OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ZAC ROBINSON

(On preparing for Sunday while still being unsure of who will start at quarterback)

"Yeah, we'll kind of be ready for anything. I think 'J.D.' (Jalon Daniels) has done such a great job, and he's shown he can handle a pretty high volume of a game plan. So, we put it together kind of accordingly, ready for both guys. You know, I know [Head] Coach [Todd] Bowles will make that decision when the time is right. So yeah, it's been kind of a little bit of gymnastics figuring it out a little bit this week, but the good thing is once we get the finality of it, we'll hopefully have a couple of days to figure it all out and put it all finally together. But I feel great with both guys. Obviously, 'J.D.' (Jalon Daniels) has gotten some great experience over the last three weeks, and he's shown us that he can handle a pretty high-volume game plan."

(On what Daniels has shown during his first three NFL starts)

"Yeah, I think Jalon has done a great job. I mean, for any rookie to come in and play against two really good defenses…When you look at the Packers and Steelers, I mean, those are some good outfits – the Steelers especially are loaded on that side of the football. So, for him to come in and do the things that he's done, [I] can't say enough good things about him. 'J.D.' is one of those guys that [is] the reason why you get into coaching. You love coaching those guys, and he's accountable. Of course, there [are] plays that he wants back. He's a young guy. He's learning. We're learning about him kind of on the fly as well in some of these real-time moments. But yeah, of course, there [are] going to be things that everybody wants back, myself included, and he'll learn from those things. He did a lot of great things in that game. You know, we didn't help him early in that game. We weren't good enough around him to even get us to that point. So, yeah, [I'm] really proud of 'J.D.' and how he's handled things. If he's got to go this week, I know he'll be ready to roll."

(On Daniels' confidence and ability to move on from interceptions)

"Oh, he's a super confident guy. You guys have gotten to know him a little bit. Yeah, he just moves on to the next play. I mean, he's been great on the sideline, in between series, if something happens. I've been super impressed just with the way he handles everything. He's a blast to be around in the meeting room, on the field. He loves to be coached. So, all those things that happen within the game, he's on to the next play, and you can feel that. There's no stress with him. He's just out there playing football. I mean, you guys know, he's a big kid. He just enjoys playing the game, and so he's done a lot of great things. Obviously, he's learned a lot of things as well."

(On the increased use of shotgun and pistol formations against Pittsburgh)

"Yeah, I think all those things can change week to week based on what we see, based on what they're presenting. You know, everything can just change on a whim. I mean, there [are] so many different defenses now. I mean, defenses are doing a lot of different things now. It's not even like when I first got into coaching in 2019…You know, I've been coaching for – this is my eighth year now – it's completely different. So, you've got to adjust every single week and adapt, obviously, while trying to [retain] an identity as well. But there were some things that we felt like with the quick-hitting pass game that we could take advantage of. It's a good outfit up front in terms of handling the run. I think we could have done a better job as coaches with the run plan, but we did know [there were] going to be some challenges, and we kind of had some things that we'd like to get to. We had a lot of opportunities in that game, too. It felt like a game we should have thrown for 250 [yards] if we throw and catch and we do the things that we know we're capable of doing. But yeah, again, to answer your question, long-winded there, every week is so much different, and you're ready to just kind of adjust and attack it the way you think is best."

(On the challenges of winning with a backup quarterback)

"Sure. Yeah, again, [Jalon Daniels] is learning so many different things, and he played, like I mentioned, those two defenses – the Packers and the Steelers – I mean, you take the field against that Steelers defense, and I'm looking out there, I'm like, they've got the defensive line, and they've got guys at every single level, they've got Jalen Ramsey…So, for him, whether he was undrafted or whether he was the first overall pick, I mean, that's a tough duty for anybody. But I know there [are] plays he wants back, just like I told you, I want a couple of those calls back for him throughout the course of the game. Everybody in that game wants plays back, but [I] can't say enough great things, though. I know he wants a couple of those back, but shoot, we were battling. Like I mentioned before, if we execute and we hit some of those things earlier in the game, like the play to 'Mek' (Emeka Egbuka) to go up 17-0, if you hit that, that changes the course of the game. That's been a constant theme for us really all season – you've got to hit the stuff that's there. We've got to throw and catch. We've got to have the right route detail. So, some of those things early in the game put you in those positions to not be in those positions that you necessarily should be in. But he's done a great job, man. [I] can't say enough good things about him, and I'm fired up he's here."

