Welcome to SR’s Fab 5 – my weekly insider column on the Bucs that options 5 issues which might be on my thoughts. SR’s Fab 5 is now a faster learn, however nonetheless packs a punch. Take pleasure in!
As a result of July 4th vacation subsequent Thursday, there received’t be one other SR’s Fab 5 column till Friday, July 12. Benefit from the fireworks and Glad Independence Day!
FAB 1. Bucs Should Begin Graham Barton At Heart Proper Now
Bucs C Graham Barton, QB Baker Mayfield and C Robert Hainsey – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
You possibly can’t blame rookie heart Graham Barton for eager to win the job by competitors quite than being handed the beginning responsibility.
However one of the best factor the Bucs can do is to call Barton the beginning heart on the primary day of coaching camp and finish any perceived camp competitors between he and veteran Robert Hainsey.
In spite of everything, the Bucs spent their first-round decide on a participant to interchange Hainsey, who has been a two-year starter, filling in for the injured – and now retired – Ryan Jensen. So why sustain the charade?
Hainsey wasn’t deemed to be large enough, and the Bucs wished to get larger on the tip of the spear alongside the offensive line. So go forward and make that occur, Todd Bowles and Liam Coen.
Barton is listed at 6-foot-5, 314 kilos whereas Hainsey is 6-foot-4, 306 kilos on the official Bucs roster. The Duke product is just not solely stronger and capable of anchor higher in go safety and get extra push within the run sport, he’s additionally an elite athlete. Bear in mind, Barton scored an ideal 10 as a middle prospect on Kent Lee Platte’s RAS (Relative Athletic Rating) popping out of the draft.
It’s within the workforce’s greatest curiosity to right away transfer ahead with an “all-in” mentality that Barton would be the one snapping the ball to Baker Mayfield – even when it’s not what the standard, hard-working rookie needs to listen to.
“I nonetheless should earn it,” Barton mentioned. “It’s not going to be like that in any respect – at the least in my thoughts you’ve obtained to earn it daily. And you must present that you simply belong. Clearly, that’s what I need to do. I’m right here to contribute similar to everybody else – embracing my function and exhibiting up daily and incomes it each day. Not sitting there and saying, ‘I’ve obtained it.’”
I’m an enormous believer in competitors, but when there’s a superior expertise on the roster like Barton, and he occurs to be a rookie, the one factor holding him again is a scarcity of expertise. Truly taking part in is the best strategy to acquire expertise as a result of there may be solely a lot that may be discovered within the movie room and on the sidelines taking psychological reps.
Bucs C Graham Barton and RG Cody Mauch – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
So give Barton as many snaps as doable at heart in camp working with Mayfield quite than splitting begins with Hainsey. Snapping the ball to Kyle Trask for half of camp is just not going to additional Barton’s on-field chemistry with Mayfield and adequately put together him for the season.
“Constructing belief is the most important factor,” Barton mentioned. “I would like Baker and I would like the offensive line to have the ability to belief me at heart. Like once I’m within the huddle, simply making an attempt to be assertive and realizing the offense. So after we stand up to the road of scrimmage and there’s a complicated look that I’m the one who is aware of the solutions. Simply persistently being that individual as a middle, it makes you the middle groups seems for – a man that is aware of the offense inside and outside and might get us out of a jam. That’s the most important manner I’m making an attempt to construct some belief, ‘Graham is right here to work and we will belief him on the sector.’”
Barton has the correct concept for certain. However the one strategy to actually obtain that’s to finish any charade and inform Hainsey that he’s going to be the backup this yr. As a result of Hainsey is in a contract yr, why not throw him into the combo to start out at left guard with Ben Bredeson and Sua Opeta? See if he can deal with the change to protect. Hainsey needs to be a lot motivated with free company looming in 2025.
Tampa Bay was smart to set its offensive line previous to coaching camp final yr. The workforce inserted rookie Cody Mauch, the second-round decide, into the beginning lineup at proper guard instantly throughout the OTAs and it vastly benefited not solely him, however proper sort out Luke Goedeke. The chemistry between Mauch and Goedeke grew from coaching camp and have become fairly robust by the top of the season.
We already know that the Bucs could have an open competitors at left guard. So why complicate issues and have a contest between Barton and Hainsey at heart, too? Solidifying 4 out of the 5 beginning spots throughout the road sooner quite than later makes extra sense than simply three.
FAB 2. Graham Barton, Baker Mayfield Should Be On The Identical Web page
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and C Graham Barton – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Another excuse why Graham Barton wants as many snaps as he can get with Baker Mayfield is as a result of Mayfield could have a a lot higher freedom to name audibles on the line of scrimmage this yr. So it’s much more crucial that Barton and Mayfield get on the identical web page as early as doable.
“That’s one other a part of my function that we’ve talked about – realizing when the play change goes to come back,” Barton mentioned. “I’ve to know in my head, ‘Hey, we’re calling this … but when we get this – we’re going to alter the play.
