Head Coach Bruce Arians                               

(On preparing for games against the 49ers and Panthers to start the season)

"You don't, you prepare for one. Coaches prepare for two. Players – we did some things in practices in the last few weeks that were Carolina-type things to practice against. We just wanted to get better through training camp [and] find our best 53 [players]. We'll take next week as it comes. The coaches will do double-duty and have a game plan set on the board when we leave Saturday, so then we can practice on Monday, but the players – I don't want them even thinking about Carolina. We have a big game this week with a very high-quality opponent. Week 2, it's just Thursday night – it could be the 10th week – it's no different."

(On if he has seen progression from 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo since his injury last season)

"Yeah, I've always liked Jimmy. Jimmy had a heck of a game against us in Arizona [on] opening night a couple of years back. He's a solid player. I think he's a really good player. He fits what they do offensively and he's a heck of a challenge."

(On what the toughest decisions were when getting the roster down to 53 players)

"They're always tough. You're watching that waiver wire – it's harder when a guy thinks he made the team and then you grab someone on the waiver wire today, and he's not here and hopefully he's back tomorrow. Those are the hard parts, telling guys 'You're back off and we want you on the practice squad whenever.' These cuts were always hard because, especially the first year, you get attached to a lot of guys, but then it's over with and you're on to game week. The excitement of game week kind of gets you over it."

(On his decision to bring in RB T.J. Logan)

"A guy I loved when I drafted him. [He has] 4.3 speed at running back – great kick returner, punt returner. [He] dislocated his wrist in the Hall of Fame game and we lost him. We had high hopes for him and kind of had been hoping that might happen. I was hearing he was having a great camp, so I didn't think it would happen, but he gives us a pass receiving speed back and a kick returner."

(On if T.J. Logan will be ready to dress on Sunday)

"He will be. Guys need to learn his name real quick."

(On what has changed for him since the last time he coached in a regular season game)

"I've delegated a whole lot more. I ride the golf cart a whole lot more. The excitement of the game is at a much higher level this week than it was then."

(On what adding T.J. Logan says about his confidence in RB Ronald Jones II)

"I have a lot of confidence in Ronald Jones. He's going to have a hell of a year."

(On building a winning culture at a new team)

"I think your first three years, you have to establish a winning attitude and a winning culture. After your third year, it can be 'Let's just get to the first game healthy with everybody' because I know what I have. I think teaching guys and finding ways to win – whether it's guys that got cut or not – it still permeates through your locker room."

(On having players returning from injuries at practice this week)

"Yeah, [we'll] hopefully have a couple more tomorrow."

(On how he assessed Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich's play calling during the preseason)

"I think he had a plan [and] he stuck to his plan. He did a good job of communicating with the quarterbacks – each one, what they like. We do it a little bit different in the Saturday night meeting – we let them pick the plays. Third down, red zone – these are the plays I like called first. That's the one's you're going to call. You're not going to be the guy in the headset – 'I really like this play' – he's like 'well, I don't like that play' – 'Well, I'm going to call it anyway.' It isn't going to work. He did a great job with that."

(On what he has learned about QB Jameis Winston from OTAs until now)

"Not a whole lot that I didn't know. He's extremely bright, a hard worker, accurate quarterback. He might be a better athlete than I gave him credit for in the couple runs that he took off with. I think he had 19 miles-an-hour on his GPS one time – I could not believe it. I think it was false, but yeah, he's a little better athlete than I thought."

(On whether he felt the preseason was important in assessing the team)

"I think it is in your first year. The situations that we put them in in practice and [with] Miami in the [joint] practices – they showed up in games. I thought we were an excellent two-minute team – especially our second and third [string players]. Credit to the coaches for having them ready, where guys ran those drills and the handle of those situations kicked those kicks to win games in the last two minutes. That's going to be huge for us. The guys that weren't in there need to watch the film. [Our] kicker is confident he can kick a game-winner. I'm happy he got put in that situation that many times."

(On how important communication between the head coach and quarterback is)

"I think it's paramount. There has to be a trust factor when he comes off the field and we talk – tell me what you saw. Don't tell me what I want to hear, tell me what you saw so that we can have an open dialogue. Same thing with Byron [Leftwich] – it's now a three-way street with the three of us, so feeling out 'What play do you not want in the playbook this week? We've got thousands. Give me 10 – if you don't want to see them in the playbook, they're not in there' – that kind of stuff."

