Head Coach Bruce Arians

(Opening statement)

"[Today was a] very, very good start to the week – very fast. [We had a] good, solid practice. We've got a heck of an opponent this week. Changing quarterbacks doesn't really change their offense [but] it does change some things. For us, we've got to stop number 26 (Saquon Barkley). It all starts and ends with him, then we'll try to contain the quarterback because he's a heck of a lot more mobile than the other guy. Our defense will be ready, and offensively I'd like to see us get off to a little bit faster start."

(On if the defense will have a similar approach to stopping Giants RB Saquon Barkley as it did for Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey)

"They're on different planets. Saquon's bigger, stronger, faster. He's got more 50-yard runs than anybody I've seen in a long time."

(On what makes Barkley so difficult to defend)

"He's hard to bring down. He doesn't run over many people – he runs around them and runs past them. The size and the speed combination are extremely rare."

(On playing against a rookie quarterback)

"I think the biggest thing is just keeping him off balance. First and foremost, stop the run. Stop the run, try to take the easy bootlegs away and make them play from the pocket."

(On the Giants' decision to start QB Daniel Jones over Eli Manning)

"It's never an easy situation. The guy won two Super Bowls [and] he's still playing at a pretty good level. It has to be an organizational [decision] – from the top down. For me, it'd probably have to be an edict for me to switch because I'm way too loyal."

(On how TE O.J. Howard can get back on track)

"Just keep playing. The balls will come. We don't dictate who gets the ball – the defense does, so sometimes it will spread around for different people every week."

(On how important it is to get a win this Sunday before playing away from home the following five games)

"All the wins at home are important. I never look forward. We want to win September, and we didn't do a very good job of finishing the game at home last time, so we need to finish the game at home this time."

(On the team being able to finish strong in Carolina)

"I think it was big for their confidence. I've had the confidence all along, but it really depends on the locker room and I think their confidence is pretty high right now. We have to practice the same [way] this week, after a win, as we did after a loss. The sense of urgency can't leave."

(On what OLB Shaquil Barrett has done to take advantage of his opportunity)

"He's got four sacks. He's around the quarterback a lot and disrupting, swatting at hands, even when he's not getting home. That's what he was on tape when he played."

(On what has led to the success in the run game)

"I think Byron [Leftwich] has done a good job of sticking with it. As a group – especially when you play a 4-3 team – the tight ends have to block well against defensive ends. When you're playing a 3-4 team, it's more the interior guys. Right now as a group – we don't run the ball really well without our receivers – and nobody's blocking better than Chris Godwin."

(On having the extended weekend after Thursday night's game to get players healthy)

"It was good. We limited a few guys today that didn't have a full practice, that will go full practice tomorrow, so yeah, it's always good. I don't like it the second week – now I love it."

(On some of his earliest memories of Rondé Barber)

"Just watching him being born. Tiki and Rondé came, they lived right down the street – not even a street, just over the hill. We bought condominiums right next to each other. We were roommates [in] college, so [we are] very close, and [I] followed them throughout their entire careers. I couldn't be more proud of both of them, but for him to get into the Ring of Honor – that's huge – and I think the gold jacket shouldn't be far off."

(On if he has a favorite story from when Rondé Barber was growing up)

"We always babysat Rondé because Tiki was always in the hospital. He always had convulsions, so we had Rondé just bouncing around and playing. He's got some really ugly pictures of me with some bad hair."

(On if there is an extra emphasis to win on Sunday when Rondé Barber is inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor)

"I would hope so, that they would have a little bit more, but each game carries enough weight and significance. It'd be just a cherry on the cake to win for him."

(On if the team has a sense of opportunity with Saints QB Drew Brees and Panthers QB Cam Newton dealing with injuries)

"If there is, I'm going to put a match to it, because it's this week. You can't think about all that stuff because Teddy Bridgewater is a hell of a player and there's other really good players in this league. You take care of today's business – not Sunday's – just today's. Tomorrow, hopefully Wednesday's, then Thursday's [on] Thursday. If we stay like that, we'll be alright."

(On if he felt the players played better around QB Jameis Winston in Week 2)

"I thought we had two more touchdowns. I thought there were two really good throws that could've been touchdowns that [would have made it] a huge night for him. As we just continue to grow in the offense, protecting the ball is paramount, so as long as we can do that, we're going to be in the ball game."

