VICE PRESIDENT OF PLAYER PERSONNEL JOHN SPYTEK

(On which position has been the most competitive during camp)

"I think it's been a great camp. It's been competitive at every position. I think we're really happy with our roster. The depth that we've established around here has been really good for all the spots to compete. I mean, I don't think it's any secret – if you guys watch our games, we have a lot of receivers who can play – probably have some tough decisions there. But, I think in all the positions we're going to have some tough decisions and we'll look forward to next Tuesday when we have to do that. But, the guys have one more chance to build on their resume, so looking forward to Saturday night, too.

(On how concerned he is about the offensive line)

"I mean listen, it's our job in the scouting department to build as deep of a roster as we can and we intentionally used the third-round pick on Robert [Hainsey] because we didn't know the outcome of [Ryan] Jensen's free-agency last year. And obviously with Ali [Marpet] retiring and [Alex] Cappa leaving, we made the intentional decision to get Luke [Goedeke]. We had [Aaron Stinnie] who's played a lot of good football here – we lost him. We like Brandon Walton. Nick Leverett has done a great job. Listen, anytime you start losing a lot of players at a position like we did at corner last year, it gets tough because there's only so many guys who can do it at a high level. You know, we're happy with the progress of the guys in there, they're competing their tails off and we'll see how it shapes up."

(On what he's seen from G Luke Goedeke, TE Cade Otton and RB Rachaad White)

"I've seen a bunch guys that just compete. It's one of the things we stress around here. We understand that they're rookies, you know, they're going to learn, they're going to make mistakes. But, I think from a teaching-coaching standpoint, we have a great staff that way that, 'Hey, you know, it's good to go in the games and make mistakes, right?' We saw Luke make a couple of mistakes the other night, a couple holding calls – he doesn't have to do that. But in that, there's a lesson, you know, and as long as you have the right person that will listen, will understand and learn from it, and can also bounce back from it, I think those mistakes end up becoming really valuable and I think we've seen that with all of our guys. The fact that they're going to make mistakes, they're going to compete and they're just going to keep doing it day after day – they're starting to stack days and it's been really good to see. I mean, really it's what we expected."

(On how tough it is to make rosters cuts)

"I mean other than injuries – when you see guys get hurt and lose the opportunity because of an injury – it's the worst day of the job really. There's an excitement, certainly, now that we've got our team, we've got our 53, we've got our 16 on the practice squad, but I have so much respect for the guys that come out here and compete and put it on the line and then sweat and struggle through the game of football. It's a really hard game. It's going to test you in a lot of ways. And the reality is, we just can't keep everybody. I have so much respect for what they do and you know, just because their journey is over here doesn't mean it's done everywhere. There is a sadness that goes with that and for some guys, it is the end. I remember when my playing career ended – it was never at this level – but it was a hard day, and you have to come to grips with that. To have a hand in that, it's certainly one of the things we think about, but we have a job to do here and we're going to do it. We're going to get the best team ready for the Cowboys."

(On bringing back OLB Carl Nassib)

"Look, Carl [Nassib] left nothing but a good impression when he was here. We were sad to lose [him] when we did. I think it's as simple as – Cam [Gill] was having a great camp and I feel for Cam – he did a lot of good things that first game and a lot of good things in practices, and I think he was ready to have a good year. But it's kind of what we talked about, who's the next best guy? Carl still played at a solid level last year, he knows the system, the defensive coaches like him, the guys like him, so it was a pretty easy decision from that standpoint."

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BYRON LEFTWICH

(On if he is concerned with the health of the wide receiver room)

"No, because we're getting healthier. It's a good sign to see certain guys on the grass, certain guys on the field, so we're trending in the right direction from a health standpoint in that position. We're just going to try to keep these guys healthy and keep putting the work in at the same time."

