HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES
(On whether the offense is holding the team back more than the defense, considering that Tampa Bay held Pittsburgh to 19 points in regulation on Sunday)
"We've done some good things defensively, but you've still got to finish the game. They're playing well – obviously, we've got to do a little bit more. Offensively, we've just got to catch up a little bit."
(On whether he considered receiving the ball first in overtime to give the defense more time to rest after the fourth quarter)
"No, you had a small break [before] overtime. You've just got to finish the game defensively."
(On whether he would always elect to play defense first under the current overtime rules)
"Sometimes, not every time."
(On what allowed Pittsburgh to move the ball more effectively in the fourth quarter compared to the first three quarters on Sunday)
"Yeah, a few missed assignments, and then there were a couple tackling issues on two plays."
(On DL A'Shawn Robinson lining up as an edge rusher several times against Pittsburgh)
"I think earlier this year you asked me about the 4-3 [alignments] – that was part of it. He was a bigger guy [and we were] putting him on the edge to help out in the run game."
(On what he needs to see from QB Baker Mayfield to determine his availability for the upcoming game against Carolina)
"He's supposed to practice Wednesday. We're going to take a good look at him there and then we'll kind of evaluate him during the week and see how he does."
(On whether the team has to spend the next two days preparing as if QB Jalon Daniels will start against Carolina until QB Baker Mayfield proves that he is healthy enough to play)
"I think you have to. Both will be in the meetings…Obviously, both will be in the meetings. We'll see how the week goes before we decide who it is."
(On P Riley Dixon's performance this season)
"We've got to get more hang time and we've got to get more distance, obviously. I didn't think yesterday was a performance indicative of what he can do. When he gets good punts, they probably get about an eight- or 10-yard return. When he doesn't get good punts, that's not good for us. We've definitely got to be better there."
(On continuing to increase OLB David Walker's playing time given his production)
"Yeah, game plan-wise, we ramp it up every week – he's been playing that well. We give him the plays we can give him, but it's been ramped up every week. Depending on the game plan and what the other team does and personnel-wise, you want to see him get more reps in there. We intend to do that, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way depending on the game."
(On whether Walker has moved into the third spot in the outside linebacker rotation)
"Depending on the package. He was third in that package rotation [against Pittsburgh]. There are different rotations where guys' reps get amped up a little bit."
(On the importance of the upcoming NFC South matchups, beginning with Carolina in Week 7)
"I mean, it's critical. It's a step to trying to get back in it. The guys that you've got to play are ahead of you right now, so it's going to be critical that we win these games."
-BUCCANEERS-
