HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if S Antoine Winfield Jr. and S Mike Edwards could play against the Saints)

"Well, they didn't practice. Right now, until we see something better later in the week, we're planning to go with the other guys."

 (On if S Logan Ryan could play against the Saints)

"It's possible. We've got to see a couple more days of practice before we do that, though – but he moved around well."

(On his assessment of T Josh Wells)

"Josh is tough. He's played in the game a long time. He's not Tristan [Wirfs] obviously. He just has to make sure he does the things that he knows how to do and makes sure he plays his ballgame. He doesn't have to try to be anybody else. He's tough, he understands the game well, he understands the scheme and the gameplan. We expect him to step in and play well."

(On the matchup between WR Mike Evans and Saints CB Marshon Lattimore)

"They're both competitive – they want to be great. Mike is very competitive, Marshon Is very competitive – they both want to be the best in the league. When you get two guys going at it like that, bringing out the best in each other – we've just got to make sure it's clean."

(On if Lattimore's style of play can cause frustration)

"They're both physical. Any time you get somebody up there against Mike [Evans], he's going to try to be physical right back. I think it's part of the game."

(On how much of a story the offensive line has been this season)

"It's just about getting in synch. They've kind of taken the place of the DBs last year – we're plugging guys in and playing them. But they understand the scheme and we just have to play better there."

(On how LT Donovan Smith has been playing and if there was any thought to providing help on the left side of the offensive line last week against the Browns)

"In the gameplan, we had some things in place that didn't get done for one reason or the other. We've got to coach it better and we've got to play it better. [Donovan Smith] has had some good games, he's had some not-so-good games. We trust him, we expect him to come out and play well Monday."

(On if they're preparing to face multiple quarterbacks when they play the Saints)

"We're expecting to see [Andy] Dalton right now. Obviously, Taysom [Hill] will be back there as well. If Jameis [Winston] plays, I don't think the scheme will change – they're different types of passers but I don't think the scheme will change."

(On QB Tom Brady and WR Mike Evans not being on the same page)

"They get more than enough work in together. They get a lot of work in together."

(On the challenges that Saints DE Cam Jordan presents)

"He's strong, he's powerful, obviously he's bigger than Myles [Garrett]. He's a very smart player as well – he understands blocking schemes, when it's high elbow, when he's blocking down [and] when to come off. He's a tough player – he's going to be a tough load for anybody to handle. We've just got to fight and play tough and scheme around him."

(On if the team is missing camaraderie)

"No, we just haven't made the plays we're supposed to make."

(On linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White hosting a dinner for the defense this past Monday)

"That's what leaders do – [if] something is wrong, they try and fix it."

(On if the offense needs to have a dinner like the defense did)

"That's up to them for it to happen. They spend a lot of time in the cafeteria eating together and doing things that way. It's not a matter of closeness, it's just a matter of executing."

(On if he's needed to address the team about the importance of this game or if they already understand)

"We understand every week is a big game. This is the biggest one because it's the one this week. Every game we play from here on out is a big game for us."

(On if T Brandon Walton becomes the swing tackle now that T Josh Wells is starting)

"Yes."

(On if he identified anything while studying the Saints in the offseason that has helped the team this year)

"Not really. Whoever wins the turnover battle usually wins this ballgame. When they have more than us, they win; when we have more than them, we've won. That's really it – it's two tough teams going at it. They know us, we know them. [It's] whoever makes the most mistakes."

(On the Saints winning the last four games in Tampa)

"Everybody we play is going to come in confident, as do we come in confident. Like I said, it's the turnovers. If we turn the ball over a lot, then they'll probably beat us. If we get turnovers, we'll probably beat them. It's been a matter of turnovers."

(On the threat that Saints RB Alvin Kamara poses)

"He's a run and pass threat, obviously. He can flex out as a wide receiver, he's great in the screen game, and then he can run inside and outside. He's very elusive, he's very quick, he runs like a wideout, he has moves like a wideout. [He's] a tough guy, tough player – one of the best two-way players in the game."

(On TE Cade Otton using the My Cause, My Cleats initiative to bring awareness to the Michael J. Fox Foundation)

"I think it's great – especially when it's personal. When guys can have their initiative on things that happen to them in their lives and they can do something about it and bring awareness to something about it…Especially with his mom passing, I think it's great for him to try and do that."

