Head Coach Bruce Arians

(Opening statement)

"Not practicing [today were] Shaq Barrett Jack Cichy [and] Jamel Dean. [Players who] did practice limited – Demar Dotson, Chris Godwin, Ryan Jensen [and] Breshad Perriman. Devin White did some limited stuff, so both the young guys looked OK moving around and we'll just see how they progress through the week. [It was a] good start to the week. Obviously, we have a big game on the road in our division for first place, so all those things add to a little bit of excitement. Right now, I'm just worried about us – not the Saints."

(On what he thought of today's practice)

"We were about 20 minutes ahead of schedule, so it was a very good tempo practice. The quality of it – I'll judge the tape, but I thought it was really good out there."

(On if winning the past two road games gives the team confidence for the upcoming road stretch)

"Yeah, it gives you huge confidence when you win at those type of places – Carolina and L.A. Now, it's just getting on planes and going to play. It's not away, away, away. The crowds were big there. They're going to be huge in this one – it's probably the noisiest place in the league to play – but I think we can handle it."

(On what allows WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to play off each other well)

"They can do so many different things. They're not always sitting in one spot. They're both good blockers, so they can get through play-action because they block. They've got great hands and they're good receivers – that's a hell of a combination. They can run. Just keep throwing the damn ball to them."

(On if he needs a third receiver to step up)

"No – we've got guys that are making plays. Each guy is stepping in. We went through five or six guys that dressed in that game – they all played. They all contributed. We'll see how Breshad [Perriman] is, next man up and we'll move on."

(On how Saints QB Drew Brees being out changes the preparation)

"It's totally different. It's unusual to get ready for two quarterbacks. They've got two really good ones. I've always had a ton of respect for Teddy Bridgewater. What Taysom Hill does is amazing with his skill set and he's so dangerous in the punting game as a faker and all the things that go with that. You've got to be on your toes the whole time, knowing who's in there."

(On what stands out when he looks at the Saints' defense)

"Their front four – their front six, really. This might be the best front four we've seen so far."

(On if practice squad QB Nick Fitzgerald can help simulate Saints QB Taysom Hill in practice this week)

"Yeah – he wears his jersey [number] and that's about it. Nick, he can throw it. He can do those things, but as far as running routes and stuff, it's not quite the same, but he's out there doing it."

(On if there is anything he has learned about the team that he didn't know a month ago)

"I think we're growing every day. We're learning things every day. Each week's different. Each set of circumstances in the second half of each game have been different, and how we've handled them. We're a little more resilient than I thought we might be, but I hoped we would be. There are a lot of good things."

(On if the team can practice finishing a game throughout the week)

"Yeah – every day, the last two periods of practice. I don't want to see mental errors, especially in the last period of practice, because that is the last five minutes of the game."

(On what is different about this Saints team than the ones he has faced in the past)

"They've built a hell of a roster. They've got depth everywhere. Getting Sheldon Rankins back adds to that front. They've got speed on defense. They have a great kicking game. So, Sean [Payton's] always had a hell of a football team – it's just the offense has overshadowed it a little bit. Right now, they're relying on the defense and the defense is showing up."

(On what has changed with QB Jameis Winston since the start of the season)

"He's just growing in the offense – more and more repetitions and more things you see on film in games – it's just a natural growth process. He might be ahead of the curve for where I thought maybe he would be. He's just playing really, really well right now."

(On what it did for Winston when Arians told him to be fearless with the ball)

"The last four years – I don't care. I'm only judging you on what you're doing today with us. Play quarterback the way we want to play – he's doing a heck of a job of it. I don't care about the past."

(On how effective the offensive line was in Week 4)

"You can't say enough. You don't get deep shots down the field against that team very often and not get knocked flat on your butt when you're letting it go. The offensive line and the tight ends did a heck of a job in the running game – and you add the receivers to the running game – but the front five and the tight ends did a hell of a job."

