The Bucs Remain Confident Graham Barton’s 'Arrow Is Up'

“Definitely,” Grizzard said about if he has seen Barton grow. “For one, being able to play tackle and then moving back into center, which seems like a year ago at this point. His ability to do that and then come back to center and take off where he was in the offseason with his progression on the communication with those guys, and then the fact that he’s now playing with — hats off to [Dan] Feeney and hats off to Mike [Jordan] for the role they’ve done in stepping up.

“Now his communication with those guys and being on the same page versus when it’s Cody [Mauch] and when it’s ‘Breds’ (Ben Bredeson) in there, who have more banked reps with him, so he now takes on a bigger role just because he hasn’t played as much with those guys. He’s clearly a leader of this team. His progression, his arrow is up, I think he’s done a hell of a job so far.”

In an offense filled with moving parts, even Barton was one of them early on. Grizzard, as well as offensive line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci, have been challenged to make things work with backup interior offensive linemen. It could be a lot worse that it has been operating with two guards that did not spend the entire offseason with the team.

Tristan Wirfs credits Barton for handling things well, telling Pewter Report an untold story of just how long the young center had to adjust to the early season line shuffle and why what he has done is not talked about enough.

“I think he’s handled it great,” Wirfs said. “People don’t give him nearly enough credit for doing that. I mean one, coming into his rookie year starting at center is hard enough. Two, okay, going into year two with a little confidence at center, and then basically on — I don’t know what you guys have heard — it was like a week and a half we knew he was going to like [play at left tackle]. It wasn’t all of training camp. ‘Yeah, you’re going to play tackle.’ He knew for like a week, and for him to go out and do that, that’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen.

“Three games at left tackle in the NFL to start your second season and go back to center, that wasn’t talked about enough at all. That was extremely impressive, and what, he had one sack? To Danielle Hunter? Yeah, it really wasn’t talked about enough what Graham went out and did. Graham is coming into his own in this league and as a leader in this locker room. I think you’re naturally going to have that as a center; guys look to you to get us all on the same page. I thought he’s been great.”

Did Moving To Left Tackle Early On Mess Graham Barton Up?

It is fair to say that switching positions can mess players up, even if it is back to a position someone is familiar with. There is an adjustment period, and doing so at the highest level of professional sports makes it all the more difficult. After Graham Barton moved to left tackle and then back to center, does Josh Grizzard believed that hurt his momentum manning the pivot?

“I wouldn’t say it messed him up, I would say it was definitely a challenge,” Grizzard said. “The way that you’re setting on a defensive end versus setting on a shade is completely different. It goes from being the one making the calls on who the mike is, how we’re going to fix the protection, to being at the mercy of that time of ‘Breds’ (Ben Bredeson) who’s in control of that, Baker [Mayfield] was in control of that. With him, he was able to do that pretty flawlessly; to be able to do that at the NFL level I think is very impressive.”

Even with all of this being said, it does not save Barton from any criticism. Starting in training camp, while still at center, he was getting manhandled from the start of the snap by defensive tackle Vita Vea. Throughout the year, he has allowed the pocket to close at times by getting pushed back, contributing to Baker Mayfield having to roll out of the pocket and struggling with game-to-game consistency.

Whether or not center is his best long-term home remains up for debate, as given his base and athleticism he profiles best fit to become a guard. That is a possible long-term solution, but his only job right now is to be the best center he can be with the cards he has been dealt. Tristan Wirfs thinks that being challenged playing without Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson has made Graham Barton into more of a leader.

“Losing those two guys was tough,” Wirfs said. “I think they’re both in Graham’s ear in the meeting room. We have such a great room, we’re always trying to be great, we’re all trying to be on the same page. It’s just constant communication. Can’t wait to have those guys back, whether that be this year, next year, whatever. Graham’s done a great job and he’s going to keep getting better.”