OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR DAVE CANALES

(On if anyone is already working on advanced scouting for next week's Thursday night game against the Buffalo Bills)

"Yeah, definitely, the young guys. The guys who are doing our film breakdown, some of the prep stuff so that we can walk in Monday – and some of the guys are going to work a little bit Sunday night – just so we're all ready to go. We don't have the luxury of that full Monday, so the guys have been grinding. I remember being in that role. The challenge is [to] get that work done, and then when Saturday comes, 'Okay, now what coverages are we looking at again today?' because I rely on those guys upstairs for a lot of information, so being able to do that and then flush it out. Of course, me and the rest of the staff are just focused on this week."

(On where he sees the offense at as of today following the loss against Detroit)

"Yeah, so we get to the redzone twice – we've got to come up with touchdowns someway, somehow. We had the OPI (offensive pass interference) on the third-and-1 with a potential run there. It's too good to pass up a one-on-one opportunity to Mike Evans in that situation. I loved where Baker went with that. A lot of people can go two ways with it on a third-and-1, but geez, most of the time they're helping with a safety over there and a corner. We've got to be able to take advantage of those opportunities and we didn't on that one. I think just in general – you guys ask me week-to-week to grade our offense – I'd say out of 10, we're still in that 6.5-to-7 in terms of our fundamental play and execution. I include myself in that, too – being able to adjust in the run game while they're giving us these different pressures and fronts. What is the best thing to go to in those situations? That's where I can get better, and of course all of us across the board, continuing to improve. We have good variety in what we're doing. That puts a strain on our guys – that puts a strain on us as coaches, that puts a strain on our guys. What are we preparing for? We're preparing to win the division, so as you come down the stretch, a defense can't just line up and say, 'It's this run and that run, and that's it.' I think we're preparing ourselves and building an offense that's not going to allow defenses to just say, 'Hey, just take this away and they've got nothing.' We're really working towards that."

(On if he has to streamline the offense until he figures out how to get production from the running game)

"I think so. I think, for me, the challenge is this: if you over-simplify, it makes it easy for the defense to stop what you're doing. That may lead to success on a couple of plays, but I think that in the pass game, and the run game, if we put the strain on ourselves now – early in the season – by the time we hit midseason and as we go, the guys get familiar and accustomed to having all the different variety, having the different types of runs, the different types of passes, the fly motions, the shifts, the different things that we're working on. That does take time. It's kind of like I don't want to sacrifice where we're heading for right now. At the same time, we've got to find a way to make yards. We've got to find a way to make first downs and continue to have success while we're figuring that stuff out. That task does fall squarely on my shoulders and the staff really helping me to put together a good, versatile attack."

(On the occasions where running backs have missed holes to run through)

"It really goes back to what we've talked about: it's the variety. That does put a strain on the backs, in terms of, 'What's my course? Where am I pressing it? Where's this block happening? Where's this combo happening?' As they become more accustomed to those things, you'll see faster and more aggressive play out of those guys. Really, it's just, again, giving them those opportunities in practice [and] being able to get those called in the game. We were bad on third down. If we convert a few more third downs, we get a few more opportunities to get those game reps of runs – whatever the style of run it might be. Now, we've just got to be able to execute on third down so we can continue to be out there and learn the system."

(On if it's difficult in the modern NFL to implement a new offense given the limited contact rules in training camp and practice)

"Absolutely. Yeah, that's where using your imagination and visualizing is one thing in our practices. I've got to give our scout team defense credit – that's a good front we're going up against. That's a good group of DBs. When we go to practice, we're telling them to go full speed – obviously nothing is going to the ground – but yeah, to answer your question, the game reps are a premium. Just making those first downs, staying on the field – that's where we grow. In the process…you've seen a little bit of nuanced plays and some things. Our play action passes have been fantastic. As our run game develops, we're building good actions off of those formations, so it's not that we're predictable at all. The play [action] passes are working and the runs will complement it, as well. I think of all those things together as we're developing it."

