HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES
(On if the Buccaneers would have the same practice protocol with the Titans that they used with the Dolphins)
"Yeah, it will be similar to that, maybe a drill or two different but for the most part the same."
(On if wide receivers Mike Evans or Russell Gage Jr. will practice in Tennessee)
"No, they won't be practicing this week."
(On if releasing DB Ross Cockrell speaks to the young players he was competing against)
"Including the veterans we brought in, we had a lot of guys. We thought enough of Ross to give him a chance to get on with somebody else, so that's why we did it so early. But he did a lot of things for us in the past."
(On rookie CB Zyon McCollum learning to play more off coverage)
"Just reading your keys…for the most part, reading his keys. He read them for the most part all camp – he got in the game and he didn't read it that one time but he'll learn from it. He's a very good study guy. Just learning from the other guys, watching film, seeing it in practice and reading his keys. When his eyes are right, he's a very good player."
(On if WR Julio Jones will go with the team to Tennessee)
"I'll check, but he should be, yeah."
(On WR Chris Godwin progressing to 7-on-7 drills)
"It's just good to see him out there. Putting him in team drills a little bit and letting him get his feet wet. But we're still in the process with him, day by day, and we're bringing him along slowly."
(On how helpful joint practices can be)
"With only three preseason games I think it's necessary because you go into the game and your starters won't play as much. In practice, you get the real team's offense or defense and you get more plays. Going into the preseason game it will be very vanilla for the most teams, so in practice you get with these guys in certain situations and drills that may not come up in that game. So it's very important for us to get that work."
(On if he has former NFL teammates or other people he knows on the Titans' staff, including Head Coach Mike Vrabel)
"I know him pretty [well] but we're not former teammates. Not any former teammates, no."
(On if he has an update on RB Giovani Bernard's status)
"No, still day by day."
(On if they will install more of a game plan for the second preseason game)
"We try to work on something different. We're not game-planning Tennessee – it's just good practice for us. We're still installing our camp stuff as we go along, but we'll try some different things in the game that we think we need to work on."
(On if he has received further information on the status of injured C Ryan Jensen)
"Not at this time, no I haven't."
(On the reported signing of OLB Carl Nassib)
"Carl's tough in the run. When he played, when he was here with us, he's a very good pass-rusher on the outside and he can also play inside in some nickel situations. He has a lot of versatility, he brings a lot of energy, brings a lot of toughness and he understands the system. He was comfortable in it. We look forward to him coming here."
(On if OLB Cam Gill can return from his injury this season)
"Not sure yet. Hopefully he can but when I get all the details I'll know."
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER ANTHONY NELSON
(On his thoughts about Preseason Week 1 against the Dolphins)
"First game back, so it's knocking off the rust. Obviously, we've been in camp, but getting under the lights is a little bit different. I thought we did some good things and [I] personally did some good things, but there's definitely a lot of room for improvement – to be expected in the first preseason game. We have a couple more weeks before we open up the season with Dallas. We really have to sharpen up if we want to be."
(On how important the mental aspect of his game is to him)
"I mean the bootleg is something Iowa runs all the time. I got a heavy dose of that in college and it just became almost second nature for me. The mental part of my game is something I think I can have an advantage in. Being able to anticipate what an offensive lineman is doing or an offense is trying to do to us, allows me to be in position to make plays. It's definitely helped me out during my career."
(On his thoughts of the possible reunion of OLB Carl Nassib)
"I remember just how competitive he was. He played so hard for our defense, he really set the tone in a couple games there. Just the way he flies around and never gives up – he is just going to be a good addition to the room."
(On if there was anything specific that he learned from Nassib in 2019)
"He just uses his long arms really well. That was something I definitely wasn't doing to the best of my ability when I first got here – and he was able to use his length while still attacking. Just kind of that mindset and that approach to the game is one of the big things I've taken from him and tried to apply to my game in the past couple years."
RUNNING BACK RACHAAD WHITE
(On playing in his first game at the NFL level)
"For me it was a lot of joy, a lot of emotion. [I] haven't played since the last game of college - just to be able to continue playing football, playing the game I love - it was just fun. I was just trying to enjoy every moment and just soak it all in, honestly."
(On walking out of the tunnel for the first time)
"It was fun, especially for us, because I came out with the returners and I came out with 'Gio' (Giovani Bernard) – he gave a little speech, it was a good speech – he had me fired up. So, it was good, it was good, and like I said, it was a lot – it was kind of a moment where you're like 'wow, this feels surreal, it feels unreal' and you just go out there and it's time to play football."
(On his connection with QB Kyle Trask)
"Me and Kyle have been building a good connection and you just see growth. You just see confidence and that's a big thing in the game of sports - when a guy plays with confidence – it's just hard. That's why I've seen Kyle believe in himself - coaches, everybody believes in Kyle. We just see him go out there and be Kyle – just do what Kyle [does]."
(On his grasp on the offense)
"For me, right now, I'd say I'm at an all-time high with the offense. I haven't had any problems – I know everything like the back of my hand. I just go out there now and play. Play fast, have fun. I just got to the point where I just make sure I'm me. Like I said, as coaches, they will correct it and we're going to make the corrections in film."
(On his history and comfort with kickoff returns)
"I'm very comfortable catching the ball and running. Coach Keith [Armstrong] thinks I can be an athlete [and] asset on special teams and all around the field. He put me back there and I was just fine with it – I was OK with it – honestly, I know I just catch the ball and do what coach was teaching me to do and believe in the guys that were blocking for me and it will go well."
(On how RB Leonard Fournette has helped him out)
"'Lenny' (Leornard Fournette) he helps me out with leadership. He always just makes sure I'm always on my 'p's and q's.' He just knew how it was for a rookie, making sure that I'm consistent. He just preaches that to me every day – just keep being consistent, keep being you, keep going out there and having fun. And every time at joint practices, he preaches the same thing: don't let anybody try you, make sure you protect yourself and go out there and play ball."
-BUCCANEERS-