OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BYRON LEFTWICH

(On alternating between OL Luke Goedeke and Nick Leverett at left guard)

"It went well. From that standpoint, [it was] just to give Luke a breather within certain reps [and] to give Nick some opportunities – that's really what that is. Nothing really major – that's what it is – get him a series, be able to talk to him, be able to communicate him [and] make sure we're all seeing the same thing."

(On which player played better at guard)

"The tough part is it was two different types of snap counts. The snap counts sort of makes it tough, but they both graded out okay. They [were] just playing against a really good guy that had his hand in the ground – anytime you're facing those types of guys, it makes it tough for any guard. '95' (Panthers DL Derrick Brown) makes it tough for anybody who he's in front of. They both graded out okay, but as a group it wasn't good enough."

(On if he feels like it's beneficial to both players to get reps)

"Now we [do] – we feel as though now we [do]. Ultimately, it's a group decision between me, 'Goodie' (Assistant Head Coach/Run Game Coordinator Harold Goodwin) and Coach [Todd] Bowles. Now we feel as though we [do] – we'll see where we're at and see how it works itself out. But we feel as though the best thing was to get Nick into the ballgame [for] a few series here and there and see how it goes."

(On if they will continue the rotation)

"Well, we have one because of Luke, because of where he's at. Yes."

(On if there will be noticeable changes on the offensive side of the ball)

"I don't know what fans will see – hopefully they see more points. That's all they care about, right? People want to see points on the board – people want to see what we've been used to, what we've done since we've been here. You're not beating [anybody] in this league scoring three points, right? Let's just be honest, you're not beating a soul – not a team in this league – scoring three points. We know we've got to be better as an offense, as a whole. When you're scoring three points and you are who we are, it's collectively – it's everywhere across the board. We've got to coach it better, we've got to play it better, we've got to have awareness in situation football – all those things that really matter that we've been so good at in the past. We've got to get back to what we've done in the past. You can't execute [at] a high level unless you're playing with a certain type of awareness, a certain type of focus, and understanding of what that down is going to bring to you. We've got to be better across the board."

(On if the pressure of not converting in short-yardage situations is starting to build)

"Either way, you've got to find a way to get a yard. You have to find a way to get a yard in this league. There's no second guessing – once the call goes in, it's the call we believe in. When it [doesn't] work, it's going to get second guessed. If you throw it and it [doesn't] work, everyone is going to say, 'Man, it's one yard. Run it for one yard.' If you run it and don't get it, everyone is going to say something different. We all feel that way, too. We feel anytime we're in third-and-1s and fourth-and-1s, [with] who we are, we feel as though we've got who we need to convert those first downs. Now, we haven't [been converting] but we'll work on them and hopefully when we're getting these opportunities again, we get it done. The disappointing part is not being able to get one yard in this league with who we have from a personnel standpoint."

(On if the team has the personnel to get one yard)

"To get one yard? Yes."

(On if the players are not executing or if it's a technique issue in short-yardage)

"I'll speak on the ones last week: the ones last week, regardless of what the call is, they did a better job than us on those plays, collectively. It wasn't one guy, it wasn't one situation – they did a better job [than] us and we didn't execute. We didn't play with enough awareness on those two downs to get that job done on those downs. The ones that happened in the past have happened, but last week we didn't play with enough awareness collectively – all 11 of us. We didn't play with enough awareness or understanding of that moment to get that done. That was big for us coming in here yesterday – we've got to be able to understand those moments and find ways to convert like we've done in the past."

(On what teams are doing to guard WR Chris Godwin)

"I don't want to say they're doing things to take him away. I think from a numbers standpoint, Chris missed a few games, [Godwin and QB Tom Brady] missed time together. The more they can be together – I trust in Chris – the more Chris can be out there being healthy playing for us, I think that'll be [impactful]. I just think we're not hitting on all cylinders like we used to. I think we're used to being almost automatic and we're not right now. How do we get ourselves – how do we work ourselves back to being automatic the way we've been in the past? That's really my focus, because it's an execution thing but execution is done when you're playing with awareness. When everyone is on the same page, [when] you get all 11 guys on the same page – we're just not doing that right now. We understand that we've just got to get to work and understand that every down counts and execute better. But we've got to play with more awareness."