(On if he's concerned by WR Mike Evans dropping a few passes)

"No. You guys have been around him – this is the best receiver I've ever been around. As Mike continues to work through whatever those things are, I can't imagine… He's going to figure out a way to get through that. You can't talk about a few drops without the fantastic plays that he's made. You're probably going to see us test out his leg and stamina. On that first play where we got it tipped and it turned into an interception, he was going to have to see if he could go 90 yards and not get caught there. We're going to continue to feature Mike. He's going to be No. 1 in progressions a lot of times – [that is] just the way we've been building it. We'll live with those plays."

(On if he's getting enough from the tight end unit)

"I believe so. I think, again, it's not just one group, it's all of us, the coaches included. As we grow in this offense, then we'll be able to see more production. Again, when the tight ends get targeted, typically you've got Chris [Godwin] and Mike [Evans] out there and the tight end is going to be a complement to a rolled coverage or something, where they're paying a lot of attention [to] those guys. That's where the tight end starts to become available. I really love the group, I love how smart they are – they work tirelessly. [Tight Ends Coach] John Van Dam does a great job with them. I think the whole group will elevate as we continue to grow."

(On motion at the time of the snap)

"It's a part of what we're doing. Certainly, it allows us to stress the defense horizontally. All you're trying to do is create a moment of indecision for the defense and then that helps the run game, that helps the pass game. Switching that responsibility to create free access releases at the line, that's a big part of it. You've seen a lot of teams doing it at a high level. I lived it first-hand being in Seattle. L.A. kind of really utilized that from the time Sean [McVay] had been in there, in L.A. It's something that's been around for a while and I think the rest of the league, we're learning how to utilize it. That's something that's part of what we're doing."

(On how tough it is to scheme things up for WR Mike Evans when defenses are double covering him)

"If you look at what we've been doing, we've put him at the single spot, we've put him at No. 3, we put him at No. 2, we motion him – just putting him in different places is going to make it a little bit harder for them to communicate that. The beauty of it is as teams draw attention to him, it should open up other things in the pass game."

(On players saying they need to execute better and how he plans to coach them to do that)

"Yesterday, just to share a moment for all of you because you weren't out at practice, but the [intensity] that the guys came out with yesterday together in the huddle…At a couple times in the practice, I'm watching them talk. They're talking, they're taking ownership of this thing. My highest vision for our offense, my highest view of us long term is a group that can work those things out together in the huddle. It kind of gave me chills a couple of times, where I really feel like I'm this guy back there just reading off a paper because Baker [Mayfield] is talking to the wideouts and the linemen are talking together and communicating with the tight end. Yesterday was such a fantastic example of that – of what we're looking for – for [Robert] Hainsey and those guys taking ownership of this offense. It's theirs. We give them a plan that they're excited about, hopefully we give them plays they love, and then from there they've got to take ownership and really drive it and be out there on Sunday where it's them playing. They're not an extension of me, they're not an extension of their coaches – this is their team. This is their offense and their defense and their special teams. I believe we're heading in that direction. It was really cool to see the last two days just kind of how serious the guys have been in the huddle and in the locker room, as well, just kind of talking with each other."

(On if he thinks that QB Baker Mayfield was alluding to intensity and ownership when Mayfield said the offense needed to get pissed off)

"Yeah, I think so. I think that's what he's alluding to. I don't know about pissed off, but definitely just locking in and taking that accountability and that ownership [of], 'This is ours and this belongs to us.' I love where we're at and where we're headed with that with the group."

(On what it says about the leadership of the group when holding teammates accountable is continually mentioned)

"Yeah, it's fantastic. That's the cool part, too. We have some good veteran leadership on our offensive side and now it's kind of like, 'Guys, we're giving you permission to lead. We're showing you hopefully an example of how to lead in a positive manner with each other.' They're doing it. I can see that happening for us."

