ASSISTANT HEAD COACH/RUN GAME COORDINATOR HAROLD GOODWIN

Opening Statement:

"Just coming off the field, I thought it was a really good day of practice. I thought the defense did a great job, offense did a great job at times, so it was just a good overall practice of iron sharpening iron. It was a good day overall – I like the way we made progress today."

(On what he's seen from C Robert Hainsey)

"He's doing [well]. I'm very pleased with what he's done so far. He's still got a long way to go. I trust him. He studies the tape, he wants to be good, so I feel good about him at that center spot."

(On Hainsey facing tough competition from the Buccaneers defensive line)

"Yeah, that's a lot of weight. Sometimes when they get to pushing on you, sometimes you've just got to hold on for dear life, because at some point they're going to try to put you on a ride. You've just got to take that ride but do your best to stop their momentum."

(On rookie G Luke Goedeke)

"I think the last couple days he's gotten better. He's doing a better job of throwing his hands in pass pro. Run game, he's been fine. You've just got to think about it – this guy played right tackle pretty much his whole college career [and]he's on the left, so he's trying to get acclimated, and he's done a nice job the last couple days. But he's physical, he's smart, he's an all-football type of guy. He's watching football 24/7. Sometimes you've got to tell him, 'Relax and calm down,' because he's so paranoid that he's screwing something up. But he's going to be a good player in the long run."

(On if practice got chippy because guys are tired of hitting their teammates)

"I think so. I just think a lot of people are talking crap, which makes practice fun. It will be good to get Miami in here in the next couple days. But that's training camp. There's always going to be a squabble here or there but that's just part of it. As long as we don't take it too far and make it personal, we're fine."

(On if he would be concerned if there weren't some disagreements during practice)

"Yeah, it's going to be real boring, real boring. But we know we can't fight, right? Because that's a 15-yard penalty and you probably get kicked out of the game. There's really no need to get it started. We can have a little bit of a skirmish, but we don't need to really throw any blows and make practice come to a halt. So, we've just got to be smart that way. I like seeing some every now and then, but it's not really what we want out there."

(On the challenge of Hainsey moving from tackle to center)

"Well, I'll just start here: I think he's got a pretty good coach [points to himself and laughs]. But he's a smart kid, he started a lot of football games over his [college] career. He just wants to play – he doesn't care where it is. He just wants to be a part of the process, be a part of the team and just contribute. He's done everything I've asked of him. A.Q. [Shipley] did a great job with him last year. A.Q.'s no longer here but he did a great job of mentoring him last year, as well. As long as he stays on the path he's on right now, he's going to be a very good football player and he's going to play a long time in the National Football League."

(On what rookie RB Rachaad White showed him in the goal line drill)

"He's going to be a good football player. He can protect the quarterback, he can run the ball, he can find the smallest creases to get into. He's smart, he pays attention to detail, so I look forward to seeing what he can do once we get to real ball."

(On how White is in pass protection)

"He's willing to put his face in – that's half the job right there, willing to put your face in. The other half is knowing what to do and he's conquered both of them so far. Knock on wood, he continues that."

(On how White is in terms of studying the game)

"He's doing [well]. He asks questions every day of either myself, Joe [Gilbert], sometimes Rick Christophel. Whoever is back there, he's asking questions all the time. He's a guy that's willing and able to learn. He wants to be great, and his future is going to be very bright."

(On trying to get a whole new group of interior starting offensive linemen ready to play)

"Just trying to get the group to jell. The standard is the standard. We've got to protect one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time so we can't have any let-ups. We've got an opportunity to do great things with this team this year, so we've got to make sure we protect the quarterback and also be able to run the ball. So, I don't really care who's in there. I could be in there for all I care – we've got to get the job done. One thing I know: It doesn't matter who we put out there, they've got to execute to a high level."