(On what QB Baker Mayfield brings to the offense if he returns)

"Yeah, all those things that come with 'Bake' (Baker Mayfield) – unbelievable leader, all the things in the locker room, just on the practice field, the command that he has. I know the systems have subtly changed, but he's known this verbiage for quite some time now. So, all that stuff is so seamless, the conversations. He brought up something this morning for a certain look on their defense that's like, 'Hey, that's a great idea. Let's put it in.' So, some of those next-level things that you get with the veteran quarterback like 'Bake' that's seen a lot of football. Of course, we're going to love if he's out there and ready to roll."

(On balancing the use of inside and outside runs for RB Bucky Irving against Pittsburgh)

"Yeah, I think I'd be curious to see how you guys track the inside-outside stuff. It was a pretty good mix. I thought our outside runs should have gotten more. We had quite a few in the second half. We had some passes called, but they give you a look in a different defense that you end up running it, and we weren't efficient enough on some of those runs. But that Pittsburgh defense is good – it's a stout outfit up front. I'd be curious to see kind of how you guys track the inside-outside stuff. From our vantage point, it was pretty balanced."

(On whether the offense checked into more inside runs against Pittsburgh)

"No, there were not many interior run checks. There were a couple of runs that we should have run a different play based on some of the layers of the calls. But yeah, there were not many, I'm trying to think, interior run checks. Sometimes a run going this way can end up going back inside, but from the way we track it, it was pretty balanced between inside and outside."

(On evaluating QB Baker Mayfield's throwing ability during practice this week)

"Yeah, I think you first just wanted to see him throwing routes on air on Wednesday, throwing routes on air to the guys moving full speed. You know, he's been working on the side with some static throws, but you want to see receivers moving across the field in each direction, how he's controlling the football. I think it's getting better every single day. I'm sure, if you haven't talked to him yet, I'm sure you guys will be, and [can] ask him about it. But I think it's progressing. Again, we'll kind of see where it's at come Sunday."

(On the running back rotation and getting RB Kenny Gainwell more opportunities)

"Yeah, absolutely. I think there [are] certain ways that you can rotate those guys. Again, [I] trust Skip [Peete] – he's always communicating with me in real time and exactly what that looks like. We have so much faith in Bucky [Irving], knowing that, shoot, there might not be one that hits, but then the next one, he breaks a tackle and he can go for 70 [yards] or whatever he did in Dallas. So you're kind of waiting on that. Unfortunately, we did not get that, didn't block things up cleanly enough. Like I mentioned, I thought we could have done a better job with the run plan in general against those guys, but they're a challenging defense. We've definitely got to get Kenny going. He's run well the last couple weeks. We've got to give him some more [opportunities] for sure."

(On getting WR Chris Godwin Jr. more involved in the passing game)

"I think he ended up with a decent amount of targets – I don't know what exactly it was last week. But yeah, I mean, again, we've got to get all these guys going. I think it first starts with our level of detail across the board. You know, we've got to be a lot better. I mean, we had a pretty tough meeting, honestly, on Monday just talking about the pass game and the missed opportunities and the lack of detail that we showed. We've got to just throw and catch. We've got to throw and catch. Obviously, we had a third down with 'C.G.' (Chris Godwin Jr.), uncharacteristic drop for sure early on in that game. But those are the big plays in those games that you need every single play, knowing that the margin of error with those defenses plus Aaron Rodgers on the other side of the football – you can't miss those [opportunities]. We've missed way too many of them. But we've got to get 'C.G.' going. Obviously, coverage can dictate certain things. Route detail and the timing of when things are happening, those things matter as well. We've got to all get on the same page because the pass game has not been good enough by any standard, and we've got to get a lot better. It starts with me, and it starts with the rest of the guys knowing that they can execute at a higher level."