(On if he's considered calling plays for runs in a different way or in a different sequence)

"I think so. Just having that balance. I think if you look at this past game, we didn't have a lot of snaps because we were not good on third down. If you look at just the normal first and second down, we were 55% run. With that comes RPOs, with that comes end arounds and different things we try to incorporate while we're building this system. Hopefully we can continue to do that and give us quick answers, keep the defense off balance, and then be able to continue to sprinkle in those core runs so we actually get those live reps that you're talking about. Again, I think it all comes back to third-down execution. Two completions on third down – we always talk about the more we complete doesn't mean we always convert those, but you've got a chance. So, just finding those completions will help us get more."

(On avoiding third downs)

"Oh yeah, those are the best games. The best game is, you come and you're like, 'Holy smokes, we only had eight third downs today?' You're hitting those big shots down the field, you're hitting your play actions, and yeah. Third down is hard – it's the hardest thing we face. It's different fronts, different coverages, they're disguising things, teams play us differently – I won't get into all that, but we've just got to be aware of all those things. It does get more difficult when you get into third-down situations."

(On how to combat when teams try and defend high-success rate third down plays like screens)

"I don't want to get too much into the scheme, but I think that you're asking the right questions. That's for us to try and figure out how to supplement the run game as we continue to build it."

(On how QB Baker Mayfield has responded to Sunday's loss against Detroit)

"That's what you've got to love about the guy – he attacks it the right way. It wasn't that he was relaxed the week before either – it wasn't like he took a week off and we just showed up. We came off a Bye. We're a new offense together. This is a new system. Usually when you come off a Bye, one of two things happen: you're fresh and you really get after the defense, or it feels a little bit rusty and you're just a little bit off. That's what it felt like. All that being said, we lost a game [and] he handled it the right way and is leading as a captain on this team – leading [and] saying, 'Guys, our standard is here [gestures]…We're pressing towards the standard.' His demeanor this week has been fantastic. That's one of the reasons I love the guy. I love having him in there – his experience, he's fiery. Even just going into that last drive, there was no quit. He was standing in there, trying to make tough throws all the way to the end to see what we could make happen out of it."

(On if Mayfield feels comfortable enough to give his opinions on the plays and play calling)

"Oh yeah. He's doing a great job with Kyle [Trask] and with John Wolford, where they have their own little pod – they have their own little group – and they're studying first and second down, they're studying third down and they're shooting us thoughts and ideas. That's one of the things I shared with you before – when they come up with something [where] we have something similar, I always default on their build because they can see it and imagine it. He's been fantastic that way. He's got great command of the calls, he's got great command of the answers from game one. He got us to quick answers versus these exotic looks that led to some success. I really feel great about his command and I'm always asking him, 'Hey, be honest with me, how do you feel about this play? Do you love it? Do you like it? Or do you not really feel comfortable?' There's been some of each, but he's been really honest with me about those things."

(On the progression of WR Trey Palmer)

"We just missed him on the big shot down the field there. It was a perfectly executed route – he did it exactly how we coached him to. We had a man-to-man opportunity that we missed him on. He just smokes the guy off the line. Here's a guy where as Mike [Evans] goes down the field and we take these shots and Trey comes in, he still gives us that spark and that one-on-one opportunity you're looking for. I couldn't be more excited about him about 'D.T.'s (Deven Thompkins) role and 'Rock' (Rakim) Jarrett. Again, just trying to get 'Rock' going because he can really help us in the offense with the ball in his hands. He's got some special stuff as a ball carrier."

RUN GAME COORDINATOR/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH KACY RODGERS

(On DL Calijah Kancey's first full NFL game)

"You know, it was pretty good except for that first run that came through. That was him too, but otherwise it was a joy to have him back out there. He kind of showed us what he had been showing us all [training] camp. The guy is a special player in some ways."

(On offenses having to account for both Kancey and NT Vita Vea)

"You have the power in Vita and the speed and quickness in Calijah. And then, the speed of our end, so hopefully we can create matchup problems. A matchup advantage for us is what we hope to gain from it."

