OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BYRON LEFTWICH

(On running the ball in short-yardage situations in the red zone and why the team has struggled in the red zone)

"The line of thinking was to score on that play. It didn't go that way, it didn't go in our favor so we had to kick the field goal. Obviously, we game plan every week – we try to put ourselves in position to get into the best play possible. We just didn't do a good job of executing there. We've just got to be better in the red zone. We have to be better. [With] things that we're working on, we believe we'll get better in the near future."

(On the play of LT Donovan Smith)

"I think we've all got to be better. I think we've all got to be better as a group. I think we can coach it better, I think we can play it better – and that's just what we've got to do to move to the next step if we want to get to where we want to get to as an offense. We're all aware of it – it's been brought to everybody's attention, what we need to do going forward as an offense moving forward. We're excited to get the next opportunity."

(On if the offense might start going up-tempo more frequently and why it hasn't done that as much early in games)

"Well, we carry it with us every week, really. We carry it with us every week. Depending on who we're playing against, what we get versus it, really sometimes determines if we get to it. We like it – we've always done it here for three years now. We've always done it. We love it. We think we've been really good at it. To know if we'll do more of it, I don't know – we'll see. We get into the games and we'll see how this thing [goes]. We're just trying to do the right thing to have as much success as possible. We do understand we've been doing a good job of it."

(On if the team might use RB Rachaad White on first down more frequently)

"It [doesn't] really matter what down, really – it's just [that we] have got to get connected up front. [We've] got to get to the second level, regardless of who's covering it – who's running it. It matters, but it [doesn't] matter. We've got to do a better job of getting to the second level and also we can do an even better job of getting to the right lanes – getting to the right spots. We're fully aware of what we need to do as an offense to get better. The good thing is – I tell you guys – everything is fixable, everything is correctable. We've just got to keep working. We've been having some really good practices. At some point it's going to transition to the football field on Sundays. We're excited to have that opportunity to come."

(On WR Scotty Miller getting more involved)

"Scotty has always been a guy that's made plays for us. Since he's been here as a rookie, he's done a really good job when he gets his opportunities, [he] takes advantage of them. He's a guy that we trust – I trust. It's more important how he made the plays in that second half – he was down-and-distance-aware, he was time-aware, he was situational-football-aware, doing those things, getting out of bounds…but that's just Scotty. Scotty has always been there for us when we needed him. It's good to see him make the plays that he's made – especially after last year, we said he wasn't healthy at all so he didn't get to play a lot. It was good to see him out there being Scotty."

(On his embrace with QB Tom Brady after last week's win over the Rams)

"We know we're not playing our best, right? We're not going to apologize for winning a 16-13 game, because we scored three more points than the team we played. We're not apologizing for that. Obviously, any time you win games in those moments, the way that we won them…I trust this team [will] always come through in those situations. To see it happen, to see the plays that were made throughout that drive, that series – that's exciting, man. That's why we play – we play to win football games. Everything we do is to win the football game, regardless of score. When you have an opportunity to win in this league…we know that sometimes when you win in this league…the most important thing is winning. Sometimes you win 13-10, sometimes you win 33-30. Trust me, it [doesn't] matter – playing that team, the last time we played that team, we scored 24 points and lost. Trust me, this was a whole lot better feeling, scoring 16 anytime you get the win because that's what we're here for – we're here to win."

(On if the Rams defense on the final drive allowed the Buccaneers to move the ball well)

"No, I mean we practice this stuff. I tend to think we did a good job of executing. I don't look at it that way, that they made mistakes. It's our job to execute in that moment. We're not really looking for teams to make mistakes – we're just trying to execute and make sure we're doing our part in it. We're happy that we got in this situation, had an opportunity to win the football game at the end, and found a way to get it done."

(On playing in an international game like this)

"It's exciting for us to have the opportunity, to be honest with you. Obviously, it's a long way over there but any time you have three million ticket requests…that's unheard, right? We've never really heard of that. So, we're all excited and anxious to really be a part of that. We understand, obviously, how they must feel about this game. We're just happy that we're one of the teams that's going to have the opportunity to go out there and have an opportunity to win the football game in Germany. We're excited – we can't wait to get out there, can't wait to play."

(On how he will pass the time on the flight over to Germany)

"Yeah, I'm a book guy. I'm going to be a little iPad guy – I'm going to be a little bit of everything in nine hours. You just try to get it in and I'm going to try to get some sleep. We'll have it all – I'll have the books, I'll have the iPad ready."

(On if the team needs to improve its effort level on gamedays)

"Well, it hasn't been every down – we've had downs where we could be better from an effort standpoint. It's been addressed. I think we can get better and that's what I mean about what we can fix – I think we can fix all the things that [have] been in our way throughout the year. Obviously, it's been a tough beginning of the year – a lot of things have been going on. I think as we're beginning to settle down, we're getting more into football mode – more aware of what we need to do. We can't be talking effort. We can't be talking effort from anybody, especially at this time of year. We understand that and that's why we're excited to get the opportunity to go out here and play this week."

-BUCCANEERS-