(On what specific details need to improve in the passing game)

"Yeah, [it is] really all-encompassing."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On how he's feeling after being sidelined with an injury the past three weeks)

"I feel good. Yeah, I feel good. [I'm] just improving. It's been a process for me. I never really miss time because of injury so, not fun. You always want to be out there with your guys, but just doing the rehab process, doing as much as possible each and every day and trying to recover as quick as possible and take it one day at a time. It's been feeling slowly better and better, but that's the frustrating part. It just takes time for an injury like that."

(On how wearing a glove affects his ability to grip and throw the ball)

"Yeah, I mean, truly when you're throwing with a glove, you just [have] to get used to it, just changing your release points, [I] can't grip it as hard because it'll stick to the glove, different things like that. Just getting a lot of reps, getting practice with it, getting used to it, and it feels fine. [The] training staff, equipment guys do an incredible job of... We went through all the scenarios, all the different things to possibly wear, and ended up being able to stitch a pad on the backside of the thumb to protect it from bending backwards again. They've done an incredible job helping me out to get to where I'm at and ready to practice and go."

(On his confidence being able to grip the ball for the entirety of a game)

"Very confident. I think I was more so concerned about the impact of getting the ball from under center with Graham [Barton] sending it back there. It feels fine gripping it, throwing it - it's just the impact stuff, that was really what my concern was, and it's felt great so far."

(On what he learned from watching Weeks 4 through 6 from the sideline)

"Yeah, I mean, just strictly from my experience in playing and just all the things that I've seen, just being able to try and be an extra voice and over-communicate what we're trying to get done with schemes and whatnot. I [have] to say this, I'm really proud of Jalon [Daniels]. I thought he was thrown into the fire there, three starts in a row, got a win on the second one in prime time, which was huge. Just the guy he is, the progression he's had from spring through training camp to now, he's grown up a ton. It was really fun to watch. I know he wants some plays back, but that's the evolution of quarterback. When you're thrown into the fire like that, he handled it well. Yeah, but for me, trying to help him out as much as possible without overloading him with information because there's a lot being thrown at you. Then also, just over-communicating with the guys on the side of like, 'Hey, this is what we're going to get to. This is what we're thinking. Jalon is thinking this.' Just trying to communicate and be an extra voice for the guys."

(On how important it is to win the upcoming divisional matchups)

"It is. [We have] to take it one game at a time, and our opponent this week is the one leading the division, and so we [have] to take care of business this week, and that's all that matters. It's early on to be a one-game-at-a-time mentality, but listen, our guys are ready for it, and we'll see what happens."

(On what he learned about himself during the first three games of the season)

"Yeah, I mean, to start the season, you always think about, it's always little things. How well can you execute? You're not getting a whole lot of game tape for what they're adjusting new in the system, or if it's a new coordinator, you don't really know what they're doing. So, being able to do the little things right, execute for your training camp day one rules and go from there. It's more so react and play. Don't overthink it. React, trust your rules, trust your training, and go from there."

(On what his daily routine was like while he was out with an injury)

"I was prepping like I was going to play. I was still doing the same routine, film-wise, film study, to be able to have those answers. Also, just over-communicating with the staff of like, 'Okay, let's not put too much in on this kid [Jalon Daniels] and give him a chance to succeed and be able to see it clearly and play fast because he's really good when he has his mind set on things and he knows what's going on.' So, yeah, handling the routine like that, like I would be playing, and obviously when it came down to it, just getting a lot of rehab time in instead of warming up for practice or doing the walkthrough stuff. Yeah, frustrating."

