Prospect Profile: Graham Barton, OL, Duke

Pass Protection

He plays with outstanding leverage and therefore play strength. He does this through excellent bend but also with remarkably efficient footwork. As his leverage comes predominantly from his ability to bend he needs connection to the ground to keep his play strength high and he does this by sticking his feet in the ground and moving with intent and purpose. He moves smoothly, laterally and he maintains an excellent base, mirroring with relative ease against most competition. Where he can get into some trouble around the outside is against those rushers with elite athleticism, but they will need good play strength to flatten to the QB as his good recovery ability allows him to stay in the rep. He has a solid post foot to take away the inside move and can deploy his explosive strength when someone tries the inside move.

As for coming through him, this is very difficult because of the leverage with which he plays; he drops an elite anchor. When he is challenged and rocked backwards he shows a consistent ability to reset and re-anchor. His footwork and leverage allows him a little margin for error with his hands, which on his two handed strike can be a little wide and he looks grabby, living on the edge of holding at times. Working with independent hands, he is more accurate with his strike but his outside hand can sometimes whiff and puts him in trouble against the elite speed already mentioned. His hand timing is consistently excellent. He is a high processor at the Tackle position, works out where pressure is coming from and neutralizes the correct threat for the protection set. He plays with good balance and can right himself from awkward positions, also can lay a lick on a defender even when he’s in a compromised position. He does an excellent job of reducing time and space with his hand timing and efficient footwork despite having less than ideal arm length for the OT spot.

Run Blocking

As with his pass protection, his best attribute is his play strength. As a run blocker, especially on Gap blocks, you can see him snap into contact and uncoil that leverage. He also displays his physical toughness and competitiveness. On Drive blocks he demonstrates his explosive strength as he’s able to dominate those across from him and lever them off the ball, sometimes burying them in the ground, sometimes taking them several yards of the line of scrimmage. He’ll finish through the echo of the whistle. On Down blocks, he positions well and finishes but it won’t be as brutal as on Drive blocks, just always functional. He moves well as a puller and locates well but his fit can be inconsistent. This inconsistent fit and finish shows up most often on blocks in space where he positions well and creates a good angle but doesn’t bring himself under control to apply his strength effectively. He also stops his feet when he gets to his man in space, and it prevents him from finishing. On combo blocks for Zone blocking, he’s able to help seal and chooses the right release point to the second level but it’s easier for him to deal with defenders closer to the line of scrimmage. As a reach blocker, he has no problem reaching anything directly across from him or shading outside him, he rolls his hips on contact and finishes. If they are inside him, whether at the line of scrimmage or the second level, it’s more of a competition.

SUMMARY
3 year LT starter, has the traits to make the transition to guard with his play strength and anchor but could be given a chance to play Tackle. Better Gap blocker than he is Zone.p>

PRODUCTION
SR: 492 snaps at LT
JR: 895 snaps at LT
SO: 747 snaps at LT
INJURY: Knee injury (SR) missed 4 games

RAVENS FIT
Toughness 4
Intelligence 4
Versatility 4
Grit 5
Scheme 4