OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZAC ROBINSON

(On if he could sense RB Bucky Irving's energy on Thursday night in Dallas)

"100%. In pregame warmups he had a different look in his eye. He was ultra-focused. He was pretty serious and I was trying to lighten him up a little bit [but] I couldn't get him to crack a smile. He definitely was a reflection of, really, the whole offense too. I thought there was a different level of energy, edge and physicality that was on display on Thursday. I thought it showed through the week of practice. Obviously, we didn't have many practice opportunities, but you could tell just the intentionality behind the walk-throughs and everything. There [were] some great displays of leadership from some of the guys we need to lead. Bucky is right there. He goes about it in a different way, but yeah, you could feel that from the jump with Bucky. He is celebrating first downs every time he [has] it and guys fed off of that. I thought it was pretty cool to get him going, and obviously a bunch of guys had a hand in his performance. It was a great job by those guys, and they brought a ton of energy and a ton of juice on Thursday."

(On if the offense is starting to establish its identity through the offensive line and the run game)

"I think so. There are certain instances where it has looked good throughout the course of the season and then we've hurt ourselves – or killed ourselves, really – with some penalties. That was even the theme the other night, we just overcame them. When we're able to stack plays and stack drives like that where we're running the football, we are definitely a better offense [and] a better team. So yeah, those guys, they've had success together running the football. Obviously, they didn't play much together at all last season, but those guys are kind of getting back into the flow of the season. [With] offensive line play, those guys have to be so well coordinated together, and I thought that was reflective of Thursday. We'll keep rolling with those guys knowing that is a strength of our offense. I'm looking forward to just continually improving. We left some plays out there, too. We're just like, 'Man, this could've been a 300-yard [rushing game] if this and this and this [happened].' But then, obviously, Bucky [Irving's] 72-yard run was a [great] individual effort – a lot of guys were straining to make that thing happen, so that obviously helps your numbers out. But yeah, 100%, we're looking for that every single week to establish that, and I thought those guys did a great job of doing that early in that game."

(On the growth he saw in QB Jalon Daniels from his first career NFL start to his second)

"I thought it was big. [It was] a short week on the road [as an] undrafted rookie quarterback – whether he's undrafted or the first overall pick, that's going to be a tough challenge. He did a great job of handling the week. Coach [Chandler] Whitmer and Coach [T.J.] Yates did a great job getting him ready to go versus that defense. You could feel just a steadiness and an ease about him when he took the grass. I thought that was awesome to see. He is always going to learn from a number of different things, but he played clean football for the most part, made good decisions, distributed the ball around and then made some plays with his legs on third down, which is always huge. He was calm with the operation. We had the false starts that happened, but the rest of the operation with him, I thought, was pretty clean. Going on the silent cadence for the first time – all of these things are brand new to him, so I thought he did a great job of handling all of it and I look forward to another great week with him at the helm."

(On how long it takes to get familiar with his wide receivers' capabilities and ensuring that he's putting them in the right situations to succeed)

"I think we've gotten the ball to them on some handoffs, like 'C.G.' (Chris Godwin) has had some, and obviously 'Mek' (Emeka Egbuka) had the touchdown last week. You sprinkle those in for sure within the gameplan and then you find out what other ways you can throw them some run alerts in the run game. Perimeter screens – both of those guys have had some really good reps with perimeter screens where we're getting first downs on third downs. We'll continue to use those guys and try to get them the rock any way we can when it's not necessarily in the route concept. They've done a great job all season whenever we have called their number, whether it's a handoff, or whether it's, like I mentioned, a screen. We'll continue to explore all of those things."

