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Experts express doubts that Buckeyes' lineman can thrive in pro game
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Thursday, Apr 24, 2008
At Ohio State, right tackle Kirk Barton was known for his way with words and lack of convention.
When it came to the latter, his lighting a cigar in the press room after a 2006 victory over Michigan might have been rivaled in the coach Jim Tressel era only by Ben Hartsock's notion to leave a snow angel on the White House lawn. And when the media needed an honest and witty answer, only Anthony Gonzalez was in Barton's league.
But in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft this weekend, Barton might have been wise to ignore his press clippings.
Analysts' reviews of the Perry High School product have not been kind. In Pro Football Weekly's 2008 Draft Preview, Nolan Nawrocki wrote Barton ''moves like he is attached to a trailer hitch.'' In his 2008 Draft Report, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said Barton ''never developed into the prospect I once envisioned.''
''Their job is to take you apart,'' Barton said Tuesday. ''Some (evaluations) are better than others. If you go by what they all say, nobody can play in the NFL.''
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock expects Barton to be a mid- to late-round pick.
''I never really believed the hype on him,'' Mayock said in a recent telephone interview. ''He was a good solid right tackle on a real good team. When you're a right tackle only, that's bad in the NFL, especially if you're a backup. If you're going to be a starter, that's one thing.''
On a conference call, Kiper said Barton was ''in that sixth- or seventh-round mode'' and didn't discount the possibility he might not be drafted.
''Good college player, limited at the pro level,'' Kiper said. ''When you talk about being athletic and quick and working against powerhouse defensive ends, he will be a little overmatched. He may be a backup who can battle his way onto a roster.''
But Barton is a battler. He seemed undaunted by a right knee injury at the Senior Bowl that required arthroscopic surgery Jan. 24. He trained hard in Columbus for OSU's pro day on March 7 and ran the 40 in 4.95 seconds at 6-foot-41/2 and 310 pounds.
''With the injury, there's a lot of different things, not being able to run at the combine, 'Is he all right?,' those things are disappointing to read,'' Barton said then. ''But when you pull off a day like today you're excited. You only need one guy to fall in love with you.''
Barton might be feeling the fallout of the offensive line's poor play in consecutive losses to SEC teams in the BCS title game.
Barton does have something going for him besides his chiseled physique, work ethic and love of the game. Since 2002, eight Ohio State offensive linemen have been drafted and all but one are still on an NFL roster (counting Browns center LeCharles Bentley). Five of the survivors were selected in the fourth round or later.
Barton could join the likes of Tyson Walter (sixth round, '02, Dallas, now with Green Bay), Alex Stepanovich (fourth round, '04, Arizona, now with Atlanta), Shane Olivea (seventh round, '04, San Diego), Rob Sims (fourth round, '06, Seattle) and Doug Datish (sixth round, '07, Atlanta).
Four of those eight — Bentley, Stepanovich, Datish and Nick Mangold — are centers. But even Nawrocki suggests that Barton could move to right guard and is ''smart enough to adjust to the stunts, games and movement that occurs faster inside.''
Barton said he tried out at guard at the Senior Bowl before he was hurt and knows he must learn another position.
''I just need a chance to make a team,'' Barton said. ''That's what Mike Vrabel told me today, 'You just need a chance.' ''
Barton doesn't have his heart set on what round he wants to be selected, perhaps learning from running back Antonio Pittman's slide into the fourth round last year and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith falling to the fifth round.
''Some guys get all caught up in that kind of stuff and some go two rounds early and some go two rounds later,'' Barton said.
On Sunday, he'll probably be lounging on his couch in the Under Armour gear he received after signing with the apparel company after the combine.
''It will be a low-key day for me,'' he said. ''I'm not having a party. I might not even watch it. I'll probably play a game or watch a movie.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
At Ohio State, right tackle Kirk Barton was known for his way with words and lack of convention.
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