(On the need for improvement on third down defensively)

"The thing is, when you look at it as far as third down… We looked at it and one, we were not very high coming in after the game earlier in the season (against the Philadelphia Eagles) because they had so many third-and-shorts, which makes it impossible. The last week we had a lot of third-and-longs, which should usually be advantage defense and it was always one thing or another. If I'm not mistaken, on the 27-yard touchdown, he threw a 5-yard pass that went for 27 yards. You think if you tackle him, at worst you [give up] a field goal. The thing you look at is everything was correctable. The bad thing is it wasn't just the rush, it wasn't just the coverage – it was a combination of everything. It was like a perfect storm. We've just got to coach it better, play it better and fix it."

(On if the Bye Week prior to last week's game caused some of the miscues)

"Those things really shouldn't happen. That's the link we looked at and the thing we're harping this week – they shouldn't happen. [In] good defenses, when you have the offense at your advantage, you should stop them in those situations and we just didn't play them well. We didn't coach it well, we didn't play it well, it was all of us. We've just got to fix it and move forward."

(On the development of rookie OLB Yaya Diaby)

"The thing with him – it's like we said earlier in the year – we were playing a lot of young guys coming into the season, but they were talented. They were young, but they were talented, and he is one of them. This guy really does a great job setting the edge. We put a lot on their plates too in our system to start with. Just watching his growth – like Calijah [Kancey], 'Izzy' (CB Christian Izien), a lot of our young players are really stepping in and finding roles for themselves that are really going to help us going forward."

(On where Diaby fits within the defense with his development as a pass rusher)

"We're thinking he's one of our better rushers now, but the thing is finding the role for him because right now… Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka] and Shaq [Barrett], you like them on the field. And with Calijah [Kancey] back now, and Vita [Vea], where do you put him? He's a good inside rusher. He can wear a lot of hats for us. We're going to keep going forward, and as we know, we're going to need everybody. We know what we've got in him and right now he is a luxury, but he's definitely made strides in the rush."

(On what made it difficult to force turnovers against the Detroit Lions offense, and how Tampa Bay can re-emphasize taking the ball away this week)

"The problem with them [is], one, they were a good football team. Usually, good football teams don't turn it over and they did a good job of taking care of the ball. We've got to make a stronger emphasis to get it because when we're successful, we create turnovers. My hat goes off to them. They really took care of the ball, and they didn't really put themselves in any bad situations for us to get the ball."

(On stopping the Atlanta Falcons rushing attack)

"If we don't stop the run, we're not winning. I can tell you that. They are really a two-headed monster. The last time we played Atlanta, we didn't really do a good job stopping the run either. They're a team in Atlanta, with the extra pieces they added and their commitment to the running game, [that] make them very viable because then you also throw in the quarterback run game element that they have. And then you add in a different receiving element. The last couple times we have played them we always missed [Kyle] Pitts, so now you have Pitts along with [Drake] London. They just create problems for us."

(On the Falcons tight end group)

"That's what we are spending a lot of time on is the personnel [groupings]. They have 12 [personnel] that can look so many different ways. You've got 12 with '85' (MyCole Pruitt) in there. Then you've got 12 with '8' (Kyle Pitts) in there – '8' and '81' (Jonnu Smith) is going to look different than 12 with '8' and '85.' Then in 13 personnel, they've got three of them out there. It just poses so many problems because if you go big on them, then they open the set and you can have problems. You go small, and now how are you going to stop the run? What they're doing schematically with their personnel poses a lot of problems, which we're trying to answer now."

(On the performance of LB Lavonte David in Week 6 vs. Detroit)

"Lavonte, the best thing to say is he is the same guy every day. Since we've walked in the door here, he's like a bell cow captain for us. He doesn't say a lot, but when he says something everybody listens to him, and they know he is coming to the game with us. I can't say enough about him. Just being around him since we've been here, he's been a joy to coach and he's been the same guy every day – just a great player and a great person. A total pro."