(On if not calling plays allows him to be better at managing the entire game)

"[It's] boring. It gives me a chance to turn my back and talk to the defense or talk to the special teams when I couldn't before. Trusting the fact that they're going to handle this [and] I can go handle something else [and] get the situation ready rather than flipping buttons and try to get guys on the headset. It's a lot easier to so-called manage the game."

(On the combination of NT Vita Vea and DL Ndamukong Suh)

"That is a powerful inside – [they are] not just space eaters – these are penetrating guys who can rush the passer and eat up blocks and just free those linebackers up. And, they can make plays themselves."

(On what it means for the defense if Vea and ILB Lavonte David are able to re-join the defense for Week 1)

"Oh, it's huge. I mean you are talking about two of the best players we have: one of the best leaders we have and one of the best young leaders that we have. That part of putting those guys back out there is paramount."

(On how G Alex Cappa has solidified his role on the offensive line)

"He is solid. It's his job. He would have to lose it, but hopefully he doesn't do that. He has made steady progress. He got beat in the Cleveland game a couple of times, but he has made really good progress."

(On when K Matt Gay will be back with the team after the birth of his child)

"I have not heard yet. I am hoping the baby finally decided to come and we can get him back in here."

(On if there was anything he noticed about the game in his year broadcasting that he might implement into his coaching this season)

"Not really. I saw some things I wouldn't do. We don't have music – that is the biggest one. I just saw it as a total distraction everywhere I went. It's just to please the players. There is too much teaching that goes on in our Friday practice. A lot of teams just have it on Friday, but to me, teaching is more important."

(On OLB Demone Harris earning a spot on the 53-man roster over OLB Noah Spence)

"I think he was more productive. He is a special teams guy and he [made] the best of his opportunities."

(On the difficulty of parting ways with Spence)

"It's always hard. This guy gives you everything. You're pulling for him from day one. The number of snaps he was out there and the production just didn't match, but nobody worked any harder than him."

(On the challenges that the 49ers will present to the Buccaneers offensive line)

"Many of them – [they've got Arik] Armstead, [DeForest] Bucker, Dee Ford and [Nick] Bosa. I mean they are all number ones up there. Each and every one of them in and of themselves can go and wreck a game. When they added Dee – I happened to do the Kansas City/Cardinals game last year – he just totally took the game over. He presents a challenge with his speed rush. Nick – I am sure he is going to play – he is a different type of guy. But Armstead and Bucker, those guys are very, very talented guys."

(On 49ers LB and former Buccaneers LB Kwon Alexander)

"He didn't play too much in the preseason, but he looked like himself. Obviously, we wanted him back, but he hit the lottery, so God bless him – I am all for it. Now we are playing against him and we know what he can do. We know what his strengths and weaknesses are."

(On the performance of Buccaneers ILB Devin White during the preseason)

"I thought it was extremely solid. As far as running the show and doing all of those things – I don't get into tackles and all of that – he did his job and covered his guy. We didn't do some of the things we are probably going to do in season with him, but I thought he handled that part of it and that's all we wanted [was for] him to get out there, get accustomed to his helmet and calling the defense. When teams hurried up, he handled it. He is a poised young guy."

(On if teams look at their opponents before drafting players to determine if they have the right pieces to match up)

"Oh, definitely. When you are drafting, you first start off with your division. How do you stop your division? You have to build to stop your division and then you look at your schedule. Devin [White] and [George] Kittle – that really isn't a good match up, but other guys are that we will match up with him."

(On how to counteract a team with a good pass rush)

"I learned a long time ago, you can keep all of the guys in to block, chip and do all of that and then you throw [and it is] three against seven. No one is open, so you get sacked anyway. So, get them out [and] throw it fast. You have to run the ball against a team that has pass rushers and make them stop the run to set up the play action. Keep it balanced – if you get into a passing frenzy with these guys, you are going to be in trouble."

(On the quick-passing style)

"Yeah, that has always been a huge part of what we do. I always get tagged as throwing it downfield all of the time, but that was Carson [Palmer] knowing guys were open. There were short routes involved."

(On the team selecting captains for the 2019 season)

"We will do that in our next meeting."

