Below is a selection of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quotes from today's earlier media availability. Full video of press conferences can be found on Buccaneers.com.

Head Coach Dirk Koetter

Defensive Coordinator Mark Duffner

Wide Receiver Mike Evans

Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul

Head Coach Dirk Koetter

(On how wide receiver Adan Humphries has improved)

"I think Adam is one of the steadiest and most consistent players on our team. The whole (touch down) thing, four games in a row – I guess the thing that he's doing is really running after the catch. His runs – that was a beautiful cut back on his score last week. I guess that's maybe the punt returner in him. It looked like they had the angle on him then he cut it back against the grain. Just a real steady player that is on a team where there's guys that get more targets than him. He's kind of always in position and rarely makes a mistake."

(On if defensive tackle Vita Vea played his best game against the 49ers)

"Yes, definitely."

(On if Vea played well because he is healthy)

"Well, I'm not sure exactly why. He's healthier than he's been and he's playing more, but easily the most production that he's had."

(On the reason the defense has come together)

"Hard to say because we've had a lot of injuries on top of that. We've been missing some really good players. I think one thing they're doing a good job of is I think they're doing a good job of mixing it up, of doing some different things and showing some different looks, especially on third down. We've added a much bigger dime package than we had before. Partly that was out of necessity. When Lavonte [David] and Kwon [Alexander] are healthy, we don't like to take them off the field, but we've sort of been forced to because of the injury situation. The third down is probably the biggest thing because we've actually – teams have run the ball a little bit better on us the last few weeks. If they're running it, but you're still stopping them on third down you're still getting off the field. That's the main thing."

(On what he's seen from the defensive line)

"I think everything starts with JPP (Jason Pierre-Paul) and [Carl] Nassib – the two ends. I think those two, from a disruption standpoint. Gerald [McCoy] is still a handful when he gets singled inside. Teams haven't been able to focus quite as much on Gerald, but I think the penetration of Carl and just the overall doggedness of JPP – that he just won't quit – I think that's pushed the entire group to bigger heights."

(On if he thinks the league should extend the gameday active roster)

"I'd be for it, but I'd be willing to bet they won't ask my opinion."

(On if wide receiver DeSean Jackson went to a hand specialist and if his hand was re-injured against the 49ers)

"I'm not sure about the re-injury. He saw a hand specialist here in Tampa and the way I understand it, they sent the results to some kind of a specialist in New York as well. I don't know if it was reinjured. I don't know about that."

(On having linebacker Lavonte David back on the practice field)

"The first thing he said to me is that I need to tell the trainers that he didn't need to wear the knee brace and I said that probably something for you to tell them, not me. It was great having him back out there today. Lavonte's one of the most respected payers on our team – a team captain. Any time – we got Lavonte back today, we got Justin Evans back somewhat today. That's a big boost to everyone's moral out there."

(On why there were a lot of nickel and dime schemes on defense)

"The 49ers actually left the fullback on the field more than any team we'll play. You saw 44 (Kyle Juszezyk) for them was out there. We would've played even more substituted defense had they not been in 21 personnel as much as they were. We had the lead in the game and we got them behind the chains a little bit so they kind of had to throw. I'm sure their game plan was to stay ahead of the chains and keep us in base defense with the inexperience at linebacker. When we could stop their run game on first or second down or when they had to throw and couldn't complete it – we got them behind the chains and we were able to get our sub, our nickel and our dime out there."

(On what his shoes for Sunday's 'My Cause, My Cleats' game means to him)

"I'm wearing shoes that support the [National Multiple Sclerosis Society]. That something that's close to my family. My mother and my sister have M.S. and that's what I'll be wearing on Sunday."

(On how much of a challenge Panthers quarterback Cam Newton's run game is going to be)

"It's a big problem. Any high school or college coach can tell you about when they add that 11th man in there, you've got to defend all 11 instead of just defending 10. Normally the defense has a one-man advantage and that's unusual in the NFL because most teams don't want to run their quarterback. I think you're seeing more and more zone read, especially in the low red zone this year, from a lot of teams. We've done it ourselves. Carolina's way, way more advanced running the ball and Cam's really good at it. That's probably why they're third in the league in rushing. He's set numerous quarterback records for rushing, so it makes it tough. Then [Christian] McCaffery's playing well and they've added a lot of speed on the outside. Oh, by the way, they've got [Greg] Olsen at tight end too. They've got it rolling offense right now. They're tough to stop."

(On Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly)

"Really good – one of the best. Their linebacking corps in general and their front seven in general – top notch. They're tough upfront and Kuechly's the quarterback of that group – excellent communicator, really good tackler, very instinctive. Wish he wasn't in our division, but he is."

(On the Panthers safeties)

"[Eric] Reid and [Mike] Adams – they have two really experienced safeties, so they've seen a lot and they've just played a lot of football. They don't panic. Carolina does a lot on defense. They move around a lot. Going back to Kuechly, because of your shifts in motions, they'll adjust. They're one of the few defenses that will flip their blitzes based on your protection calls. They've got us on that over the years multiple times and we've had to change a lot of what we do because of that. We've got the better of it sometimes and they have sometimes. Those two safeties – I think it was perceived maybe on the outside that safety was a weak-link in that defense, but by adding those experienced safeties, I think they've definitely bolstered that position." 

