OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR BYRON LEFTWICH

(On what he was most impressed with offensively in Week 1)

"I think we played okay. I think we did some really good things in areas we needed to get better at, but I'm more concerned about the things we didn't do so well – third down and red zone – so that's our focus, to make sure we lock in and make sure we do a better job of executing."

(On how WR Julio Jones looked)

"I've been seeing it here. I've been seeing him being that explosive, so it's nothing new to me. That's really what he's been since he came through the door. He came through the door like that. Like I told you guys, [he] and Tom [Brady] were connecting at a great level during the summer. So, it's good to see him out there rolling the way he was rolling. We're just focused on the next game, we've got a big game here Sunday."

(On if it's rare to have a player over the age of 30 play that well)

"Yeah, but our quarterback is 45."

(On being the oldest team in the NFL)

"I'm quite sure Tom [Brady] has a lot to do with that."

(On veteran players missing practice due to injury)

"It's always different. Hopefully you've got veteran guys who know how to miss days and still show up for the games. As the season gets longer and as we add another game, there's elements of that in football. Football is a violent game and sometimes when you're watching it on TV, you don't understand that. There's a lot of sore bodies on Monday, so you have that throughout the year. That's part of it, that's part of the year, that's part of the season, that's part of being in the National Football League, honestly. That's part of it – being able to have longevity with the beating that everyone takes every week."

(On the red zone performance in Week 1)

"A couple things happened that are really irrelevant but we can't allow [them] to happen, really. We can't allow those things to happen. We just have to do a better job of executing, really. It comes down to executing. I can do a better job of putting us in position better to have more success down there, that's really how I see it. I think I can do a better job of putting us in position to have success."

(On avoiding turnovers against the Saints)

"You become aware of it, right? We're aware of it. You don't win games in this league turning the ball over, I don't care who you are, who's playing, or who you're playing against. We understand that. We know we've got to do a better job of protecting the football. If you want to win against anyone, especially against a good football team, especially against the team we're facing on Sunday. We're working on it throughout this week – make sure we protect the football. That's football, [if] you turn the ball over, there's a good chance you're going to lose in this league. Everybody in that locker room knows, so we're trying to make sure we go out here and do a better job of that."

(On having a balanced offensive attack)

"You guys always said that we should be more balanced. The way that I see it is, prepare and be multiple and be able to do whatever you need to do to win that game that day. That's how I view it. I don't look at the game of football and say you have to be balanced – you have to run it 50 times, you have to throw it 50 times. I don't view the game that way. I think you want to be multiple, and whatever is required to win that football game that day, are you good enough to get that done? Are you capable of getting that accomplished? That's what we practice, we try and practice in that way – that we have multiple ways that we can win football games. Whatever that is, we're going to try and do that to the best of our ability."

(On how impressed he was with TE Ko Kieft's blocking in Week 1)

"I think we did a good by everyone, not just Ko [Kieft]. I think we did a good job of getting a hat on a hat, getting movement in the line of scrimmage. When you do those things, you tend to run the ball well."

(On how athletic the offensive line is)

"That's who we have out there and we've got to play to the guys that we have out there. I told you guys, these guys have been doing a great job – a hell of a job – all summer long, preparing and getting themselves ready to play this year to the best of their ability. Every individual in that locker room, they come to work every day, they do whatever is required of them to help us win football games. That's really what you saw Sunday night – you saw a bunch of guys playing together, playing for each other. Those are the results you get when you do that."

(On the use of the fullback in the offense)

"I don't see Ko [Kieft] as a fullback. I think that's limiting what Ko can do, really. I see it as, we've always had guys back there and moved them back there – it's just dependent on what year, who we have from a personnel standpoint. We actually put Cam [Brate] there last year. It's not that I see Ko as a fullback, we're just trying to be multiple like I said earlier. We want to be multiple – to be able to do enough things to have multiple ways to try to win football games."

(On how reliable the end zone fade pass to WR Mike Evans is)

"How do I answer that? I'll say it's worked out for us some. It's worked out for us some. We're just trying to get in the best position to score, that's what it really comes down to. We work on everything, really. It's just that if we get certain looks, we get to certain things. That's part of football, we want to play the game on our terms as much as we can. We're trying to attack people and whichever shows up, we're just trying to attack people and do our job and get the ball in the end zone."

(On if the end zone fade pass is a difficult play due to the precision and communication required)

"Well, Mike [Evans] kind of equals that out, right? It's whatever it needs to be, sometimes. That just goes to show you about the two players – the guy that's throwing the ball and the guy that's catching the ball, really. The talent of those two, as in synch as those two [are], that's what you really see. Once those guys step on the grass, they have an understanding of each other where they can make those types of plays."