(On the competition at left guard)

"The beautiful thing about it – it's fun to watch because if you think about it, you've got all these guys that actually get a shot to win a job. Usually when you come to camp it's pretty much solidified but to have three or four guys rotate in and try to give it their best every day, I like watching that. At some point I've got to put my foot down and just go ahead and pick a guy so we can build that communication with 'Donnie' (Donovan Smith), build that communication with (Robert) Hainsey at the center spot. But I like to watch it. Those guys care, those guys compete and they help each other out. At the end of the day, they all want to win that job, but at a certain point here I've just got to go ahead and pick a guy. But they're all doing a nice job right now."

(On if there is a timeline for the decision at left guard)

"Not really. I'm thinking somewhere before the third preseason game. Just kind of go ahead and lock it down and get it over with. But right now, it's wide open in my opinion. I might even try to put a helmet on and some shoulder pads and give it a try myself. We'll see how it goes."

(On how injured center Ryan Jensen is doing)

"He's bored because he loves football. I think currently he's sitting in the hotel room every day, just watching TV, catching up on a lot of sitcoms and things of that nature. But he's going to be alright. We keep him involved. I contact him every day via text or I Facetime him and we have a conversation. He's in a good headspace right now. Sometimes life happens and we've just got to get through the trials and tribulations. He's going to make it through and he's going to be back."

(On OL Nick Leverett working at multiple positions)

"He's a Swiss Army knife, so wherever I put him he's going to be able to play. The one thing about Nick, since he came here as a rookie, he's been hungry. He wants to be a football player – he wants to be a professional football player. He's in the building before I get here every morning at 5:45, already watching tape, studying, him and John Molchon. He's a guy that wants to be great. He's got a lot of passion for the game and wherever he ends up from a position standpoint, he's going to be good at."

(On if working at multiple positions makes it harder for Leverett to win one specific job)

"It hurts a little bit, but at the end of the day we only dress so many guys on game day – and the more you can do in the National Football League at any position or position group – the more you can do the longer you're going to stay in this league. If you can only do one thing, you're worthless to me as an offensive line coach or as a run game coordinator. If Nick's not starting, I know Nick can do a bunch of stuff for me. If he's starting, I know he can play great as well and get the job done."

(On the potential of the Buccaneers defensive front)

"It's like trying to stop a – how can I put it? – a large motorhome in motion, and one of us trying to stop it. That's what it's like every day. Going against those guys can't do anything but make us better. It's tough at times. Sometimes you're going to win and sometimes you're going to lose, but you just want to hold them long enough to get the ball off. Vita [Vea], [Akiem] Hicks, Will [Gholston], Logan [Hall], all those guys, probably one of the best D-Line units in the National Football League so they can only make us better. I like the competition and I like the way we're trending right now as an overall team up front."

(On his reaction when he found out QB Tom Brady was coming back this season)

"I was sitting at home, in bed. I think my brother texted me. I had my Apple Watch on and he was like, 'Wow.' So, I was like, what the hell is he talking about? So, at that point I started looking up Bleacher Report and everything else and I think by that time it was all over the place. And I just looked at my wife and said, 'Hey, he's back.' I know it makes my life a lot easier, it makes the O-Line's life a lot easier, and I just think it's good to have him on this team from a leadership standpoint. We know with him in our locker room we can do great things."

(On what it was like seeing him back on the field in the offseason)

"Oh yeah, he was throwing with the guys on his own from time to time. Just seeing him in the building gives me a whole lot of calm. I'll just say that – it gives me a whole lot of calm. I know at the end of the day if things are not right, he's going to get them right. He's going to lead us in a direction we want to go in long-term."

SAFETY MIKE EDWARDS

(On what he's looking to improve on going into this season)

"Just being more of a leader and being more vocal [and] working on tackling and being more physical out there. Just trying to help my teammates. For the first few years I was trying to just get more comfortable and try to be myself. Now I feel like I can take the next step and help my teammates and take on that role."

(On trying to be more physical against wide receivers)

"For sure. I definitely want to be more physical at the point of attack just getting more hands on and creating more havoc. I've always had the ball skills, [I'm just trying to be more physical, hitting the weight room and getting bigger and stronger. I feel like I am up for that task."

