HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the defense forcing turnovers in practice today)

"It was good for them, creating the turnovers, obviously getting some – we hadn't gotten many in a couple days. They're coming together as a group. They're talking more. Some situations were like last-play situations where they had to throw it so it wasn't totally defense – you had to put it in the air at some point. But I thought they did a good job getting their hands on the balls."

(On what he's seeing from the running back group and if anything is sorted out as far as playing time)

"Not quite because all three can run, all three can catch and all three can block. Special teams will [have] a lot to do with it. And how they play on Friday night and then preseason games going forward. It'll kind of sort itself out. It's a tough spot to judge at this point."

(On if he's talking about Rachaad White, Chase Edmonds and Ke'Shawn Vaughn when he's referring to 'all three' running backs)

"And Sean [Tucker]. I'm talking about all four of them."

(On how DL Mike Greene has been playing and what he needs to prove)

"Mike is a hard worker. We had him as a tryout guy last year and he worked his way onto the practice squad. He worked diligently in the offseason. We like a lot of the things we see with him out there. We think he has a lot of potential – he just has to keep working going forward, but we really like what we see with him."

(On signing S Avery Young yesterday)

"We were kind of short on legs in the secondary. Avery played at Rutgers with Izien – I've seen him a lot. I know him pretty [well]. His dad was my college roommate, so I kind of know him very well. He went to school with my son. I know a lot about him. He's a very intelligent player, he's a very sure tackler. He's just got to get caught up on the system, getting in so late. I know it's going to take a couple of days to get down some of the basics so we can see him play."

(On potentially having four new starting offensive linemen)

"It's not a concern at all. As long as they have chemistry together, I'm really more concerned with that. That's the biggest thing. We have a new system, so four new offensive linemen is not a big deal at all. We knew we had to churn the roster some to get some guys in here. They've been playing together very well, so I'm excited to see what they do once preseason starts."

(On how cohesive the offensive line is at this point)

"I think it's ongoing. It's hard to put a level on it until you really get some game action underneath you. I think they're past the halfway point, for sure. I think they're working well together, and the chemistry just has to keep building. I'll know when it clicks."

(On if having more live periods in practice today was to prepare for Friday's game)

"Yeah. We're still continuing with camp, you know? That's the biggest thing. We have a lot of situations and things we need to get done – short-yardage, goal-line, two-minute, last plays and all those types of things. It just continues up until Friday. We're just playing against somebody else, but we'll continue that progression."

(On if he has an idea which quarterback will start which game)

"Not at this point. Whoever starts this game, the other one will start the next game and get the same amount of reps. Once we sit down and go through that on Thursday, we'll have a better decision. They both should expect to play."

(On if two quarterbacks will play with the starters at other positions)

"If the starters play, we'll see. The quarterbacks will play."

(On what he wants to see out of LB SirVocea Dennis on Friday)

"I think we've seen a lot from him. Just [looking for] a continuation of what he's done: getting his run reads down, he's a very good pass dropper, he's a very good blitzer, actually – we hadn't started to do that yet. Just getting the special teams down and be ready to play. I want to see him and K.J. [Britt] work together Friday night – that'll be a good tandem for us to see. And going forward, just keep continuing to grow and learning the system. I think he's doing that."

LINEBACKER LAVONTE DAVID

(On if this year's training camp feels the same)

"It feels the same – it feels about the same. Just knowing I'm getting my stuff in, too. Obviously, with the hot weather and the competition and just getting my body together for a long season. It's always fun to be back and competing with your teammates. Each day, we've been getting better and better and that's something that I look forward to every time I come to training camp: just looking at the progress of the team – myself, individually progressing, and the progress of the guys I play with."

(On the defense forcing turnovers today)

"I would say [it's] guys just getting comfortable. This was the 11th or 12th day of training camp, so guys are just getting comfortable with what's being called and understanding how our offense is trying to attack us and stuff like that. Guys just making plays. Like you said, we make an emphasis on creating turnovers, whether it's punching the ball out or taking it away while the ball is in the air, or sack fumbles – which, we can't do. But since guys are making an emphasis on it, we're working on it and it's showing up in practice."

(On what he's seen from CB Zyon McCollum)

"I've seen Zyon progress from last season. He had some bumps in the road last year, as a rookie coming in and having to play and being thrown into a starting role and stuff like that. Sometimes you don't expect that stuff, but in this league, anything can happen. It kind of hit him hard. I've seen his progress since OTAs and stuff like that. When I was watching the film, I was seeing him making plays and stuff like that. [Then], him coming in during training camp and making those same kind of plays that we expect him to make. They drafted him for a reason: he's a physical specimen as a cornerback, he's a very smart, very intelligent player. We expect him to do great things for us. He's doing what we expect him to do."