(On how much credit RB Leonard Fournette deserves for his attitude and approach)

"I give him all of [the credit]. Obviously it was tough when he first came in. When he first came in, it was a different situation [than] he's ever been through probably in his life. I've been around those players, I've been in the locker room, so I understood that. I understood how tough of a moment it was for him. But I know the guy – the guy is a great guy. We knew once we got through that, that this guy will show up. He's as talented as can be, he loves his teammates, he's all about [the] team, really. To see him having the success he's had since he's come here – especially when it was a little bumpy early. I don't think it was as bad as most people think, but it was a little bumpy. I just think he's a good dude, I think he's a good guy that loves being around his teammates and loves the game of football. He just wanted to contribute – he wanted to contribute and help this team win. Sometimes guys showcase themselves in that way. [It's] understandable from my part, I've been in the locker room, I understand how that can happen. The most important thing is how he responded to what we said to him and what had to happen for us moving forward. You love the way he responded, I'm just happy he's having the success that he's having."

(On the level of confidence in RB Rachaad White)

"I have the ultimate confidence in him. He [did] nothing wrong in that ballgame – Rachaad [did] zero things wrong in that ballgame. I love where he's at right now and I have full confidence in him."

(On the decision to run to the left side in Week 1)

"We just try to do what we can to win the football game – whatever that requires, we'll try to do those things to win the football game."

PASS GAME COORDINATOR/INSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH LARRY FOOTE

(On S Antoine Winfield Jr.'s game against the Dallas Cowboys)

"He did a great job for us. We weren't surprised about how he played. I'm [prouder] that him and my linebackers were communicating and that's the point of emphasis that we put on those guys up front and the back end – make sure you communicate. He did a great job."

(On managing the communication between Head Coach Todd Bowles and all the coordinators)

"You said it best. We start upstairs as a staff first, making sure we're on the same page and we're a tight unit. We communicate well with each other – a couple of fights here and there – but we make sure before we go downstairs that we're on the same page and the players are hearing the same message."

(On LB Devin White's performance against the Dallas Cowboys)

"He was clean. Those guys didn't have any [mental errors] – knock on wood – and you don't see that often, especially playing the linebacker position. He was clean, he was communicating, and I'll just always remind him, 'When you have that type of ability, slow down. Let the game come to you.' He did that. He leans a lot on [Lavonte] David, so those guys did a good job."

(On how much more of a challenge it is to face New Orleans' receiving core than Dallas' receivers)

"Big time. They've got a lot more weapons, everybody knows that. They've got a dynamic running back, and plus, they have the mentality. They like to run the ball. Jameis [Winston] is doing a great job, but they've got weapons. And those guys know – we don't have to tell them it's going to be a bigger challenge this week [because] they have a lot of weapons over there."

(On how easy it is to coach a player like S Logan Ryan)

"Well, in this league I always tell them, 'This time of the year, I don't care about your 40 time. I want to see if you can communicate.' Coaches want smart players, and you can't study or prepare for everything the offense is going to do so you need savvy [veterans] or guys who are just going to communicate. And [Logan Ryan] has that and I just tell him, 'Hey, make sure you're talking, make sure everybody is on the same page and we'll be alright.'"

(On S Jamel Dean)

"Of course we're getting on him for not catching that pick that one play, but he did a great job. All of those guys – there was communication. The game looked slow to him, and he looked like that for all of training camp. In my opinion, this is the best training camp he had, so I wasn't surprised how he played last week."

(On what kind of game OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka had last week)

"Oh, he was flying around. Him and Shaq [Barrett] were messing with those guys – no sacks, but they were winning. They were winning and that's what you ask for of pass-rushers – make sure you put some heat on the quarterback. He did a great job – snuffed out the reverse early in the game for us. We gave him some crap for not catching that ball over the middle, but he did a great job. We expect big things from him this week."

(On OLB Shaq Barrett recording a career-high in pressures)

"Yeah, he was winning, but that's the norm for Shaq."

(On the defense getting their hands on a few balls)

"Well, my guys got it the most, to add to that. We dropped some, but hopefully this week we'll come down with them."

(On how hard it is to account for Saints' TE Taysom Hill)

"Well, it's easy for us because we're used to playing with him. Today, we had him lined up at the one spot, but everybody's talking, where is he? We have to know where he's at – if he's at the quarterback, if he's at the wide receiver – he has that type of talent, but we're used to that guy, so everyone is going to keep an eye."

(On who at practice lines up as Taysom Hill)

"Nobody, it was a couple of suggestions, I'm not going to tell you who they suggested, but we laughed at it. We're not going to have anybody on campus that's going to do that for us."

(On how they account for Taysom Hill during practice)

"That's what the meeting room is for – coaching. Coaching and teaching up, teaching up. But like I said, we're used to him. We've seen him at running back, quarterback, tight end, wide receiver."

QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY

(On if there is a common thread in the Bucs' recent losses to the Saints, such as turnovers)

"That's probably the thing that jumps out the most, turnovers. They're a very physical team, I think they beat us up, physically. It's just a tough, hard-nosed team. They're well-coached, they've got a lot of good players. They've kind of had a winning organization for a long time. They know how to get the job done. They've got a lot of great core players on both sides of the ball that have been there a long time. It's a tough environment to play but you've got to go play…you play good teams on the road, you've got to go play well. The last couple times we've played them, we haven't done a great job of that."

(On Saints LB Demario Davis playing well against the Buccaneers)

"I think when he plays everybody he does a great job. He's a great leader, just a great guy, great player. So yeah, he's…it's hard to find a lot of linebackers like him that are as athletic, as powerful, as fast, good coverage guy, very smart and aware. He obviously cares a lot, the team really rallies around him. I have a lot of respect for him."

(On if there was a moment on Sunday night when he felt confirmation on why he chose to keep playing)

"I've always loved playing, so…football, it's a great sport. I've been in it for a long time. I enjoy being out there. Yeah, it's a great sport."

(On if it is motivating that the Saints have won the last seven regular-season games in the series)

"I think it's just understanding why we're losing those games. There are reasons why in each game. You can look at them and look at why we won and why we lost, the one time we beat them. It's got to be good football – offense, defense and special teams. They're too good of a team to think that you can win one phase and win the game. It's a challenge because they're well-coached, they're put in good position to do well, they have a lot of good players, a lot of guys who have been together, played together for a long time. They don't make a lot of mistakes, they make you earn everything. Every third down's important, every kicking situation's important, every third down in the low red area is important, turnovers are important. It's a lot of things that lead to winning and losing and obviously we haven't done a good job of that in the regular season. We're going to have to play a lot better if we expect to win."

(On if the media being interested in his private life is part of the territory)

"I think it's just part of our life. We're in front of the cameras all day, so it's a natural thing I've been dealing with for a long time."

(On if that gets old)

"I'm not going to really comment on that type of stuff. I just deal with it the best way I can."

(On saying on his podcast on Monday that he was a little sore)

"I feel great today. Yeah, I feel great."

(On if there is anything from the previous game that needs to be cleaned up this week)

"Everything needs to be cleaned. I think you're in Week 1, so we're far from a finished product. We're not where we're going to be at, where we're going to be in a couple months. There's still a lot of new players. You're looking at that field the other night: Julio [Jones] is new, Rachaad [White] is new, Cade [Otton] is new, Ko [Kieft] is new, Kyle [Rudolph] is new, Robert Hainsey is new, Luke [Goedeke] is new, Shaq [Mason] is new. I mean, it's a different team, so it takes a while. It takes a lot of meetings, a lot of communication, a lot of practices, a lot of situations. We're far from a finished product but we're going to try to keep working at it every day to see what we can do to improve."

(On a large number of players on offense being unavailable at practice)

"Just the guys who are healthy have to go out there and practice and try to give us good looks. A lot of young players have to get a lot of reps. The guys who are on the roster fill in and you do the best you can do to adjust to the situation. It's a lot like the game. Chris [Godwin] went out and Mike [Evans] went out and Julio [Jones] went out and everyone else has got to go in. It's not like we can stop the game or anything; we've just got to do what we've got to do and put the guys in a position to try to go make some plays. You'd love everyone healthy at all the time; it's really not the reality of football. It's such a demolition derby out there for all of us. You've got to do your best to adjust to the situation, really no matter what it calls for."

(On RB Leonard Fournette's performance in the opener)

"He was great and the line was great and the receivers blocked well and there was good communication. We're going to need that all year, so it was a great way to start. We've got to continue to build on it and this is a good team to do that against because you've got to stay really balanced against these guys. I don't think you can turn it into a pass-a-thon. Stay balanced and be really efficient in what we're doing up front and play physical and don't turn the ball over and score points in the red area and play well in the kicking game and try to get some turnovers on defense – if we can do all those things I think we'll be pretty happy at the end of the day."

(On how well he and WR Mike Evans run end zone fade passes)

"He's a great target. He's 6-5, he jumps, he's got great ball skills, he's got great hands, he's got great vision, tracks it well. He does everything pretty well. Anytime I'm throwing to Mike usually good things are happening. When you get in the red area, if Mike's available he usually gets it."

(On the career of tennis star Roger Federer)

"Yep, phenomenal. Just a great player. He's just a great competitor, and I think all those guys…we all work so hard, I think. We all do, I'm sure you guys do too – you're at the top of your profession, too. We're all just working hard trying to be the best we can be at it, and he had a great run."

(On how Federer carried himself during his career)

"He was great. He was great, always respectful of everybody and it meant a lot. He cared a lot. He maximized his opportunities. That's all we can all ask of ourselves."

-BUCCANEERS-