(On the challenge of hitting the quota of turnovers during practice)

"It's real fun. When defense creates turnovers and gets hands on the ball it's great to have. All our players on defense – linebackers, defensive backs – we all are trying to get hands on the ball and we are trying to harp on that, creating turnovers and getting hands on the ball. Like you said, we had a lot today. I've been struggling – I haven't had one in a little while [laughs]. They've been trying to take off on me, I have to keep up."

(On the additions on the offensive side and playing against them in practice every day)

"They bring a lot to us, it's great to have them on our side of the ball now. We have Julio (Jones), Hall of Famer, one of the best receivers of all time. He brings physicality, he brings everything – he's got the routes, the speed, and everything. Then you've got Russell Gage running some crazy routes that you can't even guard – it's crazy. I'm pretty much most of the time guarding tight ends or whatever, but I feel bad for those corners [laughs], I feel bad for them. Especially the other guys on the other teams, they've got a lot of work."

WIDE RECEIVER SCOTTY MILLER

(On being able to show his whole skill set in training camp)

"I think the coaches have given me a good opportunity to do a lot of different things. In college I use to play pretty much only in the slot and option routes and stuff like that. I haven't really been able to showcase that the last couple of years, but this year they've given me the opportunity to show those things. I think that's one of the best parts of my game – people might think I'm just a deep threat guy but that's just because they don't know what else I can do. I'm just trying to show that I can be very versatile and do a lot of different things to help the team out."

(On the wide receiver competition this year)

"It looks like everybody is going all out. There are not a lot of spots available – there are four guaranteed and a couple up for grabs between a lot of very good players, as well. That's something as a receiver and as a player you can't really think about. You just have to go out there and grind and do the best you can and be your best self every day – just keep improving every day. That's really my mindset, I try not to think about down the road and what's going to happen. I just try to be the best player I can be, and I know it's going to work out at some point."

(On how he felt when he heard QB Tom Brady was returning)

"It was awesome. I have so much appreciation for Tom as we all do and just what he has done for my career and helping me become a better player – just watching him work and how he goes about his business each and every day. I wasn't really expecting him to retire in the first place – that kind of shocked me, just because I know he had so much left in the tank and he was playing at such a high level. And I know how competitive he is [and that] it would be tough for him to walk away when he's playing that well. When he came back, I was just super excited, super stoked to play alongside him again."

(On if he feels the intensity rising before joint practices)

"Absolutely. I thought today there was a lot of energy, a lot of trash talk and stuff like that. A lot of fun out there, good competition – good healthy competition between 'O' and 'D.' We went live there at the end, which is fun -- first time all camp. Getting a little chippy, but like you said, perfect time – the Dolphins are about to come in next week [and we've] got a preseason game. So, it's time to roll."

WIDE RECEIVER DEVEN THOMPKINS

(On the adjustment of playing football at the professional level)

"I think I'm doing pretty [well]. I have a really good group of vets in front of me – I'm not afraid to ask them questions and they love to give me back game. That's really all I've been doing – watching them and just asking questions."

(On working with the returners)

"It's been pretty cool. Back there, I've got 'KB' (Kenjon Barner) and Jaelon Darden back there with me too. KB's been giving me a lot of insight – he's been returning for a long time in the NFL, so he's definitely been telling me [to] clean up little things like catching the ball, understanding how to track it, just little things like that that will help me be a better returner later on down the road."

(On playing with QB Tom Brady)

"He's like 22 years older than me. But it's been great. Tom, when he's in the meeting room, he's very vocal and when he speaks, it's real powerful so you just want to listen. I don't ever want to get on Tom's bad side. I just want to line up on the right side – I know I'm going to mess up just being a rookie and learning this stuff – and he understands that too. It's been great, it's been honestly a dream come true – it's what anybody could ask for, any receiver at least, could ever ask for."

-BUCCANEERS-