HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES
(On the additions of WR Cole Beasley and T Justin Skule)
"Cole [Beasley] is a viable receiver. Obviously, if people keep going down, [he] will be somebody we can bring up. [Justin] Skule has started some games in this league, so we've got some backup just in case."
(On WR Mike Evans' suspension being upheld)
"It hasn't changed since the other day. Sunday is going to come whether he plays or not. We've got to get ready to play without him."
(On starting 2-0 on the road)
"We're 2-0 – you're happy to be 2-0 – but [there's] a long way to go. We've still got a lot to build on and get better at, but we're happy with 2-0."
(On QB Tom Brady practicing on Wednesday)
"He usually takes individuals – some reps he takes and some he does not – he's out there every day, that's the biggest thing for us. He can switch it up when we want to switch it up, but [if] there's some things he's got to get down then we put him in there and get them down."
(On when it was determined that Brady will get a rest day on Wednesdays)
"He had some [Wednesdays] off last year – this is not a one-time thing. Again, it's not just him – we've got about six or seven guys that we have days off for – or predicated days off. So, we call them veteran days for ourselves, but they get all their work in, they get their workouts in, they study tape, they watch practice – some of them even do individual periods. Again, it's not just him. He had days off last year as the same."
(On the expectations for WR Cole Beasley)
"We'll see right now. He hasn't played in a while, so he's been on the street, really. We've got to see what he knows and what kind of shape he's in and we'll kind of go from there."
(On if he's concerned about the depth at the wide receiver position)
"We have depth. Any time you lose quite a few guys at one spot, you've got to worry a little bit. We've got guys that needed to step up and make plays and we kept them around for a reason. They've got to go in and perform."
(On how to remedy the dropped passes to start the season)
"Really just concentration – catching the football. It's early, we don't have our footing underneath us yet. We've got to get better at an array of things on all sides of the ball."
(On his level of confidence in T Brandon Walton as a starter)
"I know he'll fight – he's got a lot of fight in him – he's not going to get pushed around. It's just a matter of fundamentals and technique; that's big when you don't get the reps as a starter coming in. He's getting some reps this week – we're going to test him and put him against some good guys and make sure he gets all the reps he needs."
(On playing S Antoine Winfield Jr. as the nickelback and having three natural safeties on the field)
"It gives you flexibility – you can do certain things on certain down and distances. All three [safeties] can play the nickel, as well as some of our corners. It'll fluctuate throughout the season but right now we feel best putting [Winfield] out there compared to some of the things that we see. He's one of our best tacklers, he's one of our most instinctive [players], he's quick, he can read stuff and he's explosive when he blitzes. Right now, he's been filling in great right there."
(On when he envisioned playing three safeties on defense)
"I don't look at it as three safeties, I look at it as [Winfield] playing nickel, I really do. It's a difficult spot because the nickel has to play corner, safety and linebacker. You've got to be somewhat physical and durable there. Depending on our personnel, we have different nickels for different situations in different ballgames. Right now, it suits Antoine [Winfield Jr.]."
(On him putting out fires as a head coach and how much credit the defensive assistants deserve)
"They deserve tons of credit. I'm in there and I'm still hands on, but they deserve tons of credit. All of those guys put together the gameplan, they do a lot of the individual work and make sure everybody is on the same page – but I'm in there just the same…The fires – I've had plenty of experience in New York, so [they're] not really fires for me. I'm okay dealing with the day-to-day."
(On if the team is playing so well that he can't be sarcastic with them)
"They're making great plays, let's say that. There's sarcasm everywhere. You can always get better – every one of them can get better at certain things. We've got to keep building – we're growing towards that, but we are by no means there."
(On if TE Kyle Rudolph can alleviate some of the red zone woes)
"I don't think the tight end issue is the reason we're having red zone issues. We've just got to put it together and get in synch and score. And we will – we will – but Kyle [Rudolph] is a good player. Again, the other two play because they play special teams as well. Kyle is going to help us this year – I can't tell you when, but I know he's going to help us."
(On the NFL sending a letter about Senior Advisor to the General Manager Bruce Arians being on the sideline against the Saints)
"Like I said, he's normally upstairs. This was the one time he was downstairs. Usually we handle our sideline pretty [well]. Everybody got irate – we've got to have better composure on the sideline as players and coaches."
(On if he's worried about the age of the roster given the injuries so far)
"I wouldn't say all veterans are hurt – there are some young guys that are hurt, too. Zyon [McCollum] came in and got hurt and he's a rookie. I don't think it's about age – some of them are just freak injuries. Some of them are [due to being] at the start of the season when you're not as physical in training camp with the number of padded practices and you don't play in a bunch of preseason games. These first three or four games are really your full-time preseason games. When you only play a quarter or two series or anything like that, you don't get the bumps and bruises that you get when you play four quarters on a week-to-week basis. I think we're learning how to become a grind out football team while we get used to our bruises."