(On what he thinks of the coach's challenge for pass-interference calls)

"I kept trying it just to get my opinion on it. The language has been rewritten, so it will be a week-to-week thing. I'm sure something will come up each week, 'Hey, we've got to talk about this one. We've got to talk about that one.' Then they will change the rule again. I know we ran a slant in the flat the other night and got called for pass interference. We don't run pick plays five yards down field when everybody in the world can see it."

(On his message to the players that made the 53-man roster)

"The first thing was, 'Congratulations.' As I said earlier, we were not the Bucs until today. Today we became the Bucs. Now it is all about getting each other better, practice habits and everything. We have to have a daily grind and get the work done that is scheduled for today. We call it respecting the process. Just get that work done today and make sure that every day we don't have to ever go back because you don't get to go back. You don't get those reps over. [I was] just making that point and then gave them our scouting report and took off."

Tight End O.J. Howard

(On how excited he is to start the season)

"[I'm] pretty excited about it. We've got a really good offense, of course, and we've got a lot of talent. I'm just looking forward to putting in the game plan and [for] everybody to see what we've been working on."

(On his 'Catches for Kids' initiative)

"Basically, my foundation – I'm doing the initiative of giving 100 dollars per catch for my foundation that's going to give back to the kids for school supplies. It's also going to help different schools with their football equipment. You can go to my website and you can donate whatever you want – it doesn't matter – nothing is too big or too small. I'm going to give 100 dollars a catch and by the end of the year, we're going to try to raise $10,000 dollars. At the end of the year, we're going to give it to the right different organizations."

(On the influence this coaching staff has had on the locker room)

"I think they just do a good job of just pushing us. Our whole team is buying into it. We all just want to have the mindset to go out there and play fast, focus and finish strong. I think our team last year, we had a chance to finish a lot of games out and we didn't. This year, that's our initiative and we've done that so far in the preseason. We just want to take it over to the regular season."

(On how things have changed under Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich)

"It's really the same, honestly. The tight ends have been involved in our offense over the years. Coach Leftwich just has different ways to get us the ball. He does a great job of it and we've just got to keep executing and making the most of our opportunities."

(On if he envisions getting more targets in the red zone)

"Yeah, absolutely. Down in the red zone, we've got Mike [Evans] and a lot of teams try to double Mike and it allows us as tight ends to get the one-on-ones. That's our whole mindset is just to win the one-on-ones. That's our opportunity to get open, and most of the time in the red zone that's what happens for us."

Nose Tackle Vita Vea

(On returning to practice today)

"Shoot, it felt great. It was fun being back out there after sitting out watching for the past couple weeks. It felt fun to actually get back out there and play and get into the swing of things."

(On the importance of the defense getting off to a good start in Week 1)

"I feel like it is really important. We've just got to go out there and prove what we can do collectively as a defense, not individually. I feel like this is what the coaches have been preaching to us to work together, communicate and things like that. We will see Sunday how everything and fits and how the cookie crumbles from there. After that, we will fix it from there."

Inside Linebacker Lavonte David

(On returning to practice today)

"It's fun, you know, to actually be back in action with my teammates. I've been out for a while – it was the first time I've ever been out that long, and it was different for a while. All I did was just trust the process and I'm feeling good enough to go back out there with the players."

(On rookie linebacker Devin White)

"Devin is a natural leader – you have to respect it. He's coming in, he wants to play football and he wants to win. You love to have a guy like that next to you. He is a real talkative guy, as well, not only on the field but he talks a lot off the field too. He is just a joy to be around because he loves the game of football, he wants to be out there, and he wants to be great."

(On seeing San Francisco 49ers LB Kwon Alexander on the other sideline)

"We've been going back and forth about it all year. Kwon is like my little brother. We are always going to have a personal relationship outside of football. We talk a lot. You know how he is already, so he is excited, and I am excited as well."

 Running Back T.J. Logan

(On how excited he was to get the call to come play for Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians)

"Really excited. He texted me early in the morning. It was a no-brainer for me. He knows exactly what he wanted when he drafted me, so I was just trying to come out here and play with him again."

(On if the transition to a new team is easier since he has been in Arians' offense before)

"On the offensive side, I feel like it won't be that hard because I've ran a lot of his stuff, but I learned a whole new playbook with Coach [Kliff] Kingsbury, so it's going to take time. I was kind of watching today, just trying to get in there, hear some calls, hear some things. A lot of it sounds familiar, so I'm just trying to learn it real quick."

-BUCCANEERS-