(On the most impressive thing he saw from David's performance in Week 6)

"One, the play he made on [Lions TE Sam] LaPorta on the seven-cut, which he was lighting people up. Then to come back a couple of plays later and make a sack on a blitz – that's a lot."

(On his assessment of the run defense)

"The thing is we have to try to [put] an emphasis to get back to that because that's been kind of our calling card, trying to make teams one-dimensional and then tee off on them in the pass [game]. Right now, we're going to have to continue to try to stop the run, but we're doing it differently. Before, we've been really big up front – really big and strong. Now, we've got a big guy and we've got a little guy, and we've got a fast guy. It's just the challenges of doing it differently. The job still has to be done, but we've got to do it differently."

(On cleaning up the communications breakdowns so that there are no lapses)

"It really starts in practice – just communicate. It's funny, coach [Todd Bowles] makes the point all of the time – you guys talk all the time and joke around in the locker room and then you get on the field and mum's the word. Then you mix in the fact that we do have some young players right now and young players – I've found they don't really know if they don't really talk. That's anybody. If you're really confident in something, you can't wait to talk. If you aren't really sure, then yeah, mum's the word. We've just got to go through that growing process and make sure everybody is on the same page to give us a fighting chance."

(On LB SirVocea Dennis and how he is progressing throughout the season)

"That's another one of those young guys that we're very excited about with his coverage skills. He's just in a tough situation, which creates a challenge for us to get him on the field because you don't want 'Vonte' (Lavonte David) or Devin [White] off the field. So in order to get him on the field, who are you taking off? You don't want to take off a rusher and you don't want to take off a corner, so it's just a good problem to have right now, but he has really made strides. He has picked up the system really well and we hate that he got nicked up early. He poses a problem for us because we've got to find a way to get him on the field."

LINEBACKER LAVONTE DAVID

(On positive takeaways from last Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions)

"There is nothing really positive about an "L" with our mindset, with our mentality. We don't want them to score at all. When they had those three points, that was all they were able to get, that we wanted them to get, but they [were] able to capitalize on some areas and put up points. The only good thing about it is that those are fixes, those things [were] on us. When we go out there and play football, we want the team to actually beat us, and not give them something. So, when we get those things fixed, we can be where we want to be."

(On the young defensive players)

"It's just an expectation. It's to the point where when those guys make those plays, we expect for that to happen. It's just the mentality that we have for one another. We [are] out there flying around playing football. Our attitude [has] to be different when we [are] out there. Our mentality [has] to be different when [we are] out there. Our play making, we have to make plays that come to us. When we didn't make those plays, it was very disappointing, because we hold ourselves to a high standard, each individual, and obviously as a unit. Definitely learned from it, moved on, and we are having a great week so far. We have a division opponent coming, and we know the challenge they bring to us with all the weapons that they have. We are definitely looking forward to those matchups."

(On how the team can get back to having more takeaways)
"Yeah, get back to what we do in practice. Last week we didn't do as much as we did in practice, as far as our individual selves, punching out the football, catching interceptions, and we [are] making emphasis on that, too, this week. We are always going to the fundamentals, doing what [you are] doing and sticking it to it, and being consistent at it."

(On how he thinks the defense can get back to being dominant)

"Better communication and better execution. At the end of the day, that's all it comes down to. We [have] the ability, it's putting it all together, making sure everybody is on the same page, and that's what's been hurting us. We just have to get better at it."

(On if he feels fresh after 12 years in the league)

"Yeah, I feel good. I've been doing a great job taking care of myself, keeping my weight where I need it to be at, eating right, taking care of my body, and just doing a good job communicating with the staff, training staff, and coaches. Just taking care of myself throughout the week."

