Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich

(On how he thinks he will feel the night before Sunday's game)

"I'm pretty sure I'll feel the same way I've felt in the past. The great thing is I've been in these types of situations before as a player. They don't get to tackle – they don't actually hit me now. You just really focus in, just always constantly thinking about how to put your guys in a position to make plays – just making sure we're practicing, doing the things we need to practice and just trying to rev the guys up, making sure we're ready to play on Sunday. That's really my only thought process as of right now."

(On what the biggest thing the team accomplished during training camp)

"Anytime you've got new systems on both sides, the more you can practice, the more you can get repetitions of everything, is always better. I just think we're getting closer. We're coming together. Just watching the guys – the way they're talking, the way they're doing in the locker room – this is a close group of guys when you watch these guys interact with each other. That's what I like about it the most – these guys are all in with each other. They are committed to each other. And, those are normally signs of pretty good football teams, but we'll have to see. I just like the way these guys are handling every situation we're putting in front of them. They're doing a heck of a job of all that."

(On what makes Mike Evans a dominant receiver)

"I don't know if I've been around a guy this long that can run like Mike can run. People don't realize how well Mike run, how he can adjust to the ball and how his catch radius is really off the charts. For a guy that big to be able to do all the things that he can do – that's special. That's really unique. I've had the opportunity to coach Larry Fitzgerald, but Mike's way taller. Mike's a taller, thinner guy. Just to see him make some of the plays he makes – Mike's a special guy – you all know that, you've all seen it. The unique things that he can do – for him to be a guy as big as he is – that's what makes him the player that he is. He can do things that little guys can do, being that tall."

(On Evans' matchup against 49ers CB Richard Sherman on Sunday)

"Our number one guy is our number one guy. We've got a lot of respect for Sherm (Richard Sherman) just being in that division (with the Arizona Cardinals). I know what type of player he is. They've got a lot of good football players on that side of the ball, to be honest with you. We've got our hands full. We've got a lot of work to do here on Sunday, but it's the game. You're going to have this conversation every week. Every week, each team – this league is filled with players each week, so we respect what they've got. I've got a lot of respect for Sherm because I've coached against him and I've seen the plays that he makes, I've seen the way that he's playing now, so we'll see how that works out."

(On how much it helps to relate to QB Jameis Winston as a former NFL quarterback himself)

"I can talk to him from different aspects. I can talk to him from being the guy inside the pocket – what you've got to do [and] what you can't do. I also can talk to him – I'm always up in the room – from a coach standpoint, just having an understanding of the system. That always gives me an opportunity to teach him the little nuances of what's really going on. It's not just everything on paper – you can't play this position on paper. Sometimes, the three-technique is beating your guard. Sometimes, the defensive end is [beating the tackle]. Sometimes, someone does this. Sometimes, a guy is holding onto your guy, so you have to be able to adjust. Just having an understanding of the offense and having an understanding of having to do this stuff before, it gives us a clear dialogue when we communicate so we're always on the same page."

Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles

(On if he is ready for Sunday's game)

"We'll be ready on Sunday. Right now, you try to do all the little things to make sure we're prepared – make sure that the guys are playing together, they can communicate and try to be as ready as you can for the first one."

(On what he has seen from ILB Devin White during training camp and the preseason)

"Just the leadership and the maturity with him understanding the communication of what has to go on the defensing lining people up. That part for a rookie is not usually seen too much, but he does a great job at it. He understands and it's not too big for him, so we're very excited about that. The physical abilities will take care of themselves for him."

(On how important communication will be in Week 1)

"It's not that complex. We've been practicing since the spring. We've just got to continue to communicate and that's going to be all 16 games – it's not just the first game. We had to do that every day in camp. No matter what we do, we have to communicate. You can't be on the field without talking to the guy next to you."

(On what he has seen from CB Vernon Hargreaves III)

"Vernon is an extremely smart player. He's a very heady player [and] he understands a lot of things. I think Vernon can play in any scheme because he's very good in zone, he's very good in man and he can see what's happening to him. It's not even about our scheme, it's about the guy just being a good football player and he's made plays when he has had the opportunity, so we look forward to that come Sunday and the coming weeks."

(On what makes OLB Carl Nassib an important part of the defense)

"He's a hard worker, first of all. He's relentless when he goes off the ball. [He's] extremely intelligent, always comes to practice ready to play [and] always has a smile on his face. [He has] multiple personalities – all good for football, so that's a great thing. [He has a] great sense of humor – [he] doesn't take himself too seriously and he just loves to play. Those are the type of guys you want to play with every day."

(On how S Justin Evans' injury impacts the personnel at safety and nickel)

"It doesn't do anything right now. If people start getting hurt, obviously [Deone] Bucannon can play safety. We've moved people around all spring, so we have contingency plans. M.J. [Stewart] can play a little bit [at safety]. Depending on the package, he may or may not play, but two or three guys have got to go down for that to happen, so hopefully it doesn't get to that."

(On which defensive players have surprised him during the preseason)

"I don't want to say impressed or surprised – that's probably a Week 16 thing. I think they all work hard and they've all been pretty much attentive as far as communicating and doing the right things. As a group, as a whole, they've been coming together and the cohesiveness has to continue to come together. As long as that comes together, you don't worry about the surprises or who shocked you. You kind of know the ability coming in, but as you teach them and as they gain information, and they apply it, you just look forward to that. That's probably an after-the-season question more or less going into the season."

Defensive Lineman Ndamukong Suh

(On how anxious he is for the opener)

"I'm excited to get back to football. It's always fun Week One, getting two weeks, pretty much, to prepare. I'm excited to get out there Sunday in this nice heat."

(On what he learned about the team in training camp)

"We've got a tremendous amount of talent. Without question, we have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, and even on special teams, and I think it's about execution for us, playing at a high level."

(On if there is an element of the defense that needs to play at a high level)

"I've always believed, as your front seven goes, especially your front four – and really kind of our front five – goes is really how a defense should go. So, it's up to us up front to take care of business, stop the run game and then obviously get a chance to get off the passer."

(On the 49ers' offensive front)

"It's definitely a good thing. I know all five of their offensive linemen, they kept that solid through, as I watched film in the preseason. I believe they had some injuries, but I think they'll be fine. Looking forward to that. They've got a great running game, one that we have to definitely stop. The passing game, 85, [George] Kittle is a great specimen and he gets out in the open. They're very creative with what they do with him, as well as 44 [FB Kyle Juszczyk], so we'll definitely have our hands full."

(On successful defense starting with stopping the run)

"Yeah, without question. I think no matter who you're playing, you want to make them one-dimensional, but it's even more of an emphasis when you have a team that focuses on running. They were a top leading rushing team, even though they weren't successful in the win-loss column, but they did a great job [running the ball] and I saw that last year in L.A."

(On rookie LB Devin White)

"Devin's a fun-loving kid, one who's excited to be on the football field. [He's] very loud and vocal, which you want from your MIKE linebacker. I'm excited to play in front of him, free him up to make some plays. I know he's excited and I look forward to Sunday."

(On what a rookie has to learn in his first few NFL games)

"I think it's just be calm. I think your nerves and your jitters are going to be there as a natural human being, but just go back to old-school football. That's what I told myself when I had my first game in 2010 against the Steelers. Without question, just be calm and play football."

-BUCCANEERS-