(On what he's seen from LB SirVocea Dennis)

"[He is] already a smart football player, man – a very smart football player. [He is] really savvy for a young guy – knowing where he's supposed to be in certain situations, knowing how the offenses are trying to attack the defense that we're in and stuff like that. He's just got a little more stuff to put together but I'm glad to have him as part of our room. Obviously, our room, we always have a high standard. To have him as a part of that definitely brings confidence to us."

(On LB Devin White saying his ultimate goal is to be like him and spend his entire career with the Buccaneers and what White needs to do for that to happen)

"Continue to play great. Continue to play great. Continue to be a great leader. Don't focus on the outside noise, just continue to be himself. We all love Devin the way he is. I tell him that all the time: just be you. If you're out here and you're not being yourself, something is off. It'll mess up of the cheer of everybody around you. So, just be yourself, be that energetic guy, be that playmaking guy that we love to see. That's what he's been trying to do. We talked a lot throughout the offseason, so he's definitely putting his best foot forward and focusing on football and being the best player he can be and being the best player for this Bucs team."

(On if he has any goals for the defense this season)

"As a team, we all talk about that: 30-plus interceptions as a group, all the sacks – I know we had 48 sacks last year, we're trying to get more – the points per game thing. For me, I want us to get back to our run-stopping defense. I feel like that takes care of everything else. Last year, we dropped off significantly and that's not like us. We definitely made an emphasis on that – getting back to having that mentality of stopping the run and just having everybody flying to the football and being the aggressive defense that we know how to be."

(On going up against Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales' new offensive system)

"It's been [really] good, man. It's fun, man. All those guys just giving us different looks and stuff like that – making us check our cerebral analysis on defense, being able to think on the run, think on the fly. That's stuff that I like, man – stuff that's challenging. The chance to test you, where you're at mentally…stuff where you can adjust on the fly, through the defense, to be able to counter whatever they throw at you. It's been really fun, man. It's been really competitive. Everybody is getting the ball and trash talking and stuff – the offensive players, the coaches, stuff like that. That's stuff that I love. I think that's what makes a team a great team: when you're able to compete with each other and go at it back-and-forth and just build that camaraderie as a football team. It's been good. It started slow but it picked up big time. That shows a lot of people getting comfortable in their position and guys doing what they're supposed to do… When you can talk trash to your teammates, that just makes it more fun."

LINEBACKER SIRVOCEA DENNIS

(On getting acclimated to Head Coach Todd Bowles defense)

"It's been amazing. It's a grind, but it's been fun. [Patt] Narduzzi (University Pittsburgh Head Football Coach) is a guy who likes to blitz, so coming over here to Todd Bowles' (defense) is something that I obviously I have to get used to because it's a different environment, different coach, but very similar."

(On the biggest adjustment for him so far)

"I will say, verbiage and just terminology. We used a different terminology at 'Pitt', which is normal. So, just coming up here and learning new words and techniques. That's just something you have to hone in on and focus, so when you go out there you can play like yourself."

(On things he has learned from LBs Lavonte David and Devin White)

"Really just trusting yourself, they say it every day. Be patient, [and] trust yourself, so when you go out there you can play like yourself. You are here for a reason, trust yourself, be a playmaker, and just go play ball. They say, 'That's why [we have] you here, just go play ball'."

(On what has been working for him to make plays)

"The guys in the room, Coach [Larry] Foote, obviously the players, and Coach [Todd] Bowels, as well. Helping me with the defense, helping me with certain techniques, certain plays that people try to beat us on, and just knowing how we can not get beat. Basically, being a heads up football player and just really going after it."

(On playing against RB Sean Tucker in college)

"No offense to Sean, but our defense held him under probably 30 yards, but then again, like I said, [Pat] Narduzzi's defense is a very aggressive defense, [a] fierce defense. So yeah, we got after him, but he's a great player."

(On someone that has stood out to him on offense)

"Yeah definitely, I would say Rakim Jarrett. I watched him play in college because I am very familiar with his game. [But] seeing him in person, seeing him on the field, is like 'Oh yeah, he's that guy, [and] he's a great player.' Hopefully, he comes into his own game, and he can show you all what he is really capable of."

(On playing with college teammate DT Calijah Kancey)

"The thing is, Coach [Todd] Bowles runs some things similar to [Patt] Narduzzi. So, when we see a play that's similar to Narduzzi, we just look and each other in the room and go (head nod). It's been great with him. He was my roommate for the hotel and were just bouncing ideas off each other, running plays with each other, [and] doing everything we can. With him being a familiar face, it's like some weight is lifted off my shoulders."

(On his relationship with LB K.J. Britt)

"K.J., he's like another big brother to me. He's helping me with the playbook, probably the most out of everyone in the room. We do really everything together. We go to lunch together, [and] we work out together. I'm really in his back pocket, trying to soak in everything, everything I can. He's there for me."

-BUCCANEERS-