OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR DAVE CANALES

(On his first hurricane experience since arriving in Tampa)

"We are in Tampa Heights. I didn't realize we're about 25 feet up from the Hillsborough River. I don't feel that on a normal day, but we walked down to see… there was a bunch of water down at Armature Works getting closer to the paddleboard rentals, and what's the little bar right there? [Stones Throw] – we won't dime you out for who knows all the bar names. But yeah, the water came up right there. Standing there looking back at the neighborhood, it's pretty high up. I guess that's why they call it 'The Heights.' It was windy at night, but everything was pretty clean, and the house was built in 2019, so it's rock solid."

(On expanding the offense now that the team is on to the regular season)

"I'm really excited about just the variety of stuff that we can [do]. Of course, going into the preseason, [you're] just putting thoughts into execution, right? How can we get our system going and have it be enough nuanced to have success in those games, but also not showing every single wrinkle of every play? Putting something out there that the guys can grab onto, play fast and really coming out of three games in the preseason, really wanting our offensive players to feel proud of what we're doing and where we're headed. Practice success, that's one thing. But then having the plays work in games – now we get buy in, from the veteran players especially. The young guys – for the most part – are just fired up if the ball goes their way. The veteran guys, they can tell, 'OK, this has got some juice to it. This is cool.' They get excited about stuff and I felt that from them. I'm excited about the three games that we put together."

(On how the interior of the offensive line has worked together)

"I think the offense really fits who they are because of the athleticism and the different run types that we have – we're pulling guys play-side, pulling guys from the back side and then combo-ing. I always talk about our massive left side that we have where we ran a duo play to Rachaad [White] to the left side and I don't think anyone touched him for about five or six yards. He gained nine on the play and there was no nuance to the play. It was just big men caving this side in. Well, that's easy football. That was a cool thing to see. I was excited about that. But then, just talking about [Robert] Hainsey – really, he's just sharp. He gets them all on the same page going to the right guy, whether it's the run game or the protection. Those are the guys that make the offense go. We try to take as much off of the quarterback as possible, so Hainsey allows us to do that. Baker [Mayfield] is just going to have to fix some things because Hainsey can't necessarily see the rotation of the safeties. That's where Baker has to say, 'Hey, no, no, no. Switch it over this way or go out that way.' But the starting point allows the quarterback – particularly in the pass game – to think more about his progressions and less about the primary starting point of the protection. He's already thinking down the road as far as coverages go."

(On if there was an aha moment in choosing Baker Mayfield as the starting quarterback)

"I would say after the first preseason game, [when] we came back to practice that week. Really leading up to that first preseason game, that's where it was kind of neck and neck. Baker had a couple of days that were not great and those days Kyle [Trask] really excelled, so then the disparity was a little bigger like, 'Oh shoot, Kyle clearly won these two or three days here.' Coming out of the first preseason game – and obviously not playing the starters – [with] Baker being able to get out there, command the offense, talk to the group, be in the huddle and all of that. Then we had an indoor practice one of the days after that and he launched a 67-yard post route on the money to Mike [Evans] and it was like… Here is the coverage. I could see his wheels turning, he looked, he saw Mike, everything was perfect. He threw the ball way down the field on the money and Mike walked in. It was just like goosebumps. 'Woah, that was cool.' Then he kind of built and fed off of that, like, 'OK, I'll hit in when it's there, but now I'll just do the little things and then when the next big one is there, I'll try to hit it.' That's what I've been trying to sell to him — just be special that many times. Be special in those small moments. Otherwise, just throw it to the open guy. Just check it down to the [running] back, make those decisions, play good football, and then when they put their gloves down, knock them out."

(On what it is about RB Rachaad White's make-up that makes him believe he's ready to be a focal point of the team's offense)

"I'm still learning him, honestly. I don't really know that about him. I just know there's a real talent. He's got a great pace about how he plays, too. He's patient, not just in the reads, [but] he's patient [in the way] he lets the day come to him where it's not like he's in for two plays, he's gassed and then he's out for a while. He lets it come to him. I remember seeing that. When we were in Germany and watching the other side of the ball, he just gradually kept going and going. I think I'm excited about that kind of build-up in his ability to handle a whole game. But yeah, there's still so much I don't know about him in a game setting because he has only played a drive or two while I've been calling the plays."

