Heck sucks. Pretty odd to move the Center to LT in an NFL game.
Not that he's gonna be an All-Pro after today, but I don't think it can be overstated for how difficult it is to move from Center to Left Tackle in the NFL - without any game reps - and not get your ass kicked repeatedly.
Barton did a helluva job today, all things considered. Very impressive.
Big kudos to the Bucs (Licht, Bowles. Grizz and Carberry, probably) for being able to admit failure and course correct like that.
It would've been much easier to just give Heck a lot of help on pass pro. Admit it, if they lose bad this board is awash with criticism of a late 3 man shuffle of the line. lmao
Bowes mentioned run film being better for Barton than Heck at LT, so maybe it was the desire to not handicap the run game. The fix didnt work out that well overall (Irving at 2.7) but they had some run success early with White and Tucker.
Either way, good to see them willing ot take big risk to do what they thing is right to correct a mess up.
Either way, good to see them willing ot take big risk to do what they thing is right to correct a mess up.
and to try to keep a lid on the plan lol.
Can you imagine the post-TC/pre-game one Bucs coverage/talk IF they close training camp by saying "Heck has not worked out, we are going to move Barton out to LT, Ben is going to C and we need a G to replace Ben" ROFLMAO.
We'll see how that makeshift line holds up vs the Texans D line. GO BUCS!
Bowles on Barton
"He's been practicing there for a couple weeks now," Bowles said with a wry smile. "No one [in the media] ever asked a question, so it never came up. He was going to start. He gave us our best chance to win because he's a hellacious run blocker. We started him out there just in case of emergency and put [Ben] Bredeson at center.
"He looked so damn good out there that it became part of what we were going to do, and that's what we went with. I'm taking nothing away from Charlie [Heck], but Graham was a tackle in college. He did a hell of a job out there. He was probably quicker-footed, so to speak, in the run game. That's some of things we were trying to do, and it worked out for us."
What a player. Some reps, pass pro wise looked awkward but him having great feet and excellent strength allowed him to wall off defenders. He definitely didn't look fluid out there but who cares. He did a damn good job winning most of his reps.Heck sucks. Pretty odd to move the Center to LT in an NFL game.
Not that he's gonna be an All-Pro after today, but I don't think it can be overstated for how difficult it is to move from Center to Left Tackle in the NFL - without any game reps - and not get your ass kicked repeatedly.
Barton did a helluva job today, all things considered. Very impressive.
I think we achieved what we were looking for- Bredeson was ragdolled, at least once - but the line held pretty well.
We knew the resources (and plan) ATL devoted to edge meant the gameplan would have destroyed Heck. They flipped the best remaining talent where the pressure would be.
ATL didn’t know the #TheSecret, so it stymied them a bit, all game. I thought they did well.
After a few weeks practice, we turned what may have been a failure at LOT, into a win, and now these guys have faced live bullets and know where to get better. Texans are next, we’ll see if Barton steps up, again. Just need to keep stealing/manufacturing wins until the cavalry arrives.
We made it out of Atlanta - Texans game may be a slugfest.
We’ll see if the replacements improve, or exposed.
Texans are next, we’ll see if Barton steps up, again.
Texans have legit rush ends, if I recall. Tough game. They all are.
I think we achieved what we were looking for- Bredeson was ragdolled, at least once - but the line held pretty well.
All in all, it was a win.
Obviously, some of the more nuanced protections looked bad, but overall (and considering the circumstances), couldn't ask for much more.
Been thinking about this exact thing. They blasted Puca and didn’t let up all game. Going to be a tough one, for sure for our o-line and receivers. But their o-line is just as vulnerable. Ram’s sacks came from OLB, S, and DE… which is interesting.Texans are next, we’ll see if Barton steps up, again.
Texans have legit rush ends, if I recall. Tough game. They all are.
Texans 3 sacks came from Edge, DT, and DE, interior seemed to see have the most pressure, so wondering if the Bucs use same O-line deployment as we saw against ATL (likely), or if they change it up a bit this game? Bredesen & Barton better eat their Wheaties.
Shaping up to be another low-scoring slugfest.
Yep. I do think O-line play will be better after weathering the live-fire in ATL, this next game tho…I think we achieved what we were looking for- Bredeson was ragdolled, at least once - but the line held pretty well.
All in all, it was a win.
Obviously, some of the more nuanced protections looked bad, but overall (and considering the circumstances), couldn't ask for much more.