(On mistakes on defense during Detroit Lions game)

"It always goes back to about us. It always goes back to about us. Every time we make a mistake, somebody exploits it. In this game, we go against some elite teams. These people find those mistakes, and that's the positive about it. If there could be a positive, that's the positive. It's easy [because] it can be fixed. Once you get that all taken care of, it will be what we need it to be. It's just [when] we don't communicate one play, and then on that play, that's when something happens. For us, we have to lock in all four quarters. You can't be a defense for three quarters, then have a little low one drive, and stuff like that. So, that separates us from being a top ten defense, well top two, [or] top three defense. Once we get that taken care of then everything will be great. I think we have leaders on defense, you know, starting with myself, and other guys to be able to control that. It starts on the practice field, you know, you practice how you play. When we are communicating, we get used to it, and then when it comes to game time, it's easy."

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER SHAQUIL BARRETT

(On the challenge that Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson presents)

"Explosive. He goes zero to 100 in one or two steps. He is a really good running back from what I've [seen] so far, so we're going to have our work cut out for us. But we've been working on it in practice breaking down and firming up the tackles, so hopefully we will get him down without too many missed tackles."

(On what makes Robinson special)

"He is just a playmaker. Whenever he gets the opportunity, it seems like he's trying to take it to the house. He makes people miss tackles, he can cut back and then burst full speed really quick. He's the real deal and I'm looking forward to playing against him, not just for me, but for our defense to see where we're at against a high-quality running back."

(On the lack of takeaways in Week 6 and trying to set the offense up with short-field opportunities)

"Yeah, our offense knows that we're going to pick up the slack for them from time to time and they'll pick it up for us from time to time. But, just as a team, that's the defense we want to be. We want to force turnovers and make the field as short as possible for our offense… That's the defense we want to be – force turnovers game in and game out."

(On being first in the league in redzone defense but not performing as well in third down defense)

"You get third downs more often than redzone [drives] – I'd rather be tops in third downs, but we're working on it right now. We know that's unacceptable for us. That's not the team we want to be. The coaches have been harping on us, we've been harping on ourselves [to] just make the tackles [and have] everybody run to the ball, and then we'll be alright. Worst in the league – that's not us at all. We don't want to be the worst in the league at anything." 

LINEBACKER DEVIN WHITE

(On Falcons RB Bijan Robinson)

"He reminds me of another guy in the division. You've always got to account for him because he's a majority of their offense. They drafted him high and they're using him as such. He's just a guy you've got to keep your eyes on."

(On where the defense is in his opinion)

"We're just getting back to the fundamentals. We put some bad stuff out on tape, especially on third down. We've just got to get back to the backyard football – everybody go make a play, don't [ever] think another man will make the play and just run to the ball and have fun doing it. I think that's the thing that we slacked [on] last week. It hadn't been a factor on our defense all year, but we put it out there, so that's the last image everybody [has] of us. We just want to erase that."

(On LB Lavonte David's play so far this season)

"He's cheating over there, man [laughs]. The guy is still doing it. He's going to be one of the all-time great linebackers to ever play the game – at least in my eyes. I think the stats say exactly what I say, but he's still having fun, he's still coming to work every day and [being] competitive. He just said the other day, 'I'm in year 12 and I don't take [any] days off.' I really respect that and I think that's why it shows up on the field because he's getting rewarded for the work he puts in."

(On if David has gotten faster now)

"He's fast, but he's not faster than me [laughs]. But he's fast, I'll give him that. He's got some tread left on the old tires."

(On containing the multiple threats that the Falcons offense has)

"You've just got to be sound – fundamentally sound all over the board. You named a lot of great guys on their side and they've got a lot of great weapons. I think we've just got to be sound and our weapons have got to show up, as well. We've got weapons on our side at every position. Our good [has to] be better than their good, at the end of the day. I think winning games like this [comes down to] who wants it more. You've got two good teams clashing – two teams that will see each other again. There [isn't] a next time, you've got to get them right now. Hopefully they want to get back at us next time. We're just trying to come out with a strong performance."

-BUCCANEERS-