PASS GAME COORDINATOR/INSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH LARRY FOOTE

(On what he's seen defensively at the end of games)

"Well, you just said it, we want to finish – we want to hold them out of the endzone. That's our goal – [we] came up short last week, but we're always talking about finishing. It's always come down to execution, communication…Games are won and lost in this league in the fourth quarter by missed tackles, missed assignments. So, we just stay on [those] guys – finish, finish the game. And if you're a defensive player, you want that challenge, you want to be on that field and win the game."

(On why such a talented defense has struggled to close out games)

"Well, sometimes it can be 10 guys did [their job] perfect, the other guy didn't. It can be miscommunication, or simply, the team outexecuted us. And that happens – you talk about the touchdown – that ball is thrown high, away from the defender and [Browns TE David Njoku] made that play. So, we've just got to dial in next play."

(On the chaos of missing three starters in the secondary at the end of the Browns game)

"No, I don't call it chaos. But the next man up, we coach everybody in our room, you know? If you're in there, we expect you to play and know the communication, the calls, make all the checks, and…If you're on this team, in this building, we expect you to perform. So, there wasn't [any] chaos. Everyone knew their assignment; we just came up a little short."

(On if players running into each other adds to the chaos)

"Well anytime there's cover-one, there's crossers and picks, you know? This league lets some of that stuff go, lets the offense get away with some of those things, but when you're playing out of cover-one and there's crossing routes, there's a potential that we could run into each other."

(On how different this Saints team is since the last time these teams faced off in Week 2)

"Well, they're the same. They use a lot of personnel, they're a physical team. They definitely have a different quarterback – [Andy Dalton is a] little more seasoned, little more pocket [heavy] than Jameis [Winston]. But they give you a lot of personnel, they give you a lot of stuff to get ready for and they've got talent. We know the mindset anytime we play [those] guys – we don't care about [any] record or where we play, we know it's going to be a tough game and we've got to out-execute."

(On if the team is preparing to face QB Andy Dalton)

"Right now – it's still early and we've got an extra day, but we'll prepare for Dalton – for everybody. Their offense has pretty much been the same – they give you a lot, but we've got to adjust. They'll give us something new, a new wrinkle on Sunday, but we've got to do our assignment."

(On the close divisional race)

"That's more fan talk. In this league, each year is a different season. Each year…I understand the expectations and what we've done in the past last couple of years, I know who our quarterback is, but that's more fan talk. When the season started – every season has its own personality, ups and downs, ball goes this way. I told my guys, 'Thank God this is our golden opportunity – 5-6 and still first place in your division, that opportunity [doesn't] come around, so let's seize it right now.'"

(On if this game against the Saints will be an opportunity for the defense to get more takeaways)

"Well, every week you want to take the ball away. We really don't count straight on our technique. Definitely, if you get an opportunity to get the ball, seize the moment, but every week we're going to hammer our assignments, and when turnovers come, they come."

(On if there is something the defense can look back to in Week 2 and try to replicate)

"Well, you know, [the Saints] had to throw [the ball] late. You want to get a lead, you want to make them one dimensional and you want to execute. You want to catch the ball, but you just do your assignments, communicate and we'll be fine."

(On LB Devin White's late hit on Browns QB Jacoby Brissett)

"First and foremost, he has to know the nature of this game – they're going to protect those quarterbacks and even in the pocket, and definitely on the sidelines you've got to be smart. I know he was trying to punch the ball, wasn't really a violent hit, but you've got to know where that sideline is and that quarterback – this league is going to protect them. He's got to understand that and learn from it."

(On what S Logan Ryan brings to the team)

"Well, he's smart. He's a veteran. As a player, you want guys back there that can communicate – makes everybody's jobs easier. Hopefully he can come back for us and play, but next man up."

(On what Ryan brings from a communication standpoint)

"Just that – communication. When you communicate, it just breeds confidence. If you know what to do, you can play fast and there's a term we use – it calms the waters, and you need guys like that."

(On if communication has been missing on defense at times)

"It's always at times, even if it's veterans – miscommunication or not. For the most part, we do a good job communicating. You always want more, and after every game, there's times where we could have communicated better."

(On if the team is in crunch-mode)

"We're in that playoff mode. We've got to win, but right now, we're just trying to take care of today. We've got a big challenge – playoffs in December and we've got the Saints coming in…That ups the ante."

(On how difficult it is to maintain momentum after last week's loss to Cleveland)

"It's tough, but that's the NFL. It's definitely tough, it's quiet – the locker room was quiet a little longer than some of the other losses. It was definitely a letdown, but we've moved past that and we've got the Saints coming in Monday night and guys are geeked up."

LINEBACKER DEVIN WHITE

(On the last time the Buccaneers faced the Saints in Week 2)

"Oh yeah, it's just a credit to the guys. We stayed grounded and we went out and made the biggest plays. This type of game is always about who can stay grounded the longest and who can make plays – big plays. You know, we've got to make those five-star plays in this game."

(On how different the Saints team is since Week 2)

"They're using Taysom Hill a lot in different roles as far as their offensive game and I feel like they're trying to get the ball out fast. And man, they're obviously going to use 'A.K.' (Alvin Kamara) many ways, so we've got to be ready for him, but I was going to say, they're a little more sound than they [were] the first game, obviously. And like I said, [No.] 7 (Taysom Hill) [has] a bigger role, so he's kind of helped them out – I think he's like the leading rusher right now for the past couple of weeks. So, we've got to be ready to stop him. He brings the house with him because obviously, when the quarterback carries the ball, there's one extra blocker."

(On how difficult it is to keep emotions in check against a divisional opponent like the Saints)

"No, I mean right now, we go over the refs and we kind of know what types of calls the refs call, and at the end of the day, you don't want to hurt the team. So, even myself being a hometown guy going against them, I keep telling myself, 'Don't hurt your team, don't hurt your team.' At the end of the day, the team is more important than any personal agenda that I have against the Saints. I want to play hard or [well] against the Saints, so I think I kind of spread that message throughout the team. Even Coach Bowles did in our team meeting – that's not how we're going to lose games is by giving them the costly things, it's because we can't keep our emotions in check. So, it has been talked about and we just need to be a little smarter."

(On if the defense feels extra pressure to be perfect)

"No, just the goals that we have for ourselves on defense entitles this type of stuff, whether they can score or can't score. We still want to be who we are, but like you said, they scored 10 points on us in the first quarter and we held them out [of the endzone] until the last drive, but we have to be better – we have to put ourselves in a better position, we have to be real smart at the end when it's crunch time and we've just got to keep doing that. We had a defensive dinner Tuesday night, me and Lavonte [David] organized it just to bring the guys closer and be able to lean on one another and trust each other and just talk about the tenacity we play with – everything we have to do to help this team win. You know, we've got a great defense and we want to show it for four quarters – 60 minutes and man, if we can do that, we can get the job done. Just how we did in Dallas in the first game, give them guys three [points], they give us 20 [points], 18, 16 – we win the game. So, we more so put it on us to try and keep people out of our endzone."

(On if it is important for this team to step up on Monday night)

"Yeah, obviously it's another chance to go out there and show what we can do. I mean, sometimes, it might be good being a team that everybody overlooked and then you sneak in and surprise everyone and you get to playing good ball at the right time. I mean, I think that's all that matters, man. We just need to click on all cylinders – special teams, defense and offense. Let's get it rolling."

-BUCCANEERS-