(On the offense's meeting earlier this week about the performance of the passing game)

"We needed to have it. It's one of those things that's uncomfortable. You can't be sensitive in that. Everybody [has] a hand in it. It was from, I mean, it wasn't just about the last game. It was really more so talking about everything that we've done wrong. The O-Line is playing better and better now, that we need to be detailed in the right spots, quarterbacks have to go through the right reads, have the feet on time. So, just harping on the fact that we're good when we do the right little things right, and so how consistent can we be and just see that thing come to life and go from there?"

(On if Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers was his target game to return)

"Yeah, my goal was Pittsburgh, to be honest with you. I really, really pushed the limit on it, and I wasn't able to do it. I didn't feel like I was going to put our team in position to have success. I felt like Jalon [Daniels] was going to be the better option. So, [I] pushed it, and you don't know until you try it. Obviously, with the goal of Pittsburgh and then understanding that we have two division games right after that, you can settle for that. Obviously, I wanted to be out there and play with the guys, but yeah, this was kind of the last week that I wanted to be ready to roll."

(On what isn't working with the offense now and how they can fix it)

"It's consistency. It's everybody doing their job, their 1/11^th, and that sounds cliche, but it's true. We've all had our hand in where we're at right now at 1-5. So, you have to look at it and just own it. You [have] to get your stuff fixed, and then you play as a team and trust the guy next to you. Good things will happen. It hasn't been one particular thing. It's been ball security in the first game for me, it's been making sure we pass off the stunts, it's pass game execution details with that, [running] backs hitting the right track. So, everybody [has] a hand in it. It comes down to trusting your guys next to you and you doing your job at the best of your ability at the highest level. This offense can be good, and so we just have to be consistent with that."

(On the time it takes to develop a relationship with a new offensive coordinator and how that process is for him and Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson)

"Yeah, I mean, any QB-coordinator relationship, it does take time. We still have to execute it. There [are] chances throughout the first four games that we lost that we needed to execute and take advantage of it. And so, yeah, there [are] plays that I know he wants back, there's a ton of plays that I want back, and the offense does as well. So, yeah, it's the give and take, but right now it's [crunch] time. So, we just [have] to go out and execute and play fast and play free."

(On the level of concern with his thumb bending backwards with the addition of the glove)

"I mean, there's going to be a pretty solid plate on the back of the glove that will prevent that. If there's an impact hard enough to do it again, it wouldn't matter if I had previously dislocated the joint anyway, it would happen. Yeah, anytime you dislocate something, there's going to be ligament damage. It just didn't happen to be the ligaments and tendons that I needed surgery on. So, just giving it time to heal, doing as much as possible to come back stronger and work on that. And, yeah, it's football, if something like that happens, that's the nature of the game, unfortunately. We've gotten into a place where it's strong enough to be able to play."

(On if the addition of the plate to his glove restricts his ability to throw)

"[It's] not restricting because it's on the backside. Like I said, trainers and equipment staff did an incredible job. I mean, they even went to somebody that works with the [Tampa Bay] Rays to be able to work on something specific that they've done in the past. For me, just getting used to it. I don't feel the difference, it's just like me wearing a glove."

(On how he can get WR Chris Godwin Jr. more involved in the offense"

"Chris [Godwin Jr.] and I have such a good relationship. There's been a ton of things that I think I can get the ball to him quicker, same with when 'J.D.' [Jalon Daniels] was playing. We have to feature him more, but it comes down to also just being on the same page, executing the pass details. I mean, that meeting that we had, like you mentioned earlier, that just making sure that we're in the right spots at the right time. Chris is a true pro, he knows how to handle that stuff. He's a guy that…You just [have] to get him more touches. He's not an easy guy to bring down. It's not going to be flashy, but he's a guy that if you get him more and more involved, your offense is going to thrive."