(On preferring to use multiple running backs, and who he considers to be the team's No. 2 at that position)

"It's by committee. I think [Running Backs Coach] Skip [Peete] has done this everywhere he has been going way back to the Oakland Raiders. He had Tyrone Wheatley and he had a bunch of other guys. And then, of course more recently in Dallas, he had 'Zeke' (Ezekiel Elliott) and Tony Pollard, so I know he is going to use guys. I don't feel like we're in as unique of a situation as Dallas where you have two really top-tier backs. I think we have a really fantastic back and I think we have a bunch of good backs, so I think they can kind of platoon that. I think there's more to learn about just how we use Rachaad [White] on third down, and [are] there other guys who can have a role, [who] can do some of the same things? Chase [Edmonds], I know, can do some of the pass game stuff where I feel like 'Sneak' (Ke'Shawn Vaughn) and Sean [Tucker] have a lot of value on first and second down as runners, but so does Chase. There is still a lot of stuff that I'm really not sure about to get the full complement of who [our] backfield is in a game-type of situation. You'd love to have the freshest back in – I do know that."

(On if TE Cade Otton gets overlooked in the offense and the type of impact he can have on the offense)

"Yeah, he has already had a huge impact. He is truly the Swiss Army Knife. He is truly the connection of the run and the pass game. We handed him the ball the other day and he got us 12 yards. He got us an explosive play on a jet sweep just because he kind of just knows how to do everything. He's smart, he studies, he is dependable. When you design passes, you don't design passes to go to everybody. You design passes, truthfully, to go to Mike Evans, then Chris Godwin. Then everybody else – when they roll coverage, they double and do all of that stuff, the ball goes to everybody else in suit and then it ends up spreading itself out naturally. You don't go into a lot of offensive pass plays saying, 'Hey, OK, Cade is No. 1 and then we go from there.' There will be things that way, but that's a small percentage of what you do."

(On WR Mike Evans' contract situation)

"That's the challenge of this business. Fortunately, for me, he was there for practice the other day and he was there today. He ran fast and was locked in asking questions. As far as my job is concerned, that's really all I can base it on. Hopefully, we can get that part resolved and keep feeding him the ball."

SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR KEITH ARMSTRONG

(On if he's determined who the starters at gunner and personal protector on punts will be)

"Yeah, we have."

(On if he can divulge who it is)

"You knew the answer to that one. I wish I could."

(On how much WR Deven Thompkins has improved as a returner)

"He's really done a nice job this offseason of getting vertical [and] making decisions. He's not hesitant. You can see it, obviously, but he's really doing a nice job of playing fast and it allows those guys around him to play well. He's also looking out for the vice and the corners and he's aware of that type of stuff now. You would expect that, because they don't do that in college, so now you've got gunners around you so it's a little different. He's doing a really nice job."

(On if Thompkins' vision has improved)

"Yes. In this league, if you look at all the great returners, you see some guys go sideways but for the most part, most of those big returns come from somebody getting vertical."

(On what it's like having so many undrafted rookies contributing on special teams)

"I love it. I love teaching. I love helping guys out and giving them an opportunity and that's what we do as special teams coaches – we develop players. It's been great for me."

(On what he's seen from this rookie class)

"They're young guys, they're hungry, they want to play and they come to work everyday ready to roll."

(On how the punt coverage team did during preseason and if anybody stood out to him)

"I thought the guys did a solid job – we can get better, there are some things we need to work on – but we can get better. We did a nice job in the preseason. We played against a couple of good returners and did a nice job placing the ball and [did] a nice job covering it."

(On who will replace what DL Pat O'Connor contributed to the special teams unit)

"If I told you, I'd have to shoot you [laughs]. Pat has done a nice job for us over the years, yes. Mike Greene will obviously step in and do a good job, as well. Both [are] good football players and we're glad to have them."

(On what he's seen from K Chase McLaughlin this preseason and how confident he is in his leg)

"I'm confident in him. I believe in him. Chase has done a nice job."

(On how P Jake Camarda can improve on his rookie season and if he just needs to avoid a sophomore slump)

"Yeah, exactly. You kind of gave the answer. He's done a nice job. Hopefully he continues to do it. [He is] a very talented football player and a great guy to work with. [I am] looking forward to continuing to develop with him, as well."

(On what he's seen from WR Trey Palmer as a returner in the preseason)

"Trey is a young guy. He's obviously got big-time playmaking ability – speed. He's just learning the game."