(On if running back Ronald Jones could develop into a player like McCaffrey or Saints running back Alvin Kamara)

"It's possible. Yeah, it's possible. The league kind of went away from that not so much because – well I think first of all both of those guys are special talents even though Kamara was a third-round pick, if we redrafted today, trust me he wouldn't be making it to the third round. I think the thing that's most amazing to me about both of those guys is their durability – the hits they take. That's really why teams went to the two and three back rotations because backs were just getting pounded. The shelf life of the running backs that were carrying it. When we had Maurice Jones Drew in Jacksonville, I saw it first hand with Maurice with Steven Jackson at the end, with Michael Turner at the end, those guys took a pounding. We're talking about these guys in their second year, but they're playing great. I think McCaffrey 96 percent of the snaps last week and 240 all-purpose yards – that's phenomenal."

Defensive Coordinator Mark Duffner

(On the reason for more production from the defense line)

"I think our defensive line really overall played a darn good game the other day. I think [that] was one of the reason why we were able to play productive defense. They've been working real hard on the pressure and putting pressure on the quarterback and impact him in terms of the pocket. I'm pleased that they're having results that are reflective of their efforts."

(On defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Carl Nassib)

"They're both guys to be concerned about if you're on the offensive side. They're both – number one, they're high-energy guys, high effort guys. They're going to work like hell to get the job done. Number two, they've got talent and when you add those two things – attitude and talent – together you get some production. I can't be more excited about what they have brought in terms of their personality, their character, their work ethic and their production to the defense. JPP he's down, didn't know if his knee was torn up or what and the rascal goes over, warms up, goes back in and plays. You've got to love a guy that's got that kind of toughness and commitment to his teammates."

(On Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey)

"They've got a lot of targets, but this guy has really been prolific for them, there's no question about it. He's their top receiver, he's playing about 98 percent of the snaps. Everything tend to really be involved with he and the quarterback. They're both very, very dynamic players, so we've got our hands full. Execution will be critical in terms of people doing the proper assignments of their job and then tackling and pusuit areas we were not consistent in the first time we played them. The objective this week is to have great eye discipline in terms of what your job is all about and then do a great job of finishing and tacking."

(On getting two interceptions against the 49ers)

"It was excellent. It was a great thing. The play that Ryan Smith made and also Isaiah [Johnson] were excellent plays – they were drive stops for us – in critical moments really. We were trying to keep them out of the end zone and to have those kinds of plays – especially through interception or takeaway – was something we needed and something we were pleased to get."

(On how to defend the Panthers offense)

"They certainly have people that attract your attention and the only tough thing in that regard is the have more than just one. If you focus on one guy too much, somebody else can wind up having a big game against you. This receiver [D.J.] Moore that they've got is really coming on. They've got really good receivers in addition to [Greg] Olsen at tight end. They've got multiple weapons and if you focus just on one particular, two particular guys, you could let the other part of their offense take over. Like every week, it's a team game and we've got multiple people to be concerned with."

Wide Receiver Mike Evans

(On games in which the offense and defense play well)

"Dirk always preaches on playing complementary football, and when the defense plays well it gives us confidence like, 'Alright, we've got to hold up our end of the bargain.' I think we did that last week and we're looking forward to doing that again this week."

(On what he learned from the previous game against Carolina four weeks ago)

"Like I said, they game-planned really well. Even though they're a one-high team, it felt like Eric Reid was just coming to me no matter what. And then [James] Bradberry was underneath just pressing that. So I've got to be better, more physical, faster and stronger, and I think I will be this time around."

(On if he has learned more about cornerback James Bradberry)

"I've just got to learn the whole scheme of their defense. I know how he plays. I try to learn the whole scheme and I think I learned some things from last time. I think I'll be fine."

(On if he thinks this has been his best season yet)

"Statistically, yeah. Maybe not the touchdowns; I had double digits twice, I think. Those years I was getting easier ones on the goal line and in the red zone. This year I've got to score from further out because I get doubled a lot in the red zone. But I think this is my best year in terms of route-running and my ability to take the top off a defense."

Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul

(On what he learned for the first game against the Panthers)

"It's my first time getting a crack at playing in the division, so we got a pretty much good feel of what they're going to do. I study their film probably 11 times. After that game, watching it probably 11 times – even when I'm home. I made a a lot of mistakes in that game. I'm looking to correct them to have a great game.

(On the keys to beating the Panthers)

"I know we need turnovers. We can't give turnovers and just a whole lot of flying to the ball and everybody playing together. I think the guys are going to come out this week and we're fired up. Like you said, that win is over and done with, but it gave a little bit of a boost. We know what we're capable of playing, but like I said – we were supposed to beat that team I know that. At the end of the day, it is what it is. Everybody on the team is probably banged up at this point, but you've just got to fight through it. I feel like if you fight through it, everything will work out for itself."

-BUCCANEERS-