us whole like data relative to the game of football.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch Says
“37th of 37 centers in pass pro
22nd of 37 center in run block via PFF.”
Is that behind a pay wall? Because I don’t see it listed for free.
I see: “10th/37 Cs”
10th of 37 centers.
November 13th, 2025 at 3:28 pm
In my opinion, Graham being injured set him back…but if he is starting to get ahead of it, he should play better going forward.
I do not agree with him being 10th or 37 overall. Maybe…17th?