(On why there was a need for a offensive meeting about the pass game)

"Just the fact that we weren't doing the little things right, I think. Whether it's guys overthinking, and I don't think we have dumb football players on this team, it's guys overthinking [and] just not doing the day one stuff the right way and so when you have that when there's guys flying around and you have to hesitate at quarterback or your eyes aren't in the right spot at quarterback and you're trusting the guy to be there. You need to understand that we built this system based on timing, the rhythm of your feet, and so it's really, really important to do that. Just hammering home, that listen, our O-Line is playing a lot better, and we need to take advantage of it, and we need to be on the same page."

PASS GAME COORDINATOR GEORGE EDWARDS

(Opening statement)

"[We're] playing Carolina this week, I mean, everybody sees how well they're doing offensively. They've really gotten off to a good start offensively, matchup-wise and being able to run the ball, play action, the quick-throwing game, I mean, they've really exploded offensively this year and done a good job of getting the most out of the talent that they have on offense. Quarterback [has been] playing extremely well, running backs [are] running the ball well, catching the ball out of the backfield well. [Tetairoa] McMillan is a tough cover outside, one-on-one. Just spreading the ball around to the different guys, I mean, they [have] three tight ends that they use throughout the course of the game. This will be a good week, a good challenge. I think our guys are excited about preparing for it, and we're looking forward to the opportunity this weekend."

(On what caused the improvement of the pass rush in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers)

"I think it's a combination of things. I know I sound like a broken record when I say it, but it's all tied together. I think those guys are really working hard and working together up front, and I think it's just starting to come together. They usually come in bunches, and I've said that before, but that's usually, through my experience, that's the way it is. Hopefully we had that game and we can keep building off of that as we continue to grow through this journey of this season."

(On OLB David Walker taking advantage of the opportunities he is getting)

"Yeah, he really has. He's taken the bull by the horn, the opportunities that he's getting, and he's had production with them. The big thing is, the more we put on his plate to do, he goes out, he works at it, and has been successful at those things. Seeing his skill set, like you said, he was out last year, off and on throughout the offseason, so the big thing is, I think, just coming together and working with the guys and seeing the skill set and being able to input the things that he does well within what we're doing schematically."

(On Carolina Panthers Offensive Coordinator Brad Idzik's ability to get Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan the ball in a multitude of ways)

"Yeah, I mean, Brad [Idzik] [has] done an excellent job of, whether it's the quick game, whether it's moving him around from different positions, whether he's inside, outside, whatever that may look like. He's done a good job of finding ways where they make him the primary target and being able to deliver the ball to him. Quarterback scrambling all of a sudden, somebody loses leverage, there [are] all kinds of ways looking at how they're getting him the ball. They're doing an outstanding job of getting him the ball."

(On how DL Calijah Kancey can take his play to the next level)

"I think it boils down to production. Everybody is looking for those numbers, that's just the way it is. As you go through the course of the season, those things, and you can see the work and how it's built along the way, but I'll tell you, the guy is working hard. He's getting penetration into the backfield. He [has] quarterback hits. He [has] quarterback pressures. He just hasn't had the sack yet. I think once that starts, just like with everybody else, it'll start to just come into bunches at the end of the day. He works as hard as anybody at it, I can promise he does. We're just looking forward to keep pushing on and keep doing the good things that he's doing and get better at some of the things that we know we need to improve on and hopefully those numbers will change soon."

(On what he thinks OLB Rueben Bain Jr.'s biggest area of growth has been since returning from his injury)

"I think that's it. The big thing is coming back from injury, being able to practice, cutting down on your reaction time, the muscle memory that goes into the process of it. He's really worked diligently since he's been in here to pick up the playbook of what we do and then also understand what our opponents are trying to do to him. You'll just continue to see him grow with that, but like anything else, anytime you have success is something. It'll help you to continue to grow and make you that much hungrier. The guys believe in each other, that's all the guys up front. They're hardworking and they want to see each other, they're unselfish. I mean, they're not going to sit there and do things that you're not supposed to do. They're going to rush together. They know the coverage is a part of it. They know in certain things that, one [has] to give one for the other. So, it's a very unselfish group and I really do look forward to them to just continue to grow and hopefully have more success at it."

-BUCCANEERS-