(On QB Tom Brady's play)

"I don't want to put it on him – that's us, collectively. We scored three points – that's never one person. When you're scoring three points – it's unusual for us, too, to score three points in the ballgame. When you're scoring three points, that's collectively – that's everyone – that's coaches, that's players. That's how we view that – we view [it as] we all have got to better and I believe we will be."

(On Brady missing reads that he generally doesn't)

"You may call it a missed read – there's a lot going on in the football game, you see what I mean? I wouldn't call those missed reads – I call that football. Football happens. We didn't collectively play well enough on that down to get that job done – [there's] a lot going on out there on the football field. This is not a Tom issue, this is an 'us' issue. We've got to be better as a group."

(On how much interior pressure is affecting Brady)

"I don't think [any] quarterback likes interior pressure. Any time you're getting interior pressure on the quarterback, it's bothersome. But it's football – he's played that way, guys have been trying to get interior pressure on him for 23 years now. He knows how to operate under that. We've just got to play better – not Tom, not the individual person – every running back, every receiver, every quarterback, every offensive lineman, every coach. We've got to be better across the board."

(On the lack of deep pass attempts this season)

"It's just a different team than where it was orchestrated in the past. There [were] times where we went down the field – some thought we went down the field too much. Now we're not getting there as much – I believe we'll get there, we'll see. But we're playing to our team's strengths and trying to put us in position. We were never just gung-ho throwing it deep anyway, we were [going] off of personnel – we did everything off of personnel and who we had in the huddle at the time. I don't really see it like that – I always tell you, [if] they cover short, we'll throw deep; if they cover deep, we'll throw short. We're just not doing a good job collectively as a group, that's what everybody is seeing. When you're not in synch [and] you're not playing well, nothing tends to go the way it should be."

(On if the departure of players who were good at running after the catch contributes to that)

"It might."

(On if the team needs to use RB Rachaad White in short-yardage situations)

"Then that means that 'Lenny' [Fournette] was the problem – 'Lenny' hasn't been the problem on those. You see what I mean? It hasn't been 'Lenny' that's been the reason why we haven't gotten those first downs."

(On White having a better conversion rate in short-yardage runs)

"We may have collectively [done] a better job on those plays. To convert on those downs and distances, it takes 11 [players]. We just executed better on those plays and Rachaad just so happened to be in, I believe. I don't believe 'Lenny' is the problem with our short-yardage [plays]."

(On what the short week before Thursday Night Football looks like)

"We just want to get back on the field. We don't like the taste that we left [in our mouths] leaving that field Sunday. Any time you have those games, you just want to get to the next game and prepare. Obviously, you've got a tough team coming in here but that's all you can do. Stuff happens in this league – when it does, you've got to take the good with the good [and] the bad with the bad. Focus, lock in, get ready for the next week – that's our process."

(On if he feels like the offense is close to breaking out)

"I don't think it takes big changes. This game of football – the difference in 38 [points] and 10 [points] is minute in this league. It's four or five plays throughout a game and we're just not making those plays that we normally would make. We're having opportunities to make them, we're just not making them. We're not executing it well enough as a group. As a group, we just have to get in synch, understand when there's key moments in a ballgame where you have to execute, you have to get your job done. We're just not doing that right now, but we believe we will because of who we've got. Like I said, I trust the coaches, I trust the players – we've been in tough situations. I believe in what we are and what we can become. Now, we've just got to get it done on a game field as opposed to on a practice field."

(On if he's considered different formations when needing to convert short-yardage situations)

"Well, we've done it all, really. We've done it all. We've just got to be better – because it doesn't [matter] who's out there from a personnel standpoint. If you don't execute or play with awareness in those situations, you're not going to convert – you're just not. It [doesn't] have [anything] to do with personnel in certain plays here and there – we're not in synch right now so we've got to find a way to get in synch. I love the way we're practicing, though, to get the job done. I believe in us, I believe we'll get the job done."

QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY

(On how different a short week of preparation for him is)

"Well, it's a different week for everybody, so [we're] just seeing how we feel every day and get as much treatment as we can and try to eat well, get some rest, lot of hydration. Get as healthy as we can for a really tough opponent."

(On how we would critique himself for his last game)

"Well, I think scoring points is the obvious thing we're trying to do, so… We just haven't done a great job of scoring points, so we've got to do a better job of that."

(On if he is taking enough downfield shots or being a little too cautious)

"You know, we haven't scored a lot of points. I think we've scored like 19 points or something like that a game. It's not good enough by what we're trying to accomplish, so however you get it in – run it, throw it – the objective is to score more points than the other team. We just have done a great job of it thus far."

(On what has been the most challenging part of the last 48 hours)

"What has been the most challenging part of the last 48 hours? You know, just dealing with a tough loss and then turning it around – that's always a challenge for everyone. Yeah, just trying to obviously turn the page so we can focus on the next opponent. I think we try to do a good job of that. It gets up on you quick; it's already basically – even though it's a Tuesday afternoon, it's like a Friday afternoon. It's a quick turnaround but every team deals with it. Every team has a Thursday night game, or I think most teams have a Thursday night game, so they're dealing with exactly what we're dealing with and their bodies are feeling the same way ours are feeling. They have the same amount of [preparation]. So, it will be a good competitive game Thursday night."

(On how the players got their focus back after Mike Evans' dropped pass early in Sunday's game)

"That was one play, you know. You'd love to hit every one, and sometimes you just don't come up with them. We've just got to do a better job of executing. Whether that's that play or the play after that or the bunch of plays that followed that, there's a lot of things that go into it. I have a lot of confidence in Mike. He is an amazing player, great teammate, like a lot of the guys on our team. So we've just going to keep fighting."

(On Tampa Bay not scoring touchdowns in the first quarter and getting early leads)

"Yeah, playing with leads are great. That's obviously what you want to do every week. You've got to earn your way to a lead and I think that's the important part. You don't start the game up seven-nothing or 14-nothing; you've got to go do something about it. So I think we've got to focus on what we have to do in order to get the ball down the field and score points. I want to score in every quarter, but you're right, it's been tough start to the games and that's why we're playing from behind. Sometimes we make it easier on the opponents than we want because they get to do exactly what they want and we don't."

(On if he sees hope for the offense jelling more as the season goes on)

"Yeah, I think there's always hope, and then there's reality. I think you really focus on what the reality of the situation is, and that's we haven't played our best football. We have a lot of quality players and we've got to do a better job playing well. You've got to take it one week at a time. Every game's different. Things could change after this game, too, and things could change the week after that and the week after that and the week after that. So, nothing in this game is given to you. You have to go earn everything and I think that's the competitive nature of it. They're good on the other side of the ball, too. We've just got to go find a way to get a win."

(On if we could see a significant improvement from the Bucs' offense Thursday night)

"I mean, like I said, I hope we go play better and execute well and do our jobs at a high level. That's obviously the expectation for all of us, that's what we're working toward this week."

(On Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson)

"He's an amazing player and he challenges defenses. He has a really unique skillset. His ability to improvise, make plays with his legs, extending plays – they do a good job with that offense. They have a good defense, they run the ball extremely well. He's obviously very dangerous with the ball in his hands and they've got some weapons, too, so it's a tough challenge for our defense. We're going to have to play a real complementary game, play tough, hard-nosed football and try to get a win."

(On why he said, "You're next," to Jackson on social media)

"I just think very highly of him. I think he's got a great future."

WIDE RECIEVER MIKE EVANS

(On what he was doing with the official after last week's game)

"I wasn't signing my autograph, I'll tell you that. I talk to a lot of officials – we're all human beings. He's a nice guy, so we were just talking about, you know, golf. That's all we were talking about."

(On how much the team needs a win for 'psyche' purposes)

"Man, we need the win every week, I feel like. But definitely this week – we're back at home, we got to win. Lost two in a row – we can't lose three in a row. That's going to be terrible."

