Head Coach Bruce Arians
(Opening statement)
"The film really didn't show anything different than I saw last night. I thought we obviously started good [with] an excellent drive. The penalties were the biggest negative about the whole night, in all three phases. The game changer on the interception – the other one was in special teams – but the field position all night was ruined by penalties and that part of it is easily correctable, hopefully. I thought the young pass rush was nonexistent. They've been showing some really good stuff, especially Kahzin Daniels – I thought he'd have a better night. Pittsburgh's got some really good depth in their offensive line, they showed that last night. I think on the positive side, I thought Grif (Ryan Griffin) was outstanding. To play that long the way he did and just directing a bunch of young guys, he did a heck of a job. I thought Schnelly (Spencer Schnell) obviously had a great fourth quarter. Dare [Ogunbowale] I thought looked outstanding, especially in his pass blocking. We had the sack-fumble – Andre [Ellington] got beat by a linebacker. We haven't done a lot of that in camp because of the concussion protocol stuff, but it showed – I think backs on backers – a little bit in that game. I thought our speed showed up. I thought we looked fast on tape. I thought we looked fast last night, and hopefully we can continue to build on that. Again, two-minute drives by Griff (Ryan Griffin), I think the one before the half was outstanding – the kick obviously was big – and then at the end of the game. Getting that fourth quarter turnover was huge from Mazzi [Wilkins] and that was a great hit, and he continues to show up. He's making the best of his opportunity."
(On if there are players like CB Mazzi Wilkins who go undrafted but perform well in games)
"Yeah, football players. It's just football players. They're not those shorts guys, and you always look for those. I know in the past, we've had two or three make our team and make major roles. Schnelly (Spencer Schnell), him, Wilkins – they showed up last night."
(On the offensive line's performance)
"I thought it was very porous. There were times it was good because their defense got tired, I think more so than our blocking [was effective], which is, when you're throwing it 56 times, guys are going to get tired on that pass rush. But yeah, it needs to be improved."
(On is he is getting concerned with the lack of depth at safety due to injuries)
"Yeah, with five guys down. Yeah, we're going to have to probably make some kind of roster move to get somebody else in here. We've got [John] Battle, but he wasn't ready to play, and we'll get him up to speed [and] we'll get somebody else up to speed as fast as possible."
(On if S Kentrell Brice's injury will carry over to this week)
"Yeah, it could. It could hang for a while."
(On DL Vita Vea's status)
"Right now, it's basically week-to-week. Each guy heals differently for those things. It's just a matter of pain tolerance and fitting the brace and seeing where he's at."
(On whether any of the players on the Physically Unable to Perform list will return this week)
"Justin Evans is getting close. He's running now at full speed, pain free. We've got to get him in football shape, and hopefully [Nick] Fitzgerald soon to see what role he can find and get him in the ball game as a quarterback too, and maybe as a tight end and maybe as a punt protector and all those things that we want to try to use him for."
(On utilizing RB Ronald Jones as a kick returner)
"Yeah, that's something he can do. He is a big, fast guy and people don't like tackling big, fast guys."
(On the effectiveness of having complementary running backs)
"Well, that's why I have been high on our backs. Peyton [Barber] is a pounding guy that has a great jump cut that's getting six [yards], getting five [yards]. And then RoJo (Ronald Jones) can hit the home run, but he can also pound it in there. He made some really good cutbacks and his explosiveness showed up. Dare [Ogunbowale] pass protects in nickel back. [Andre] Ellington is a pass receiver, nickel back-type guy. So yeah, I like our room. I really do."
(On if he will change things up at practice with the Dolphins coming in for joint practices)
"We will go back to basically training camp-type practices against ourselves. We probably won't wear pads the day before Miami [arrives]. We'll go out in shells or something."
(On if there is a lot teams can get out of joint practices with the ability to script different situations)
"Yeah, you get so much more work done because if things don't happen in a game, you can choreograph it and make sure it happens. You can see your guys against really good players."
(On QB Jameis Winston's decision to rush for a first down rather than taking a chance with a pass in the first quarter of the preseason game in Pittsburgh)
"Any time he is on the move, his eyes should be downfield, finding things. He obviously out-ran those guys, but if someone is open, throw the ball. If not, go get the first down. But, always look first."
(On the performance of CB Sean Murphy-Bunting against the Steelers)
"Sean was there. I was waiting for the play to happen because he has made so many plays in practice, getting his hands on balls, but he was just there. I asked him after the game, 'Did you play? You didn't do anything bad, but you didn't make that play I was looking for.' Hopefully we can get [Jamel] Dean back this week and get him in these practices. I don't know how long Mike Edwards is going to be out."
(On WR Bryant Mitchell's standing with the team prior to his injury on Friday against Pittsburgh)
"He was fighting like heck for that fifth [receiver] spot and making really good progress. It's a shame."
(On if the team will add another receiver to the roster in Mitchell's absence)
"No, we've probably got enough right now. Safety is where we are hurting to add [somebody] to the roster."
(On if there will be times when RB Ronald Jones gets more touches than RB Peyton Barber)
"If he gets the hot hand, we are going to go with the hot hand. They are both going to get their opportunities. If you've got a guy that's got a hot hand, you just keep feeding him. Everybody check their ego at the door because it's all about rushing the football, pass protection [and] doing all of those things – same thing with the receivers. We had a great (opening) drive – O.J. [Howard], [Cameron] Brate and Mike Evans don't touch the ball. That's okay."
(On if the depth at the skill positions allows him to always keep someone fresh)
"Yeah, you should have a fresh guy all of the time – that's the nice thing about it. Even if somebody else carves out the third-down role – which both of those guys (Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones) are capable of staying in there – then you're even fresher."
-BUCCANEERS-