HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On how encouraging it was to have LB SirVocea Dennis healthy throughout training camp and preseason)
"It's good to see him healthy, you know, with the shoulder the last two years. To have him getting shoulder surgery and coming back healthy and not missing the snap is positive."

(On the Buccaneers and QB Baker Mayfield facing the Atlanta Falcons last year while missing several wide receivers, and how that preparation can translate into the beginning of this season)
"I don't think I remembered anything about him getting ready for that game. I remember we lost and we had to play the Falcons. But Baker is a pro – he's going to do whatever he has to do to win and whoever's in there, we'll make the adjustments offensively and we've got to play. I mean, it's part of the game. It's going to happen. We don't stress too much about who's playing. If you make the team, it's for a reason and if there are wide outs that hadn't played and people go down, we expect them to step up and play."

(On if that adaptability is the mark of a good quarterback)
"It's the mark of a very smart quarterback. I mean there's a lot of people involved in that, but it shows how intelligent [Baker Mayfield] is and he does what he has to."

(On if he's concerned about the team's offensive line depth)
"No concern at this time."

(On having veterans as well as young players on the practice squad)
"I mean, it helped us out a lot last year. Obviously, [C.J.] Brewer was on there, [Sterling] Shepard was on there, we had a couple other guys on there that came up and played. I think it's not dedicated to the young guys anymore. Sometimes you need some veterans in there for a rainy day that can learn the system and when something goes wrong, they can step up and play. You're not asking them to play an extended period of time, but you're asking them to play and step in and be a pro. And I think those guys have value."

(On DL Calijah Kancey's growth entering year three)
"Just an understanding of how they're setting and blocking him, quick setting him or whether they're coming off the ball, how to use his hands, really how to work with Vita [Vea] and set each other up for pressures when they go across the ball. But Calijah is very strong – he put in a healthy camp. [We'll'] cross our fingers [that] he starts the season out for the first time since he's been here. We look for big things from him. He's tough. Everybody thinks he's small, but he's extremely tough and he can hold the double team and he can do all the little things for us."

(On how difficult the defensive line competition was)
"That was tough. I mean, it was neck and neck like you said and it went along with the other positions as well. So, we made our decision and we're hopeful and we'll see this afternoon whether one or both of [C.J. Brewer or Adam Gotsis] come back and we'll go from there."

(On if TE Cade Otton's recent absence is related to his hamstring)
"No, he's sore. I mean, he's got another leg injury in addition to that, so he'll be out a little bit."

(On whether Otton's injury will lead into the regular season)
"I won't know until next week."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's growth from last year to this year)
"Just the mental part of his game and grasping the offense…Having been in the offense for a year and coming back in the same system finally, I think he's really taken the bull by the horn, so to speak, and [is] kind of just directing people the way [he wants it] and understanding where he wants it and having great conversations with 'Grizz' (Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard) on the field. That's been the biggest growth."

(On why the team has started each season fast under his guidance)
"I think each year is different, especially this year because we haven't played yet. But, you know, we got off to good starts just from preparation and understanding and trying to let the guys play fast. It all worked out at the end of training camp. We came together at the right time to start the season. Everybody understands how the start of the season goes. And, you know, we've got some veterans leading us there and we've just been fortunate to win the first couple years."

(On having the extra week between the end of the preseason and Week 1)
"I used to think it was nice, but not really because the more time you have as coaches, the more you dream up stuff and you fantasize and you work hard and you come back with the same things that you should have thought of in the first place…So, it's great from a rest standpoint because you're not getting any more after this, but from a game plan standpoint, it'll be good to get in the flow of the season."

(On the experts picking the Buccaneers to win the NFC South)
"We didn't pay any mind when they picked us to come in last. We're not going to pay any mind when they pick us to come in first."

-BUCCANEERS-