Graham Barton Dismisses New Offense Woes
September 15th, 2026
Bummed but not discouraged.
Joe is not freaking out about the loss Sunday to the Bengals.
No overreaction from Joe. Now is Joe peeved? Yes. That was a winnable game.
If Joe asked you prior to kickoff what would have happened if the Bucs held Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to less than 75 total yards and kept them out of the end zone, combined with a pick-six of Joe Burrow, Joe would have declared a Bucs victory.
Still, despite giving the ball away like Halloween candy despite the offense being sloppy as a teenager in the back seat of a Ford Mustang with a prom date, the Bucs were down by just one score in the fourth quarter,
Joe spoke with Graham Barton after the game. Barton is a super nice, cooperative guy, and even he was trying to mask what Joe noticed with a few other Bucs players in the locker room: Joe sensed from several Bucs they thought Sunday was a winnable game and they shat all over themselves.
“I thought we did some good things,” Barton told Joe. “We ran the ball well. We had some good hits. That’s a great d-line [with Cincinnati]. We’re talking probably top-two nose tackle [Dexter Lawrence] in the league and then Jonathan Allen.
“We knew it would be a challenge. But at the end of the day, we can’t turn the ball over four times. You can’t win a game like that — and still at the end we were a possession away.
“I don’t think this is something to get discouraged about.”
Still, Joe could sense an anger percolating beneath Barton’s cool demeanor.
When he brought up turnovers, he would stop himself ever so briefly to brace himself not to say something he didn’t want out. Like he would say “turn… ” and quickly pause before finishing with “overs.”
Joe asked Barton the offense was rusty because it barely played in worthless preseason and it is a new offense. Barton dismissed that.
“Honestly, I would have to say no,” Barton said. “We had some great plays. We targeted well. I think it is just the Week 1 stuff [discipline]. You are on the road Week 1. There are going to be some hiccups.”
Barton told Joe he thought the offense was well-prepared for the Bengals. He adamant that cutting the turnovers and better discipline would have delivered a better outcome.
“We had some looks at the end zone where we didn’t get in or we turned (paused) the ball over,” Barton said. “I don’t think this is anything to get discouraged about. I don’t think this should change our outlook on how we are as a team.”
Up next is the hapless Browns at home. What has Joe spooked is all this talk that Mayfield wants to light up the Browns for past indiscretions.
After Mayfield’s three-fumble game in Cincinnati, Joe hopes Mayfield worries about his own execution and not some silly revenge game.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:26 am
Of course he has to be positive Joe, and has to say it to the media.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:35 am
Keep telling yourself we were right in that game Joe. When you lose at the line of scrimmage you lose period. Cinn got bored beating us, and Trotter made it interesting, but the Bucs had no chance at a comeback. Cinn was able to play keep away, defense couldn’t stop 3rd down conversations, sound familiar, and they easily won. Blame the turnovers, but they were caused by the more physical team kicking our arse. So keep telling yourself we were right there if it makes you feel better, but this game was over after the first quarter. When Cinn needed a play they made it. Sack, fumble, and of game. No chance Joe.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:35 am
I love the “chip on the shoulder” Baker plays with. But…
It is time to grow up Bake. Play the game the way you want, no problem. But play it SMARTER.
That space between your ears can take your game to another level. Know when to get down. Know when to throw the ball away and live for another day. Quit handing the other team the win.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:44 am
Yeah, if I played as badly as Barton, Bredesen, and Mauch played yesterday
– I’d try to minimize the loss too!
I’ve said it before. Barton played Left Tackle his last 2 years in College. Last year- he looked great at Left Tackle. He sucked at center last year. Sucked yesterday.
Licht drafted a left tackle, told him to play center. Just figured it would work.
Barton played Center years ago. Doesn’t mean he liked it. He got drafted because of his play at left Tackle. Most linemen can swing between Tackle and center without much adjustment.
But most linemen hate playing Center. Barton is a terrible center. He would be an upgrade over Bredesen at Guard. And oddly, Bredesen is a better Center than a guard. Whatever. Blocking like Sunday is going to cost us a lot of games.
It’s really easy. Our Oline couldn’t Block. Same as last year- except all the starters are playing.
Our Defensive line can’t pressure the QB. You don’t win games with those 2 failures.
As for Baker holding the ball too long. It was 3rd down. We are down by 7. Clocks almost gone.
You wanted him to throw it away?
I laughed when the announcer said that. It meant he had mentally checked out of the game, and had his mouth auto cycling cliches.
Now, posters here are already recycling it in finitum.
Throws it away then it’s 4th and 10. Tries to make a play and gets sacked? 4th and 15. Didn’t really matter.
Down 7, no time. 3rd and long.
Your QB is supposed to play to win. Not protect his stats.
Why not blame our weak WR and TE corp? Godwin, EE- and a bunch of nobodies and a rookie. Otto’s is our best, not a good, TE
Or Meybe our line coulda blocked, with the game on the line
It’s gonna be a long season.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:46 am
* can swing between Tackle and GUARD WITHOUT much adjustment, hate playing center . . .
September 15th, 2026 at 5:49 am
The two freebies negate each other so it was easily the three other turnovers that did us in, ESPECIALLY the coughing up into the endzone. Unbelievable Baker was so stupid as to try to be Mike Alstott. Compare that with Burrow’s slide and you see the difference in QBs. “Well that’s just Baker”. Exactly.