HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if he still believes the team was sluggish coming off the Bye Week)

"Yeah, mentally. Everything I said yesterday, I saw today. Nothing different."

(On why RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn has been getting more carries than RB Sean Tucker)

"He had a good week at practice, [and] he had a good couple of weeks. Sean [Tucker] got a couple plays in the game, [and] we wanted to see Ke'Shawn [Vaughn] more. He's taking advantage of his opportunities, so he'll probably flip flop like that the entire season. We'll see."

(On if he thinks the team can get by with Vaughn and Tucker at the No. 2 running back spot until Chase Edmonds comes back)

"I don't think it's their fault that we are in the bottom of the NFL as far as rushing. It's a group thing. We have to run the ball better, we have to block it better, and we have to rush it better."

(On what he is seeing on tape from a run blocking standpoint)

"We're not getting it done. Sometimes it's a technique thing, sometimes we miss a block here and there, so as a group, we have to do a better job."

(On how he feels about S Ryan Neal's performance)

"First touchdown, there were a lot of guys in bad spots. That wasn't Ryan [Neal] at all, on the one he caught and ran about 20-something yards. Second touchdown, he just has to look back for the ball and take."

(On how disappointed he is in the offense and if scoring 18 points per game is enough)

"No, it's not, and we will get better at it. Like you said, it's five games in. We had a clunker yesterday, no doubt about that. You want to score touchdowns in this league, and we didn't score touchdowns. We'll work at it, and we'll get better."

(On if the team is featuring the right guys in terms of where the ball is going offensively)
"It's easier said than done. You want to feature the right guys, but you also want to include everybody, as well. I think we can expand on that, and we will."

(On DL Calijah Kancey's performance)

"He's disruptive. He fills out the stat sheet. [There are] some things he has to work on, some rust he has to work off, but we like where he's at. He's very disruptive."

(On having 13 rookies dressed yesterday and their growth throughout the season)

"It's encouraging that they made the team and that we know they can play. [During] preseason, you're not going to see half the stuff you see during the season, so they're going to have to go through some growing pains here and there, and take a few lumps. We just have to make sure they understand what they're looking at, and make sure they stay up from a physical standpoint during the season, so they don't wear down."

(On the decision to punt on fourth-and-2)

"I shared that yesterday. There is nothing else to add."

(On if passing the ball should become more of a focal point if they can't successfully run the ball)
"You don't want to hit your head up against a brick wall. Obviously, if they're stacking the box when they give you the pass play every time, you want to take the pass play."

(On if he expected growing pains when he hired a first-time playcaller)

"It's not just going to be for him the first time; it's going to be every year as a play caller, regardless of whether you're first time or not. You're going to learn some things, and you're going to go through some things. You're going to have some great games, and you're going to have some clunkers. We had a clunker yesterday. Dave [Canales] is a very smart guy, very positive guy, I believe in him 100%, the offense believes in him 100%, and we're going to be fine."

(On if he is considering bringing in another running back)

"Not at this time, no."

(On if a win against the Atlanta Falcons will create separation in the NFC South division)

"This game is bigger than yesterday's game because it is a division game, obviously. They're fighting for first, we're fighting for first, [and] New Orleans is fighting for first. It's early on, but anytime you get a divisional game you want to win it."

(On how he thought OLB Shaq Barrett played)

"Shaq played hard. That [was] one of the better games I've seen him play in the run game. He played like he never missed a day. He played really hard. He played really well."

(On OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's performance)

"It was one of Joe's more complete games, especially, in the run game. He had about three tackles and four assists, he had a sack to go with it, [and] got his hands on the ball here and there. Joe played a very good ballgame yesterday."

(On the run game taking a step backwards after he put emphasis on it for the season)

"Again, we are only five games in. It's going to be a work in progress. If we put too much emphasis on it, they're going to take it away, and we [have] to throw it. So, it's a lot of cat and mouse things. When you get behind, you have to throw it a little more. We weren't behind as much, but we were in some tight ball games. It's going to develop into what we think it will."

(On if the lack of run game is due to the team jelling together)

"It's all inclusive. The scheme is the scheme. I think everybody is getting comfortable with the scheme, as you get comfortable with it in the first season, you add on to it and go from there. I think we're in a good spot with it, and we just have to start clicking."

(On if he thinks he is getting enough from C Robert Hainsey)

"He's having some good games, he had some plays he would like to have back, but he's in there battling every day, and I think he is getting better."

(On if it's intentional that the team predominantly only uses two running backs per game)

"It's not really by design. We tried to get the third one in there, but situations take care of a lot of things. What we have slotted for certain situations, obviously, it goes another way, and we don't get that kind of time to get the other guy in there."

(On if he thinks the running backs are where they need to be in the new system)

"I don't care if they were in our system five years, you can make a cut better, you can make a run better, or you can block it better. That's going to be constant through out."

-BUCCANEERS-