(On if the balance on offense in Week 2 was ideal for the offense)

"Yeah, I'd like to come out of every game – if there was 60 plays – [with] 30 runs, 30 passes. That means we're running the ball well, it sets up easy play-action and I'd like to convert more third downs. Obviously, third down and red zone, we're not very good in that game, so identify them and get them better."

(On the challenge of coaching a rookie quarterback)

"The one's I've had, we just took the game plan – they knew it. I go back – Peyton [Manning] threw a ton of interceptions those first five games, then all of a sudden, we went back through our division and he didn't throw any. I think Daniel Jones is a very bright guy. He had a heck of a preseason – they wouldn't be making this call if he didn't have a great preseason and them thinking he could do the job."

(On how important it is to stick by a rookie quarterback as they go through growing pains)

"I'd imagine Daniel Jones is their quarterback for a long time. You can't go back. Once you make that move, it's over."

(On how he would handle a player requesting a trade)

"I walked in here with a clean slate and we don't have anybody like that. I can only talk about my team and the teams I've been on – we've never had those type of things. It seems to be [en] vogue all of a sudden. Hopefully, it changes."

(On players taking to social media to try and accelerate the process of being released or traded)

"I'm not a fan of it."

(On how to stop Giants RB Saquon Barkley)

"You've got to gang tackle. It's got to take everybody getting to the ball and [having] gap integrity – you can't try to do too much. If you try to do more than your job, you're going to open up a gigantic hole and he's going to find it. Stay in your gap [and] get everybody to the ball. Our defensive backs are going to have to tackle really well, and if a safety takes a bad angle – Todd [Bowles] showed about 20 clips today in the meeting – you take a bad angle, it's a touchdown."

(On how to stay grounded as a defense)

"Keep it that way. One thing we're doing is playing hard. We're not playing perfect, but we're playing really hard, and if you play harder than the other team for 60 minutes, you've got a chance."

Wide Receiver Mike Evans

(On going against the New York Giants secondary)

"I am familiar with Janoris [Jenkins]. I've played against him a couple of times in my career. He is a really good corner – real savvy, athletic and he's always tough to go against. The rest of their guys – we are starting to feel them out – we just started watching film on them today. They don't look bad at all, so we are going to watch some more film on them. But like I've said before in the past, I'll take our receiver room over anyone."

(On trying to shift the balance in power in the NFC South division)

"Whatever we are in the division right now – I guess we are tied [for first] – we want to stay number one. That's the goal, to stay number one and win each week. If we do that then we can get to the playoffs. We have a good team. We just need to stay healthy and keep executing."

(On getting extended rest after the Thursday night game)

"It was awesome because it was Week 2, we didn't take too much punishment Week 1 [and] most guys came out clean – some injuries, which always happens. I definitely enjoyed the three or four days off. Our bodies feel good. [We are] ready to rock against the Giants."

(On how well the wide receiver group blocked in the Week 2 win over Carolina)

"Oh yeah, I've always been big on helping my teammates, especially the running backs. They need guys to block. They can't shake and run everybody over, so you've got to have guys block. CG (Chris Godwin) and Breshad [Perriman] did a great job last week of staying on their guys blocking and opening up lanes for Peyton [Barber] and RoJo (Ronald Jones). Hopefully we will continue to do that and be dominant in the run game as well as the passing game."

Outside Linebacker Shaquil Barrett

(On being able to make an immediate impact after signing with the Buccaneers this past offseason)

"It feels good just to be able to put all my hard work to the show, and then for you all to be able to see the results from it. It's years and years of hard work finally coming to fruition. I'm going to keep working and try to keep it going."

(On what about Defensive Coordinator Todd Bowles' defense has allowed him to have success)

"Everything – we have all of the right players in the right positions. The scheme – the back end holding on and making the quarterback hold the ball a little bit longer – everything worked perfect on Thursday for us."

(On getting three sacks in a single quarter)

"I got in a zone and after the first one I just started doing moves and all of my moves started working. They kept working throughout the game. It just felt good. It was just an amazing feeling. I am going to try to replicate it, but I am not going to make it a goal to do that. I am just going to play the game and let it come to me."

-BUCCANEERS-