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.
September 15th, 2026 at 6:26 am
Poor performance but Keystome Cop Coaching brought us here.
September 15th, 2026 at 7:08 am
Dudes a guard. Not cutting it at center.
September 15th, 2026 at 7:18 am
Maybe he’s a guard
Maybe he’s a tackle
He certainly is NOT the answer for the Bucs at center!
September 15th, 2026 at 7:33 am
Not sure how much one should trust PFF for O linemen, but all of them save Luke had a horrible game, particularly at RUN. (Were we trying that zone run thing again?)
September 15th, 2026 at 7:56 am
Chris Godwin QUIT on film on several plays!
One play he had TURNED HIS BACK on the play and was walking off.
Find the YT channel
Buccaneers Observer… a local reporter but excellent
September 15th, 2026 at 8:02 am
They were 2 possessions away at the end. Nobody was surprised.
September 15th, 2026 at 8:06 am
I feel bad for our OL, because now they’re being questioned playing in front of a QB who’s more likely to make them look worse than he will make them look good based off how the QB plays the QB position. They’re in a pretty tough spot, the better they protect or more time they provide the less likely they are to get a positive play for their efforts.
September 15th, 2026 at 8:11 am
“(Were we trying that zone run thing again?)”
Way too much and some questionable calls, because Bucky still isn’t beating anybody to the corner if he’s got to take a counter step then take the handoff. The stretch toss is more of his “speed” because it gets the ball in his hand without the misdirect motion.
Robinson, should lean on the gap stuff to get our OL some confidence. Also, the WR runs need to go, especially that jet sweep to Tez Johnson of all people. Bucs keep trying to sell us that he’s faster than he is and I’m not buying it.
September 15th, 2026 at 8:12 am
What was the preseason for?
September 15th, 2026 at 8:17 am
What has this Joe spooked is that Todd Bowles and his defense seems to make mediocre QB’s look like MVP’s and that’s exactly what’s coming to town on Sunday
September 15th, 2026 at 8:22 am
“being sloppy as a teenager in the back seat of a Ford Mustang with a prom date…” Hahahahaha!! Classic – I’m gonna use it in a conversation today somehow!
September 15th, 2026 at 8:40 am
Take away the Trotter pick 6 and we could’ve lost 40-20, or worse.
That’s the real margin of error. And every game counts in the regular season.
You cannot win 10 games until you win one. That was a wasted opportunity.
Mr Mid QB coughed up the game as usual. How many times have we seen that now???
Good thing we gave him $165 million. Just think what we’d be missing!!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
September 15th, 2026 at 8:46 am
surprised joe or no one is mentioning the comments baker made about playing in Cincy…..
per baker: “Going on the road playing Cincy, Week 1’s gonna be fun. I feel like I always feel comfortable playing at Cincinnati,” Mayfield said.
my response to that was:
813bucboi Says:
September 9th, 2026 at 11:55 am
great bulletin board material baker….
humble yourself and lead this team to Ws!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
Cincy humbled baker real quick!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 15th, 2026 at 8:52 am
happy Barton spoke up and held baker accountable!!!!!!….
thats right Barton!!!!!!!…
say the turnovers doomed us and not some BS about bucs just have to play better….
Zac is trash…he abandoned the run in the 1st quarter and tried too hard to turn baker into an MVP week1…..
imo, OL played solid…penalties and baker holding on to the ball all day made them look bad….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 15th, 2026 at 8:53 am
Once you continue to shoot yourself in the foot
And you put yourself in a 21-3 hole on the road
You’re now in no man land
You only have a small chance of winning
September 15th, 2026 at 9:08 am
how many games later will they be blaming rust. some loser mentality there, like oh well, yea rusty a bit who cares.
then they miss the playoffs or struggle to win the south. loser mentality.
September 15th, 2026 at 9:20 am
I don’t have time to read the other comments, so forgive me for repeating what MUST have been said. Holding your opponents best receivers to 75yds when you’ve turned the ball over 3 times is no big test. If they were down 10 points and they NEEDED say a 3 and 25, that might impress me. If they were 3 and goal and needed 6.t9 win with 7 seconds left that might impress me. But when you’ve turned the ball over 3 times why would.you have any need to gar.0lan deep shots or a lot of passing? Hey, the 2ndry looked better than I anticipated. The zebras let a few potential PIs go in the first few series but Parrish looked good. BEMO looked ok at his job in coverage, now tackling, is another story!!??
I’m not too impressed they held the Bengals and Burrow to low passing numbers, because they didn’t need to pass.
September 15th, 2026 at 9:22 am
“I’m not too impressed they held the Bengals and Burrow to low passing numbers, because they didn’t need to pass.”
And why didn’t the Bengals feel pressed to pass?
September 15th, 2026 at 10:58 am
I hope Mayfield doesn’t try to makeup for all his turnovers by being overly aggressive with the Briwns. He just needs to settle down and play like Todd Bowles wants him to play. Be yourself but put the Bengals game in the rear view mirror. The Bucs should be 1 and 1 this Sunday.
The goal is to win 10 to 11 games. make the playoffs abd play each game like ilike your.in the Super Bowl.
September 15th, 2026 at 11:00 am
Godwin was QUITTING on plays before the whistle!
September 15th, 2026 at 11:15 am
This team lacks urgency from snap 1
It’s been a serious problem for years
September 15th, 2026 at 11:22 am
So offensive lineman hate playing center what a bunch of crap.. And you know this how?. It is a position players get paid to play just like all the rest.
September 15th, 2026 at 11:38 am
Agree 100% Joe, few NFL teams win on the road with 4 turnovers, yet the only lost by one score. It was only game 1 and that Bengal defensive line looks to be one capable of winning every game on that side of the ball.
I’m pissed they lost and threw a perfectly good refreshment into some massive waves here in SoCal hammering our shoreline, but eliminate those damn turnovers (BM) going forward and there are a lot of wins ahead.
September 15th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
We all know that there is no opponent that can’t beat the Bucs. Regardless of expectations, records, etc. Historically, we play down to the competition. I hope we squash the Browns…early and snuff out any and all hopes of a Brown victory. But I’m sure it will be a close game. At least that’s what I am expecting. If Baker is too amped up wanting to prove something to the Cleveland ownership and fan base, we may see more of what we did on Sunday. Hey, those guys get paid to play too….Go Bucs!
September 15th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
So much for the rains hype ! And the pass rush. Thst was pitiful.
September 15th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Barton is our weak link on the O-Line. He constantly gets pushed back and off his blocks.
September 15th, 2026 at 10:47 pm
HAINSEY WAS BETTER THAN BARTON AT CENTER. THATS WHY COEN GRABBED HIM FOR THE JAGS . BARTON STRENGTH IS LEFT TACKLE. I WHY MAKE HIM A CENTER .HECWAS GETTING BEAT THERE PUT HIM WERE HE BELONGS . THESE COACHES AND JASON DONT KNOW WHATTHRER DING
September 16th, 2026 at 10:06 am
And don’t most of our seasons end with a Mayfield turnover. Now he is starting the season with them. So would you say he is getting better at giving it away and worse at protecting it. You would think after the first one it would bother him enough to protect the rock and at least give us a chance.