(On the offensive line holding penalties that stem from a running back making a cutback that the linemen can't anticipate)

"I've never played offensive line, but when I watch the tape and you see these things happen, some of these are happening so quick and they're doing everything they can. The refs are calling a lot of these, which that's their job to make those decisions. That's where everybody has got their hand in it. We talked about it in our Monday meeting. It's not just the offensive line, it's not just a tight end, it's [also] the runner and making sure that he's staying on his track to make sure that we don't have some of those penalties. There was one with 'Tuck' (Sean Tucker) where if we did get it to where the ball was supposed to go in the A gap, we don't end up getting that hold on 'Breds' (Ben Bredeson). Some of those, everybody has got their hand in it. It's difficult on quarterback scrambles, as well. Same thing, they're straining like heck to fight through the down, the quarterback breaks the pocket and next thing you know they're making those split-second decisions on throwing those [flags]. You just try to educate as much as you can. Can you feel the pressure once that guy does disconnect? [You just try to] coach it up the best you can, but I've never played offensive line, and I can feel how hard that is when you watch the tape and just see how quickly those things are happening. They're calling it, so we've got to get those things cleaned up. Everybody has got their hand in it. It starts with the quarterbacks getting the ball out of their hands and making great decisions and the [running] backs trusting the tracks where the run is supposed to go too."

(On the challenge of the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive front)

"It's a really good defense at all three levels. It's impressive when you throw on the tape. I've always had a ton of respect for [Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Coordinator] Patrick Graham, as well. He does a great job. But yeah, you see it from front to back – it's a physical group. We know that it will be a physical challenge and a physical football game, which our guys are looking forward to. They present a number of different problems and a number of different things of that nature in terms of the front, the [linebackers] – they've got just really good players really in all three levels. Then, Jalen Ramsey is still Jalen Ramsey. He's disruptive, he's playing close to the line of scrimmage, he's playing safety spots, obviously, too. All of those guys are a challenge and our guys are definitely looking forward to kind of the physical mentality that this game is going to be."

(On the 64-yard completion to WR Tez Johnson)

"We've had so many opportunities with Tez earlier in this season that we've just missed. We had a couple of instances in Cleveland. We've had other times where he has broken free and we haven't been able to get the ball off. All of those things have to come together with the accuracy of the throw [and] obviously the protection first and foremost, but it was great to see he had a great pocket, 'J.D.' (Jalon Daniels) did a great job clicking back to him and made a big play. But yeah, we've got to keep Tez rolling. He's our explosive guy that can get down the field, so the more that we can explore any chances that we get, [the better]. He has earned the right. He has done a great job from a mental standpoint. He handles the gameplan every single week and he has had opportunities, obviously, really outside of the first game of the season – he has had some opportunities down the field, and we've just got to keep connecting on them when we get those chances."

(On TE Cade Otton's versatility within the passing game)

"He's got such a great feel. That's the thing when we started messing with those looks back in the spring – he [has] a great feel for space and how to navigate and negotiate some of those tight quarters [where] some of those are difficult, where you're inserting through offensive linemen and having to negotiate the rush, as well. Those are things we've done since we got here in the spring. He did a great job throughout [training] camp, and we've had a couple of those things in each gameplan. We've gotten a couple of them off. Obviously, we ended up not getting the one throw off, but he did a great job negotiating through and getting to the second level of the defense. It goes back to just his instincts and feel. He's got a great natural savvy about him as a pass catcher. All of that stuff allows you to try to do those things."

(On if it's tough staying patient with QB Baker Mayfield's progression)

"100%. He's doing everything he can. I know he wanted to play in this game so badly. Even last Thursday he was talking about it. The timing on these things, you just never really know. We were trying to get stuff going on Monday and it's just not quite ready. He will keep progressing. I didn't realize these are the first games he has ever missed in his life, you know, even through little league football and high school, he has never had to miss a game. You can tell it's wearing on him. You know Baker, he's as competitive as anyone. He has done a great job maintaining a positive attitude. He has been helping out 'J.D.' (Jalon Daniels) at ton. He's been awesome in the QB room. He's got the call sheet out at practice. He's telling any tip he can for 'J.D.' [in the games], so he's been great. I know he is frustrated. We'll just keep kind of working through it and see when he can get back. We're fired up for when he can be."

