How Quickly Is Graham Barton Adjusting To Center?

Bucs center Graham Barton, the team’s first-round pick, has an interesting challenge as he enters the NFL. As if figuring out how to play at an NFL level wasn’t enough, he’s also moving to a position that he only has a brief amount of playing time at. Barton has taken everything in stride since coming to Tampa Bay and understands that his growth at the center position will be a process. Playing offensive line at a professional level is one thing, but there are some nuances that come with playing center and being the anchor of the line.

Graham Barton Is Taking On The Challenge Of Playing Center

“As opposed to guard or tackle, maybe a little bit more (of a mental burden),” Graham Barton said. “Just because you’re sort of setting up the play for the offensive line. It starts with your identifications and your calls. It is slightly more of a burden, but I’d say the offensive line position [in] the NFL as a whole is more of a mental burden that people may not necessarily realize.

Bucs C Graham Barton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“You see a lot throughout the year from different defenses and you’ve got to be able to block all of it [on] any play. I think just adjusting to that is going to take some time, but I think I’m coming along well and just trying to take it one day at a time and keep learning and keep growing and keep adjusting to this offense. I think it’s going well so far.”

Graham Barton is responsible for making all of the calls at the offensive line and identifying specifics on the defense. It comes with the territory, but that’s why the Bucs drafted him in the first round. The more reps the better.

“I think it’s coming along,” Barton said of understanding the offense.  “There’s a lot of relationships to be built and trust to be worked on. That comes through practice and reps. It’ll get there eventually, but that’s something that, as a center, you’ve always got to continue to work on. That’ll be a point of emphasis for me – being good with my communication and being loud and definitive. I think that’s something I need to continue to work on, for sure.”

Bucs OL Ben Bredeson and RG Cody Mauch – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

If there’s anyone on the Bucs’ roster that can somewhat sympathize with all the moving around that Graham Barton is doing, it’s fifth-year veteran and first-time Buccaneer, Ben Bredeson. Graham Barton mostly played left tackle at Duke while sprinkling in time at center. Last season alone, Bredeson played left guard, center and right guard for the Giants.

Bredeson is in line to start at left guard this season, which would put him lined up next to Barton. He gave an update on the progress that he’s noticed from the rookie first rounder.

“Center in the NFL is tough, especially coming in as a rookie,” Bredeson said. “The mental capacity to pick up an NFL offense is a lot more than people think, especially when the defense gives you a front that’s [not] scouted and everyone’s looking at you to figure it out. There’s a lot on Graham, and he’s coming along very well. He’s picking things up. He’s getting a lot of experience through these first two weeks of camp so far.”

Ben Bredeson Is Helping Graham Barton Along

The biggest stride Graham Barton has made has been as the vocal presence that is required from every center in the league.

“I think he’s made a ton of progress, especially [because] he was a tackle coming out of college,” Ben Bredeson said. “We’ve been working with him through OTAs and he’s made good progress so far through these first two weeks of camp.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and C Graham Barton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Barton gives a lot of credit to the whole offensive line room for bringing him along over the last three months. When asked specifically about Bredeson, though, he went into detail about how important and influential he has been for his progress.

“Ben has been so great to me, especially just coming into OTAs and then now,” Barton said. “Just being a veteran presence for me, when he’s at left guard and I’m right there at center. He’s really helpful at the line of scrimmage. Obviously, he spent some time at center there in New York and so he’s got a lot of experience.

“He’s seen a lot of different people and played a lot of different teams over the years. Just having his experience and having a vet like that next to you at the line of scrimmage can be really helpful. He’s very aware of where I stand and how new I am to this and the position, so he’s been super helpful. I can’t say enough about Ben and how helpful he’s been.”