(On preparing for Packers running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon)
"They both can do everything. Obviously, Aaron [Jones] is faster – he plays wideout, he plays running back, he moves inside, he moves outside, he plays the slot – he does a lot of things great. He's very explosive when he catches the ball and when he runs the ball, he can break it and he can turn a four-yard gain into a 60-yard gain. AJ [Dillon] is just tough to bring down. He's tough – not only is he tough, he has very good feet. He can catch the football as well. Those two, along with Aaron [Rodgers] and the rest of the guys – it's going to be a tough draw."
(On how likely it is that T Donovan Smith will play this weekend)
"Too early to tell right now."
(On if there's an update on C Ryan Jensen)
"Not at this time."
(On what is working so well in the pass rush)
"I think they're sacrificing for each other. Again, it's more [about] the pressure than the sacks – trying to get incompletions – the sacks are great but we're trying to get incompletions and pressures and turnovers. Turnovers [are] the name of the game. I think they do a good job of helping one another and sacrificing for one another when somebody has to blitz or run a game."
(On if he has considered playing S Mike Edwards at wide receiver because of how good his hands are)
"He has great hands and he has great receiver hands – but with a lineman almost catching him, no."
(On how formidable the Packers offense is)
"Any time you have Aaron [Rodgers], you're going to have a formidable offense. He's so smart and so sharp and pinpoint, he makes other players better. They've got some young receivers with a lot of talent, they've got some veterans there. [Randall] Cobb and Sammy [Watkins] – they do a good job as well. Like us, they're trying to get in synch, too, and win some games while they do it. Whoever makes the least [amount of] mistakes will win the game."
(On if CB Jamel Dean had safety responsibilities on his first interception against the Saints)
"He did have safety responsibilities on that play. We know he can run, I'm glad he came down with it. [Jamel] Dean seems to catch the hard ones and drop the easy ones – he made two great plays – we've just got to tell the quarterbacks, 'Don't throw it straight at him.'"
WIDE RECEIVER COLE BEASLEY
(On if playing with QB Tom Brady will help with getting to learn the offense quickly)
"I just got here yesterday, so I've mainly been with [wide receivers coach Kevin Garver]. Other than that, I've just been talking with [Brady] and these receivers."
(On not knowing where he was going to play)
"Yeah, when you wait that long, you don't know if you're going to get a shot. It was definitely different. Like I said, it was the first time I've missed a training camp, so it was definitely a new experience for me. I was just ready to get in somewhere and show I can still play."
(On if Brady recruited him to come to the Buccaneers)
"I'm going to be honest, I was hitting him up a lot. I think a lot of guys got banged up a little bit here, so they gave me an opportunity to come in here and do some work. I don't know what my role is going to be at this moment, but I'm just coming in humble and ready to be a part of it."
(On how accomplished the wide receiver corps is)
"There's a lot of guys here that have had a lot of success. I look at it as you can take a lot from each guy. There's something we can all give to each other and make each other better, so I'm excited to do that."
(On if he views himself as a prototypical slot receiver that Brady likes)
"Yeah, that was one of the reasons that I've always wanted to play for him. He's had a lot of success using those type of guys. I was excited for that opportunity, for sure."
(On if the Buccaneers are the right situation that he had been holding out for)
"I think it's the perfect situation. Like I said, I'm just happy to be a part of it. Whatever my role is, I'll fulfill it. Wherever they need me, I'm coming here and helping any way I can."
RUNNING BACK LEONARD FOURNETTE
(On how tough it is to go against a physical front like the New Orleans Saints)
"It's definitely a challenge, especially for our young guys. Just knowing that every time we play against the Saints it's going to be a scrappy, scrappy game. It's going to be physical, grit, a lot of things when we come to a place like that. Even though we didn't have a great running game against them, we did enough to have a balanced passing game and running game."
(On if he's expecting a heavy workload because so many receivers are out)
"For me, it doesn't really matter. Coming into each and every week, we have guys who are unique all over the offensive board. So, when we come into the game, whatever happens – people may get hurt, people may not get hurt – I just go along with the coach's call and play football."
(On how excited he is to be back home at Raymond James Stadium)
"I'm very excited. Our last game in there against the Rams, we lost. So, it's kind of like – I feel like I want to get out there and get it out of my memory, things like that. Just coming back home, you know, it's going to be exciting. The fans out there, you know, [I] can't wait to see the crowd, things like that."
(On how critical the running backs are now that the Buccaneers are missing so many receivers)
"It's very critical. We know what Tom [Brady] likes, he likes checking the ball down to the running backs and things like that…A lot of these young guys are going to step up and make big plays and that's what we expect out of them."
(On if this upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers has been circled on the calendar early on)
"Yeah, definitely. It's always great to see those two quarterbacks go at it – two of the top in their class in the history of football. So, it's always wonderful to see two guys who've accomplished so much in their years go at it."
(On what the offense can do to put more points on the board)
"Score. Execute. Once again, it starts back with the little things – running your routes at the right depth, giving the quarterback enough time to throw the ball, the running backs [running] on the right course, just opening things up."
-BUCCANEERS-