(On the nature of the NFL and always having to compete for a roster spot)

"It's tough for guys all the time this time of year, right? But there's a lot of really good football players in that room. It'll work itself out. Obviously, you want to have as many good football players as you can have, and you want it to be tough. It shouldn't be easy. If it's easy, you're probably not in the right spot where you want to be from what you have [from] a player standpoint. It should be tough at every position, we've built this team that have the best that we can have, right? It supposed to be tough. It's always difficult that time of year because someone is getting cut, right? People start getting cut. Me being a former player, me being cut before – that's just a difficult time for all of us, but it's just the nature of the business."

(On how many times he was cut)

"Once. It only takes one [laughs]. It only takes one."

(On what he has seen from the undrafted wide receivers)

"I just think what makes it easier for them is they come in that room, and they see who is in that room. They know the level of commitment that it takes to go out there. Where's the [standard]? We have to play above the line, and they understand that, so it's easy for them to come in right out the gate knowing what the standard is. What the standard is going to be, and they try to match the standard. It all starts with Mike [Evans], Chris [Godwin], Julio [Jones], -- we have guys that have done a lot of great things in this league who are able to teach and lead that room, which makes it special, and you get more out of your players when you have guys like that in the room."

(On the current state of the offensive line)

"That's the game, right? That's the game of football. In the game of football, injuries are always coming. Obviously, you hate to lose someone like Ryan [Jensen] who is so important to us, but that's why we try to have depth at every position. We try to have depth at every position and you guys know my philosophy – if he's out there on the grass I trust and believe in him. That's the way I go about business. That's the way we really go about business. Next man up is not just a saying around here, we try to have good guys backing up, so if that was to happen, we can be in a good spot. We'll see, but we'll see how it'll work out."

(On how tough it is to evaluate the team when players are injured)

"I think in the receiver position – I mean Mike [Evans] and them were down, but I know Mike is going to be here. It's not really evaluating Mike, evaluating Chris [Godwin], those evaluations have been done years ago. We know what those guys are. Obviously when guys are down you get to evaluate other guys, those guys' backups that came in. That's what you really get to do. You really get the opportunity to see [Robert] Hainsey at certain positions, right? Luke [Goedeke] at certain positions that you wouldn't have been in so early. You get to grade that and react to that and watch these guys get in tough situations. You get to actually put them in tough situations to how they are going to respond. It's always great to get to evaluate as many guys as possible, but guys like Mike and them, you're not getting [anything] from evaluating them. That's been pretty much already done."

(On the progress of G Luke Goedeke)

"Man, I think Luke does a lot of things well, a lot of things well that you guys may not see on the play-to-play basis. He's a rookie, he's working his tail off. What you like about him is that he's physical and he's going to work. Anything we're trying help him get better at is working at getting better, so those type of players tend to improve as the year goes on and we expect that from him."

(On who has shown the most out of the backups on the offensive line)

"It's not about who has impressed me the most, right? It's about just a true evaluation, because you didn't get an opportunity to see [Robert] Hainsey get this many snaps before until Ryan [Jensen] went down. It's what we thought and then we see them have the opportunity to go out and perform and you see some of the things that we thought. We're just working on that process, like I said. Hainsey, he's another guy that every repetition he's continuously going to get better, so he will have a lot of opportunities to get better because of a reps standpoint and we'll see."

(On TE Ko Kieft's blocking ability)

"I think he brings more than just run blocking, what that is we are still trying to figure out, right? We're still trying to figure out what kind of team we're going to be right now, but he's done a great job coming in here, getting his face dirty. He doesn't mind getting dirty, he doesn't mind when it's noisy in there. He's a guy that loves the noise, so you always want those types of players, especially how physical and violent of a game we play."

(On QB Tom Brady's performance the last couple of days)

"Excellent."

(On how changes with the offensive personnel will change the offensive scheme)

"We'll see. We are still trying to develop what we are going to be. Right now we don't know what we're going to be. We'll know what we are going to be starting in Week 1, so we'll see."

(On RB Rachaad White)

"He's a man's man. For a young guy he is really thorough guy. He's really aware, he's really smart, and he plays the game in a physical way. He takes notes like a quarterback, so he's a real smart kid that has an understanding and a feel for football, which allows him to play the way that he plays."