“So for me to know in my head, ‘Hey, Baker is about to alter the play, I have already got what I’m about to say prepared in my head. As quickly as I hear it, I can get the whole lot adjusted and we will snap the soccer and never give the protection time to possibly get out of one thing. That’s a very essential a part of my job, positively one thing I’m beginning to be taught and can proceed to be taught.”
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles know that his high draft decide has a variety of weight on his shoulders throughout his rookie season. However he’s additionally inspired by the excessive soccer I.Q. of the Duke product.
“It’s a heavy load, particularly after taking part in sort out for 3 years after which going in opposition to a protection that does a variety of issues,” Bowles mentioned. “This will probably be baptism for him, so far as preparing for the season. I feel he’s discovered loads. I feel he’s desperate to get in pads and actually present what he can do bodily. He’s a wise man.”
Bucs C Robert Hainsey and OC Liam Coen – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Robert Hainsey, the Bucs’ beginning heart during the last two years, snapped the ball to Mayfield for all 19 video games final yr, together with each playoff contests. If known as upon to start out as a consequence of a Barton harm or ineffectiveness, Hainsey has three years of NFL expertise beneath his belt heading into camp this yr to lean on.
Hainsey is a great heart who can rapidly re-establish his chemistry if mandatory. However proper now, Barton and Mayfield want the reps collectively to gel and browse the protection’s alignment the identical manner.
Keep in mind that Barton can also be making the transition from left sort out at Duke to heart. He final performed heart for 5 video games as a freshman in 2020. So Barton and Mayfield – and the Bucs offensive line as an entire – will solely profit from getting the rookie snapper as many snaps as he can get this August so when Tampa Bay’s QB needs to alter the play, the rookie heart will probably be on the identical web page and make the suitable, corresponding line name.
FAB 3. Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey Will Get Graham Barton Prepared To Roll
Bucs DTs Calijah Kancey and Vita Vea – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
Whether or not he’s named the starter or not early in coaching camp, Graham Barton could have his palms full come July 24. And that’s factor.
Barton will get some superb seems in observe from Tampa Bay’s two distinctly completely different – but equally gifted – defensive tackles. Each 347-pound Vita Vea and 286-pound Calijah Kancey will current a pair of separate challenges for the rookie heart.
“It’s nice they’re on our workforce,” Barton mentioned. “I’m glad I get to go in opposition to all of them of coaching camp after which I don’t should see them within the season, you recognize? (laughs) It’s nice to have guys with that a lot expertise and skill and expertise too – with Vita.
“To have the ability to go in opposition to all of them coaching camp, and Calijah has been right here the entire time and Vita was right here this week. Simply getting a style of what that’s going to be like and the expertise that they’ve – that will probably be nice in coaching camp to form of get used to. These are going to be two of one of the best that I’ll see all yr. I feel getting that have now’s going to be actually useful down the highway.”
Bucs exterior linebacker Markees Watts, who was a latest visitor on the Pewter Report Podcast, mentioned that Barton’s studying curve is about to be accelerated as a consequence of dealing with the contrasting types that Vea and Kancey will current.
“He’s going to be taught a variety of classes actually quick,” Watts mentioned. “His progress curve goes to go completely bend. He’s in such a tough place as a result of he’s obtained a mix of the whole lot. Not solely is he preserving eyes on one individual, he has to keep watch over Vita Vea, who simply may membership you and dislocate your shoulder he’s so highly effective. And you’ve got somebody like Calijah who’s going to wash your palms proper up and run previous you.
Bucs QB Kyle Trask and C Graham Barton – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“He’s completely going to have his palms full. However with strain comes a variety of data and a variety of progress. He’s going to develop. I imagine in him. He’s going to be actually good.”
From rookie mini-camp to the OTAs to the workforce’s necessary mini-camp, Barton has discovered loads already. Now he’s spending his time reflecting on these classes and getting ready for coaching camp.
“I don’t need to rise up right here and say, ‘I obtained it,’ as a result of there’s an extended strategy to go,” Barton mentioned on the finish of mini-camp. “We’ve solely been right here a few weeks. However, I positively assume the most important factor is it’s okay to make errors, however don’t beat your self up over making a mistake – simply right it, don’t let it occur in a sport. While you make it twice, that’s whenever you get mad at your self.
“I simply assume preserving my head above water and taking in as a lot as I can, simply making an attempt to hearken to everybody. Understanding my place as a rookie, I simply obtained right here, I don’t know something. [I am] telling myself that and making an attempt to soak the whole lot in has sort of been my mindset. I really feel like I’ve gained a variety of data from the vets, the coaches, the assembly time, on the sector. I really feel like I’ve discovered a ton and [I’m] excited to take these subsequent couple weeks and form of digest it and are available again for coaching camp able to roll.”