RUN GAME COORDINATOR LARRY FOOTE

(On if he played against Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers during his career)

"Yeah, a few times. A few times. He's still spinning it. He made one throw [where] I think DK [Metcalf] dropped it over the middle, but it was nice. My son plays quarterback, and I videoed it, he had great footwork, but he flicked it in there. I sent it to my son, who played quarterback. It was awesome."

(On Aaron Rodgers' ability to play at the level he does at age 42)

"He's not moving as he did back in those days, obviously being 42 years old, but he can still spin it. We all know he's probably one of the best pure passers that this league [has] ever seen. He's still doing it at a high level. Stuff he does pre-snap, we [have] to make sure we stay one step ahead of him the best way we can, as far as just trying to disguise as much as possible because he's definitely trying to read what we're in. We [have] to have tight coverage because he can put it anywhere."

(On his thoughts on how the secondary performed in the Week 5 game at the Dallas Cowboys)

"Oh, it was awesome. Those guys are growing; you see it every day. Last week I was messing with those guys, it's two-on-two. Everybody is coming to see this game, to see you guys, two-on-two basketball, and they did a great job. They're competitors. [Jacob] Parrish, he's the silent killer. [I] can't get a word out of him, but he is a competitive guy. Zyon [McCollum] is just growing, and I love watching those guys."

(On how CB Jacob Parrish makes up for his height)

"He's tough. He's a former wrestler. I remember him coming out of Kansas State, you can see that on his film. He's a tough, no-nonsense guy. I'm quite sure, since I've been here, we've been better in perimeter screens, especially [when] he was at the nickel spot. I remember his rookie year, he did a great job, and he gets off of guys. One play I remember, I think it was the game or the practice last year against Pittsburgh. It was a goal line [play]. He reminded me of '43' (Troy Polamalu) as far as he ran through the B gap in goal line. He was outside, but that just speaks to his competitiveness. He wants to get to the action, and you don't see that often with corners, especially his size."

(On how OLB Rueben Bain Jr. is looking coming off of an injury)

"Watching the [Dallas] Cowboys game, he looked better than he did the previous games, and he's coming around. I think we're all going to deal with injuries, but he's starting to look fresher. He looked fresher last week. You've seen it in the game, and he's getting close. He had some good rushes, and it's just day-by-day. He [has] to block out the noise and keep growing. You guys know, in this league, you [have] to develop at that position, and I'm waiting on him to get his first one (sack), and I know he's waiting on it."

(On how the defense is preparing for Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jaylen Warren)

"[We] better pay attention to him. He is one of those guys, it's hard to get [him] on the ground, so it's going to take a lot of guys to get to him, and they're just dumping it to him. Obviously, when he's running the ball, he's a weapon, but it's going to take a lot of guys to get that guy down. He's dynamic [and he's] up there with those top running backs, as far as every week it seems like he got a home run. We [have] to pay close attention now."

(On the dynamic between linebackers Alex Anzalone and Josiah Trotter)

"It's a perfect match as far as Anzalone's been around. He's not shy, he talks, and that's a good thing for a young guy like Trotter. He can just sit back, concentrate on his assignment, and as the years go, he's going to have to step over into that role, but it's a perfect match. Anzalone can do all the communication, and he can just focus on football."

(On LB Josiah Trotter's productivity so far this season)

"[It's] just his nature. He [has] an appetite to get to the ball. He is mean. You guys [saw] it in training camp. He is mean. [You've seen] it in nine-on-seven, you saw it the first time he went out there in pads. He wants to get to the football. I was sharing with [Inside Linebackers Coach Mike] Caldwell, there was a play today, he form-fitted perfect. We [had] pads on today, and that's the right way to practice. He didn't go kill the linemen, which he was doing in training camp. He [has] to learn how to do your job, be physical, but save some of those [physical shots] for the game."

-BUCCANEERS-