(On the running backs being pushed back while blocking the Rams' defensive front)

"Get your ass kicked [doing] what they did – it's alright. Just don't let them hit the quarterback."

(On how difficult it will be communicating in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome)

"That's the hardest part, is the communication. We were able to get the crowd out of it last week, and then they came back in strong, so that last drive was huge when the crowd was in it. The Saints crowd doesn't go away. They're kind of like Seattle – they don't go away."

(On if CenturyLink Field in Seattle is "his house")

"Yes, indeed."

(On what kind of level C Ryan Jensen is playing at right now)

"Really, really good. That fourth quarter, most guys probably would've came out. His back was locked up, but he just kept battling. He said, 'I'm not coming out.' He's playing really well, and our interior running game – the two guards and centers – are playing well."

(On ILB Jack Cichy's status)

"It's an elbow subluxation-type thing. [He will be out] two, maybe four weeks."

(On if the defensive line's pressure is where he wants it to be)

"Yeah, I'd like to get home a few more times. We were disruptive [and] we got [Jared] Goff off the spot a lot. He made some hellacious throws as he was moving around, but we were chasing him around. We wanted to get him off the spot, and if we can do that with Teddy [Bridgewater] against this offensive line – which is probably as big and strong as any we've seen – then we'll be successful."

(On what DL Ndamukong Suh is providing)

"A lot of pressure. The quarterbacks feel him. He might not be getting home, but he's occupying a lot of double teams and when he is one-on-one, he's getting close. In the run game, he's just shutting it down."

(On if he will consider using Suh on offense after seeing his speed on his touchdown)

"No. You've got to get over 18 miles an hour."

(On if Saints RB Alvin Kamara is running inside more this season)

"Yeah, I think with Ingram gone. That's what he did at Tennessee. This guy's a hell of a back. This is four [strong running backs] in a row, but he is indeed different at jet sweeps and the way Sean [Payton's] using him to get him in space. He's probably the most dangerous receiver of the group of running backs that we've played so far, as far as angle routes going to the house, matchups on backers and safeties – he's a legitimate threat, like [Christian] McCaffrey."

(On if the Saints offense had to change much from QB Drew Brees to QB Teddy Bridgewater)

"No, he [Sean Payton] runs the offense. Then, they've got the offense number two, and that's the one that you really have to be on your Ps and Qs not to give up a big chunk play."

(On if he uses crowd noise at practice to simulate a road environment)

"We do it every week. It'll be louder this week."

(On if he can live with giving up points and yards as long as the defense creates turnovers)

"Yes, because if we're getting the turnovers, we're going to be scoring with them so that we're outscoring them. But am I happy giving up 40? No, but we had a pick-six we dropped. Shaq [Barrett] just missed the ball – he swiped at it, had it, missed the ball – so I'd like to see more turnovers. I'm not happy with 40, unless we've got 55."

Quarterback Jameis Winston

(On his reaction to winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week)

"I was talking to Ali Marpet about it. It really speaks volumes about how good we were as an offense last week, so shout out to the whole offensive staff and the guys who played their tails off."

(On if there is one thing that stands out to him about Head Coach Bruce Arians)

"The biggest thing is his dialogue and his awareness of the game, and us being able to have conversations week in, day in and day out, about when to go here with the ball, where to go with the ball when we see this or that – it's helped tremendously."

(On what it meant for Arians to preach playing fearless after a loss in Week 1)

"It just shows his confidence in his system and in us as human beings [and] as players."

(On what stands out about the Saints' defense)

"I think they're just very sound. They have a great front led by Cameron Jordan. He's one of the best players I get the chance to play against every year. [They have] great young corners – two first-round draft picks over there – and they just do what they do really good, so we have to do what we do really good."

