New Bucs G Sua Opeta – Picture courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs offensive guard Cody Mauch can perceive what Graham Barton goes by coming into the NFL. Mauch was Tampa Bay’s second-round decide a 12 months in the past and was slated to start out as a rookie. Barton is in an analogous function, however has even loftier expectations from outsiders as he was the group’s first-round decide in April. Whereas Mauch kicked inside from enjoying left deal with at North Dakota to proper guard for the Bucs, Barton has an analogous problem shifting from deal with to middle, forcing him to get his snaps down accurately.
Now Barton did begin 5 video games at middle at Duke so it may very well be a smoother transition, however nonetheless there’s quite a bit for him to select up immediately. Mauch admitted throughout OTAs that his personal head was spinning at instances all through final season as a rookie starter. Solely time will inform if there would be the similar sort of pitfalls when Graham Barton strains up at his new place.
Bucs Rookie Graham Barton Exhibiting Management Qualities Already
Bucs C Graham Barton and G Elijah Klein – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs are coming into their third week of OTAs and there’s nonetheless an extended technique to go earlier than the beginning of the 2024 common season. With that stated, the early evaluate of Graham Barton by the lens of Cody Mauch has been a constructive one.
“He’s been nice up to now,” Mauch stated of Barton. “It’s at all times robust to come back in and be taught a brand new system and whatnot. Particularly, he sort of will get thrown into it and he’s been nice. You may inform he’s taking the function on effectively. Good vocal chief I’d say already, which is nice as a rookie two weeks into it. Hopefully we will simply maintain making these small enhancements and maintain sort of meshing as an O-line, wherever everybody finally ends up.”
Barton and fellow rookie Elijah Klein aren’t the one new offensive linemen on the town for the Bucs. Due to the signing of Sua Opeta and Ben Bredeson, there are gamers young and old that Mauch and lots of the returning Bucs offensive linemen are nonetheless meshing with.
“Simply as guys, they’ve been superior,” Mauch stated. “Enjoyable guys to get to know, good vets too. Enjoyable guys to get to truly simply speak ball with. Sua is my locker roommate so we’ll simply sit there and speak over some issues. Simply the conversations we’ve had, me, Sua, Ben, the brand new guys like Elijah [Klein], it’s been enjoyable. You get to know new guys and know new guys as gamers as effectively. Get a brand new perspective on issues, particularly these guys coming from completely different locations.”
Cody Mauch Sounds Off On New Bucs Offense
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
There have been a number of Bucs gamers and coaches which have commented on the what the brand new offense is like with Liam Coen because the coordinator. However till this level, we haven’t heard from the attitude of an offensive lineman, who in fact are anticipated to play a vital function in turning round Tampa Bay’s run sport this season.
Mauch shared his ideas on how studying Coen’s new scheme goes to this point.
“Thus far, so good,” Mauch stated. “We’ve all actually appreciated what we’ve seen. Nothing drastically completely different than what we’ve performed previously. Perhaps little tweaks – at the very least this far till the set up – and I believe the run sport ought to enhance from final 12 months. And simply the sort of little nuances we’re put in for protections as effectively, it’s all sort of coming alongside. Thus far a piece in progress, however we’re getting in the appropriate course.”