FAB 4. Graham Barton Should Be Ready For A Washington Buzzsaw In Week 1
Commanders DTs Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne – Picture by: USA As we speak
Another excuse for Tampa Bay to simply go forward and decide to having Graham Barton be the workforce’s heart this yr and provides him all the first-team reps in coaching camp is the workforce’s season-opening opponent. The Bucs host the Washington Commanders in Week 1.
Meaning Barton and Tampa Bay’s inside offensive line will probably be dealing with probably the most harmful defensive sort out tandems within the league in Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.
Allen, a two-time Professional Bowler, is 6-foot-3, 300 kilos and has an ideal mix of energy and velocity. He has posted 39 sacks in seven years, together with 5.5 final yr and a career-high 9 sacks in 2021. When he’s not attending to the quarterback, Allen is making life depressing for operating backs, notching 57 tackles for loss in his profession, together with 10 final yr.
Payne is simply as monstrous, and even larger and stronger at 6-foot-3, 320 kilos. He has 30 sacks in his six years in Washington, together with 4 final yr. He’s only one season faraway from a career-high 11.5 sacks, which got here in 2022 – his lone Professional Bowl marketing campaign. Payne can also be a backfield penetrator, notching 53 tackles for loss, together with 18 in 2022 and 13 final season.
New head coach Dan Quinn is a defensive guru who will definitely deploy Allen and Payne in methods to greatest disrupt and confuse Tampa Bay’s rookie heart.
Even Barton mentioned that the quantity of element from veterans on the NFL degree has taken him abruptly a bit.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the most important shock, however the depth and the element on the NFL degree of what you’re doing, the way you’re doing it, approach, fundamentals, suggestions and tips, issues like that,” Barton mentioned. “How rather more there may be to the sport of soccer, I assume, that you simply didn’t all the time perceive in faculty. So, studying that has been the most important leap, going by that.”
Getting Barton as prepared as doable by giving him as many reps because the beginning heart as doable is clearly one of the simplest ways to arrange him for the Commanders’ 1-2 punch up entrance.
FAB 5. Bucs Can’t Wait To Face Jayden Daniels In Season Opener
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels – Picture by: USA As we speak
Talking of Washington, Tampa Bay’s new heart Graham Barton isn’t going to be the one rookie who will probably be beneath fireplace in Week 1. New Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the second total decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, could have the unenviable activity of dealing with defensive mastermind Todd Bowles and his troops in his first professional sport.
Daniels will possible play in at the least two of Washington’s preseason video games, however not the complete contests. Commanders new offensive coordinator Kliff Kinsgbury has squared off in opposition to Bowles earlier than when he was Arizona’s head coach in 2019 and 2022. The Bucs narrowly received each video games, 30-27, in Bowles’ first yr as defensive coordinator in 2019, and on Christmas evening, 19-16, again in 2022.
But Bowles could have had all summer time to invent new strain packages, new defensive seems and disguised coverages to idiot the rookie QB and get his head swimming early. Bucs operating again Rachaad White, who’s greatest associates with Daniels from their taking part in days collectively at Arizona State, believes Daniels is in for a tough NFL debut.
“Coach Bowles’ protection is so robust,” White mentioned. “I simply thought of it, and I used to be simply telling my guys (Bucs rookie operating backs) that operating backs are available in and also you need to shield the quarterback, and clearly that’s big. Once we slip or one thing like that I inform them, ‘Should you can decide up the blitz in opposition to Coach Bowles protection, bro, you’re going to have an amazing shot of choosing up any blitz on any protection.
“For him (Daniels), I like our possibilities as a result of Coach Bowles … yeah, they dial it up. And our defensive gamers, man – we have now a bunch of younger guys entering into sure roles, and we’ve obtained veteran guys which might be simply ballplayers.”
The final time Tampa Bay’s protection took the sector, it surrendered the result in Detroit in a 31-23 defeat within the NFC Divisional playoffs late within the fourth quarter. Bucs exterior linebacker Markees Watts mentioned that the protection can’t wait to take the sector within the season opener to play higher and avenge that painful loss.
“It left a foul style in everybody’s mouth,” Watts mentioned. “We have now to make up for what we did. I feel everybody goes to come back out with a chip on their shoulder to avenge our fallen aim from final yr. I’m excited to see what’s going to occur, particularly with our new guys on the market. It’s going to be enjoyable.”
Watch The New Pewter Report Podcast With Particular Visitor Bucs OLB Markees Watts
Tampa Bay exterior linebacker Markees Watts joined the Pewter Report Podcast on Thursday, June 27 and was a improbable visitor. We’ve had a number of nice interviews with Bucs gamers and personnel this offseason, together with inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, defensive sort out Will Gholston, exterior linebacker Yaya Diaby, common supervisor Jason Licht, cornerback Zyon McCollum, assistant common supervisor Mike Greenberg and Watts.
To take a look at any of these episodes click on right here.