(On if G Ali Marpet should get Pro Bowl consideration this season)

"I wish I could vote for him and Donovan [Smith] every year for the Pro Bowl, and [Ryan] Jensen. I think Jensen really sets the tone. Ali's doing an amazing job – he's one of our leaders, one of our captains. But Jensen – his tenacity up front really sets the tone up front for all those guys. If you just watch closely after plays, Jensen is all the way down the field like he finishes a play. We have great guys like Ali, who is across from Cap (Alex Cappa) – Cap has learned from Ali every step of the way. They're communicating all the time – you should just hear them talking at practice. So, when you've got a guy that's a leader like Ali, who is one of the best guards in this league, you've got one of the best left tackles in the league and one of the best veteran right tackles in the league, you can really feel the chemistry of our offensive line and they're really doing a great job. Coach Goody (Harold Goodwin) and Coach Gil (Joe Gilbert) are really working their tails off in that room."

(On what makes New Orleans a tough place to play)

"I really just love the atmosphere, honestly. When those guys get rolling – any time you play indoors, the noise is a factor. I love playing in the Superdome because it takes you back to college, playing in those big stadiums – playing in Death Valley, playing in Tallahassee when it's really going. I think everyone feeds off that, everyone feeds off the noise – I know our guys do – probably not Ali [Marpet] and Cap (Alex Cappa) because they didn't have any exciting college games [laughs]. But we really enjoy that loud atmosphere and it makes us focus in on communication and execution."

(On if he feels comfortable in this offensive system)

"Yes, very comfortable with this offensive scheme. Our coaches are doing an excellent job and our players are executing. Anytime you're doing that, you're on the up and up. We've just got to continue to do that week in and week out."

(On his reaction to Arians saying no other quarterback is playing better than he is right now)

"Me, I've just got to continue to do well. He says all the time, 'Yeah, we're playing good, but what are we going to do this week?' Goody [Harold Goodwin], our [Assistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator], had an old Janet Jackson quote – 'What have you done for me lately?' He hit me with that, but that's how it is. This is a snap-and-clear league. Yes, we enjoy wins, and we've got to treat wins and losses the same by going on to the next week, but when you've got a head coach that has faith in his team like that, you can't let that man down. You've got to do your best week in and week out, and that starts with us practicing out there and having that same approach at practice, taking it one day at a time."

(On how many players in the locker room understood Assistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator Harold Goodwin's reference to a Janet Jackson song)

"No – me and Goody had that conversation. But come on now, I know some Janet Jackson songs [laughs]. Don't test my culture."

(On WR Mike Evans and WR Chris Godwin's unselfishness)

"It's just their love for this game. Those two are some of the most selfless players that I've ever played with, just because they want to see the team succeed, and that's really all that has to be said. That whole room, led by Kevin Garver, is just like that. They're just good guys in that room."

(On why WR Chris Godwin has been so effective)

"Just his work ethic and how he comes in every single day with a purpose – it shows up, and he just works hard. He's a great leader, he has great people in that room with him that are trying to help him as much as they possibly can, and he's doing his job. That's what they get paid to do, is run great routes and get open and when they get open, catch the ball."

Inside Linebacker Devin White

(On what it will mean to play in his home state of Lousiana)

"It's going to mean a lot to me. I have a lot of family members there, a lot of supporters there, so it's a great game to come back in. I've just got to keep preparing and be able to do well and help my team win."

(On how he is feeling)

"I feel great – nothing [hurting] really. I practiced a lot today, I ran on the sideline when I wasn't in to make sure I'm in game shape, getting ready to go."

(On how it feels to be able to put an illness and injury from the first four weeks behind him)

"It feels great. At first, I felt like the world was against me. I just kept having thing after thing, but I never got down on myself. It was always [thinking of] what I could do to make sure I'm out there with my team. With the tonsillitis, I went through a minor surgery just so I could get back out there and I played in game one. We didn't have the outcome that I would've loved to have, but it showed them I'm willing to give my all for the Bucs. That's what I signed up to do and to the day that I continue to keep playing here, I'm going to keep giving my all whether it's whatever – I don't care what's wrong – as long as my heart and God say I can go, I'm going to go."

-BUCCANEERS-