(On if the captains have the authority to call timeout during the game)

"Tom [Brady] knows when the play goes down when he needs a timeout or not – Devin [White] and Lavonte [David] know when things aren't right, they get a chance to call timeout."

(On the health of the wide receiver group and if WR Russell Gage Jr. is trending positively)

"He's practicing a little bit, we've just got to see more of him and what he can and can't do. Everybody else is pretty much healthy."

(On if he's seen his shoes for the My Cause, My Cleats initiative)

"Yes."

(On if he likes the shoes)

"Yeah, I do. I do."

(On using the My Cause, My Cleats initiative to bring awareness to Autism Speaks)

"Well, obviously, my son has [autism], so it's very important for me, dealing with that. I don't think a lot of people know about autism because it doesn't really show physically most of the time. To have that and try to bring awareness to that and try to bring people more involved in understanding what that is is important to me."

(On what advice he would give to other parents)

"There are places to go. You can go on Autism Speaks and they have places for you to go and find out more about it and for the kids to play with more kids that are like them and understand them going that way. I think there's a lot of areas that you can go in once you go on Autism Speaks."

(On what he would say to the general public about autism)

"It's tough because they look normal and you can't really tell – none of us are skilled enough in that area that hasn't been around it. You've got to be careful and try to see people as they are and not worry about them jumping to conclusions every time you see somebody do something wrong or something strange."

(On his son's high school football performance two weeks ago where he had three interceptions and two pick-sixes)

"He's a lot better than I ever was. It was great. They've got a tough game tomorrow against St. Thomas, so it'll be a good one."

WIDE RECIEVER MIKE EVANS

(On facing the Saints)

"They always play tough, they're a really tough defense. We've got to come with it if we want to get the win."

(On if this is crunch time for the team)

"Every game I attack it to the utmost…I go as hard as I can, each game. It's getting later in the year – six games left – we want to win every one and give our best effort every game."

(On facing Saints CB Marshon Lattimore)

"We're two competitors, two competitors, two of the best in the business and we go at it. We get physical and it's a good matchup."

(On what he needs to do to keep himself 'mentally in check')

"I just play my game. I just can't like, shove somebody out of the air, but I've just got to keep my emotions in check and play hard just like I always do."

(On the extra importance of Monday night's game)

"I mean, obviously, the Saints have had our number since I've been in the league and we always want to get a win against them, and they're our division opponent. But, you know, Monday night football, everyone is going to be watching, so we want to put on a good performance and hit our stride offensively."

(On getting in synch with QB Tom Brady)

"Obviously practice helps, but we've been getting some good reps in…It's a game of inches and everything matters, so I have to be better. I'm used to getting two, three yards of separation on multiple routes – I've got to get back to that."

(On if there has been a lack of effort and energy during games and if that has been frustrating)

"It's frustrating when you [are not] winning, but at the end of the day – I always look at the positives. I try to. I want to win just as much as anybody else, but I always look at the positives."

(On if there is still a lot of hunger on the team)

"I mean, when we're playing, definitely. We just – we're not as polished as we should be with penalties and mental errors and things like that, but everyone is giving it their all."

(On if it's a surprise on where the team stands this deep into the season)

"Yeah, a lot of injuries, lot of new guys in and out. It's tough, but we have to figure it out if we want to compete in the playoffs."

(On how dangerous this offense can be with the wide receiver corps healthy)

"It's good. When we're healthy and we're feeling good, we're tough to stop, so I think we're all getting in our form, so these last six games we can really put it on."

(On if WR Julio Jones pulling double-teams will open things up for him)

"Yeah, I'll take that. Definitely."

(On what is causing the lack of separation)

"I had a lot of go-routes, a lot of fades and go-routes. And [No.] 23 (Browns CB Martin Emerson Jr.) played it [well], he was over top, soft-press and we just didn't connect. I definitely caught one, but it didn't count, and the other three, I've got to get a little more separation like I usually do."

(On if QB Tom Brady is reading it right)

"Yeah, he's reading it right. It's on me."

-BUCCANEERS-