(On QB Kyle Trask this far into preseason)

"Man, I think Kyle has been improving drastically. Obviously, the results and the numbers from the game – I think he was a few plays away from you guys thinking he may have had a big game that game. That's not how it goes, I see him getting better every day though, so he's improving on things you guys can't notice, that's all about playing the game at quarterback. When you have the turnovers, those are things that you guys notice and things that you guys grade. Other than those types of things we have to protect the football. Other than that, this kid has been getting better every day also. It's just a repetition thing. It's hard to play quarterback in this league, right? You compare everything to [Tom] Brady, everything looks bad, right [laughs]? That's what he's facing right now. I'm glad that he's in that room with Thomas because he gets to get better and gets to hear it from Tom also. So, I think the kid has been improving as much as you can improve given the reps that he's been getting."

(On a specific play that QB Kyle Trask has shown growth)

"There's no such thing as one play when you're talking about quarterbacks. It doesn't really work like that. It's not like, 'Oh I hit this one play, I'm getting better. I hit a big play for 50 yards I'm getting better.' But if you screwed 50 plays up, you're probably not getting better. So, we like to look at it as a whole, and I think he's getting better every day."

(On if there are certain positions where he would like see guys get more playing time on Saturday)

"It's up to coach [Todd] Bowles."

WIDE RECEIVER SCOTTY MILLER

(On his approach to the last preseason game)

"Just the same mindset as always, just locked in, ready to go. It doesn't matter if it's right now because it's the last game or just any day, really. Any opportunity we get to come out here and work, just take full advantage of it and try to be the best player I can be."

(On having to fight for a roster spot just two years after a big performance in the NFC Championship Game)

"Yeah, it's never going to be easy. Nothing's ever going to be handed to you. It's kind of like my journey my whole life with football – ever since I was a little kid it's never been easy. So, I've just got to fight for everything and that's just what I'll continue to do the rest of my career. It's just a blessing to be out here and I just try to take advantage of every opportunity I get."

(On practice shifting from a camp approach to more of a regular-season approach)

"I like both for different reasons. It's fun in training camp and going against other teams because it's really competitive and it's best versus best, ones versus ones. It gets going and you get to really work on your game. Now you're kind of going against the scout team, so the defense is going off cards and it's a little easier for the offensive side of the ball, and for the defense respectively when we're running the scout team. It's different, but this late in camp everyone's body is hurting and legs are hurting so it's kind of nice that it's not maybe quite as hard on us because we're going against the scout team. We can kind of hone in on all the little details for the game."

(On how it has helped him to add some additional muscle to his frame during the offseason)

"Yeah, I put on like 10, 15 pounds. Maybe a little help – [it's] just helping me got off press, blocking, stuff like that, and really just staying healthy out there, being able to take hits over the middle, stuff like that. We don't really tackle too much in practice, but in the games that's where it really pays off, going in there and digging guys out in the run game or taking hits over the middle."

(On how Tom Brady has thrown the ball in practice this week)

"He's looking good, as good as always. He's fresh and he looks good. Happy to have him back."

(On the development of QB Kyle Trask from year one to year two)

"I think it's just confidence, really. We all know the type of player Kyle is and he can play. He's a baller. And now that he really knows the system, understands the system, is getting a lot more reps this year and had the whole offseason…I think from year one to year two guys take the biggest jump because everything just slows down and you can really just be your best self out there. So, it's been fun playing with him in the games. We all have a lot of confidence in him and he's coming along and he's going to be a great player."

(On who has impressed him from among the young receivers on the roster)

"A lot of guys. I'll speak for our receiver room – with 'DT' (Deven Thompkins), 'KG' (Kaylon Geiger) and [Jerreth] Sterns, those are the three rookies I think we've got right now and they're all ballers. I think 'DT' and Sterns led the country in receiving yards last year, I think they were one and two, and somehow they go undrafted because of their size or whatever. They both can play at a high level, so I'm sure they're going to be good players in this league whenever they get the chance."

-BUCCANEERS-