HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the status of WR Jalen McMillan after last night and whether it could cost him the season opener)
"They haven't given me any scenario yet. They're still running tests on him, so we're going to wait until that comes back and then we'll see what it is."

(On whether players who were out against Pittsburgh might return this week)
"I would like to hope so, especially in the defensive backfield, but we'll see."

(On how CB Jamel Dean has played this preseason)
"I think he had a very good preseason and a very good [training] camp. Obviously the touchdown he gave up was because his eyes wandered somewhere else and then we busted a play before that. He's been playing well, he's been very aggressive, he's worked on little things we talked about, and we're pleased with where he's at."

(On the play of the team's edge rushers)
"I was happy with the play of [Chris] Braswell Jr. from the outside last night. The quarterback, Skylar [Thompson], was a very good athlete. Sometimes we got out-athleted, and other times we could have done a better job with contain. [Jose Ramirez, Markees Watts and Warren Peeples Jr.] have to grow mentally and put it together. When they do it mentally, they don't do it physically, and when they do it physically, they don't do it mentally. So they have to put the whole package together. I'll be eager to see what they do next week."

(On Outside Linebackers Coach/Run Game Coordinator Larry Foote calling plays against Pittsburgh, and if Pass Game Coordinator George Edwards called plays against Tennessee)
"George called it against the Titans and did a very good job. I thought Foote did a very good job last night of calling the plays. Both of them did a heck of a job. They're different types of play callers, but you can see their effect on the ballgame."

(On how Foote and Edwards' styles differ)
"George [Edwards] has done it longer, so he's more philosophical from that standpoint. Larry [Foote] hasn't done it as long, but he's been with me for a long time, so he kind of knows how I like it inside and out. He has a [really] good feel for when things are going to happen, especially predetermined by what we do."

(On whether he wants Foote and Edwards to call plays their own way or mimic his style)
"I want them to do it their own way. That's why I've got them calling it, because they see things differently. I want them to do it the way they see it. We talk about it afterwards, and I thought both of them did a heck of a job calling how they saw the game and how they felt it. It can never be like me…George [Edwards] has been here two years, and I've been with him in the past, but Larry [Foote] has been here all seven years. That gives him a different perspective on it. Both of them have their own brains, they call it their own way, and it's everything we've all put in together. It's just a matter of how they line it up. Both have very unique abilities and should be coordinators in this league."

(On the play of linebackers Nick Jackson, John Bullock and Antonio Grier Jr. and if that allows Anthony Walker Jr. more recovery time)
"We want him healthy as quickly as possible because we believe he can help us, but the young guys are getting a great opportunity right now. Defense isn't the only thing – they have to play well on special teams, too. You have to be multiple to make this team on the back end. Watching the special teams tape will be important."

(On OL Sua Opeta not playing last night)
"Just kind of getting him locked in on everything we're doing and giving him another week."

(On the play of safeties Kaevon Merriweather, Rashad Wisdom, and Shilo Sanders after the injury to J.J. Roberts)
"They played a lot. I'm not finished going through the tape yet, but Merriweather probably has the most experience since he was here last year and played the last half of the season. He knows both positions. Wisdom was on the practice squad last year and actually played nickel [cornerback] in the second half because we were down corners. He did a heck of a job playing nickel, strong safety, and free safety from a knowledge standpoint. Shilo is very aggressive, very young, and very hungry. He can make plays in the box and run down to give us 100% on special teams. This last week is going to be very important for those guys to show up."

(On whether the defense has shown more of a killer instinct with six interceptions in two preseason games)
"I see us closing out games in preseason, and a lot of different people are playing, so that's good to see. You want your main team, when you get to [the] 53[-man roster], to have that same killer instinct. It's hard right now because they haven't played the end of halves and end of games. But the younger guys have picked that up, finishing out games and closing them. Even if they make a mistake, they're making it full speed, so that's a start."

(On how CB JayVian Farr played in his first action with the Buccaneers)
"He's aggressive. He's been aggressive since he's come in. The first time we put him out there, we didn't really teach him much, and he had a heck of a practice Thursday against the Steelers. He's very aggressive, very tough, makes his presence known, and it means a lot to him. You want those kind of guys around."

(On if CB Benjamin Morrison is being set back by missing time with injury)
"I don't think it's a huge setback. He watches film all the time, comes in early, and puts the tape on. He wants to learn. It's just about physically going through the reps. Mentally, he goes through them. He's not a guy to just sit in the training room and be hurt. He's trying to get better at all the little things, so when he comes back, he's ready to go. We think he'll be ready, and we won't have any problem putting him in when we need to put him in."

(On whether QB Baker Mayfield needs to play in the preseason)
"I'm not worried about the risk of it at all. We wanted to see him get a two-minute drive in, and we got that in on Thursday. He would not have been in the game in two minutes last night anyway. He got tons of work in practice, and you do a lot more schematically in practice – they do and we do as well. He got a lot of different looks from those guys, played a bunch of practice, and did a heck of a job that way. Barring him having the two minute [drill] that he wouldn't have been in [there for], there was no need to play him in that game."

(On whether Mayfield will play in the third preseason game)
"We haven't discussed it yet, but typically I don't usually play starters for all three games. We'll see, but he doesn't need to play to be ready for the season."

(On what QB Teddy Bridgewater showed on film and his potential role)
"Just being here two weeks, I thought he did a hell of a job. He made two great throws down there for the touchdown throws, moved in the pocket well, got out of trouble, kept us out of trouble, and kept the ball safe. He got one batted down, but for being here two weeks, it said a lot about him and how he operates and what he does. He had good command of the offense. Going forward, Kyle [Trask] and him will play next week, and 'Baze' (Connor Bazelak) will play next week, and we'll go from there."

(On the status of DB Christian Izien)
"He's got a sore oblique, but he'll get more tests and we'll see how sore they are."

(On whether OLB Chris Braswell Jr.'s sack can be a springboard)
"He's been taking the next step since he got back to [training] camp. His game doesn't revolve around sacks – you have to be a good overall football player. He's playing faster and smarter, doing a lot of little things that go unnoticed. We have no problem putting him in the rotation. He's also become a heck of a special teams player. He's playing with more physicality because he's playing faster and understanding what he's doing, and that's what we like about him."

-BUCCANEERS-