(On getting more shots down the field)

"I'm always excited to get opportunities, especially down the field. I've made a lot of big plays in my career, hopefully I get more opportunities to do that."

(On if he needs more calls to get shots downfield)

"I love shots downfield. So, hopefully my next opportunity, I'll make a big play for us."

(On if he believes the offense is 'close')

"Yeah, absolutely. Very close. A little bit here and there – we're taking turns not making the play when we need it the most. We got big chunks last week, but we didn't convert on third down. We've got to be better in those situations and I feel like we are close."

(On if there is anything specifically that he can point to that needs improvement)

"I'll just say situationally. Like third downs – those are the money downs, And the red zone, we have to be good in those areas. [We've] got to score points and help our defense out."

(On how quickly he was able to put Sunday behind him)

"I mean, we had to because we had Thursday coming up. Obviously, it was a tough loss, but I feel like that was five days ago now. We're getting ready to play here in two days and we're looking forward to the opportunity to bounce back."

(On the reports that the officials asked him to sign an autograph)

"No, they weren't. It wasn't that serious. You know, someone with a camera was just recording us and I [saw] them recording us, too. It wasn't a big deal at all. There was nothing there."

(On what he signed)

"Yeah, [the reporters] already asked. [The officials] weren't asking for autographs, so let's be clear on that. They weren't asking for autographs."

TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS

(On the demeanor this week)

"Oh, that's a good one. I thought yesterday was a little – I don't want to say 'woe is me – but we we're a little down. You know, I thought today was a lot better. I thought it was a good tempo at practice today, you know, we did a jog through. But guys were moving around, got a good sweat in. I think everybody is just ready to turn this ship around – turn the pirate ship around. So, it's been good."

(On the biggest issues on the offensive line)

"I think, you know, the past couple of weeks, we'll watch [the film] together on the plane as an o-line and it's been one guy here and there. You're not going to win every rep but it seems like we're not having a lot [of plays] where all five of us are winning at the same time – that might have been it. It's hard to pin-point it. If I knew what it was, we wouldn't be having this conversation, so that's what frustrating. But, we've been putting in a lot of extra time, trying to get all of us on the same page – us, tight ends, wide receivers, running backs, quarterbacks. I'm excited. I think everyone is ready to go."

(On if he feels that more teams are attacking the interior because it's a new line)

"Yeah, I mean, I think guys know that. Like Luke [Goedeke] and [Robert] Hainsey are new guys. Like, they're going to run gains, they're going to run twists, they're going to bring pressure. They did it to me my rookie year. You know, me and 'Cap' (Alex Cappa) got a lot of games. And it's tough, you know, it's tough getting that thrown at you quite a bit in the game, but you've got to step up and step up to the challenge. But, I think the guys knew that coming into the year with a new left guard, you're going to get games, but we've just got to do our best to handle them and pick them up."

(On if the young offensive line has the right attitude and temperament to bounce back on the next play)

"Oh, I have 100% trust in all those guys, whether it be Nick [Leverett], whether it be 'B-Walt' (Brandon Walton), 'Johnny' Molchon, whoever. And you know, the other four of us are here to not let them ponder on those losses if they come. Coach [Joe] Gilbert told me that – he's like 'if anything bad happens' – he told me my rookie year – 'if anything bad happens, you've got to have a short-term memory.' There's not a thing in the world you can do to get that play back, so you've got to move on and just go on to the next one."

(On getting points on the board first and if that changes the dynamics of the game)

"100%. I don't do a whole lot of 'rah-rah' and stuff, but sometimes I come out before the drive – we've got to get first downs – that's what starts it. You know, just getting the drive going, getting the drive going. And, if you're the first one with seven up on the board, that's good momentum. Just like before half-time – if you score before half-time, regardless of if you're getting the ball or not – that's a big momentum swing. I think we had this kind of trouble my rookie year, which is starting fast. I think we finish games real well. I think that's a big thing we're starting to talk about – just coming out and starting fast – good attitude, good effort – coming out firing."

-BUCCANEERS-