(On the number of outside linebackers on the roster and them contributing on special teams)

"In particular, when they can run. You're not so much looking for guys that are the big guys – but the length and the speed, you'll take every last one of them that you can get your hands on. On special teams, you're talking about matchups – so it's 40[-yard dash] time and length, all across the board. Can you outrun him? Can you outhit him? Can you outrun him? That's what we're doing every time – it's a matchup game. Those guys are valuable."

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER SHAQUIL BARRETT

(On how excited he is to see DL Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey pushing the pocket from the interior)

"Man, I'm super excited about that. I'm glad Vita has been in there, but having Calijah in there to switch it up a little bit – a different type of guy than we usually have inside. Even Logan [Hall], all the guys – Will [Gholston], Mike [Greene], all of them in there – I have so much confidence and faith in our guys up front this year. We've been putting the work in right now and I think you're going to see the benefits of that work we've been putting in come [Week] 1 and hopefully throughout the year."

(On what the mentality is as the team heads into Week 1)

"I think we, as a team, know all the work we put in during the offseason and OTAs then training camp. We know the team that we can be and we know that it's not going to just happen – we've got to out there and put that work in now. [Week 1] is the opportunity to put all of that hard work into action. Everything we want is still in front of us, so if we go out there and do what we're supposed to do, play the way we're supposed to play – limit mistakes, 'M.E.'s (mental errors), missed tackles, turning the ball over, we'll be good. That's the stuff that usually gets us. I think everything is in front of us. [With] the team we've got, and the mindset we've got right now, it's going to be hard for teams to stop us."

(On if there's anything he's excited to showcase this season)

"Our unit as a whole, we've got playmakers all over the field. We're all hungry. We all want to be that guy, we all want to be the playmaker on the team. That's when plays can start coming from everywhere – DBs make the play, then somebody else in the front makes the play, then the [linebackers] make the play. It's going to be a big year for us."

(On maintaining the standard that has been set over the last few seasons)

"Yeah, the other day, Coach Kacy [Rodgers] brought up the standard in our run game – how we were first the first couple of years, then dropped to third, then last year we were 15th. We've got to get back to that standard of nobody can run on us. We've been working on that. Coming into training camp, we knew that was a problem – to get back to our stingy run defense. We've been working on that. We're trying to eliminate everything we need to eliminate so we can be ready to peak from Week 1 all the way until the end of the year."

CENTER ROBERT HAINSEY

(On how prepared he is to take over the starting center position)

"Very. I think we all strive all year, all offseason – you're preparing like you're going to play every snap every game. I got fortunate to do it last year. I was able to take this offseason and fix all the things I really wanted to fix and hone in on some technique that I knew I needed to clean up for this year. I prepared the whole offseason, all of camp, like I was going to be the starter because that's the only thing you can really do in this league. Getting excited for all of that to come to fruition these next 20-some or however many weeks. I'm very ready to go."

(On how much work he did in the offseason and what he focused on)

"I worked a ton. I think I'm still young, still maturing, still changing – my body is still changing. I definitely came in at a great spot, weight-wise and body fat, that kind of stuff. It feels good to see the work that you do in the offseason makes a difference and you can notice it and other people notice it. You feel better, you feel more prepared. A lot when into it, but yeah, it was work well done and well worth it."

(On the new offensive scheme)

"I think it's great. I think [Offensive Coordinator] Dave [Canales] has done a great job with his scheme and all the players and coaches have bought in, to the point where everybody is ready to run this new offense. I think you guys saw in the preseason, especially that Ravens game, it felt good. It felt really good to play as a group. All of the games were awesome. Running off the ball, moving side-to-side, using your leverage, using what you're good at. Those are the kind of things where as you get older, I'm trying to improve on [and] become my own player and understand the small things that I can tweak and use to my advantage, the things I'm best at or what I need to focus on a lot."

(On the emphasis on the rushing attack this year)

"I think it's great. You have to run the ball to win. You have to. You have to be able to run the ball. I think with the way [Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales] has things planned, we'll be able to take advantage of what defenses give us really well."

SAFETY ANTOINE WINFIELD JR.

(On what it is like going up against Minnesota where his father played)

"You know, I grew up a Vikings fan, watching my dad play, so it is going to be special going up there."

(On playing against Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson)

"You have to know where he is at all times. He's that guy, so we have to make sure we can contain him as much as possible."

(On how he got acclimated to playing with S Ryan Neal)

"Just by being around each other. The more we are around each other, the more we know how each other plays, and we are able to feed off of one another."

(On if he feels ready to go this week)

"I feel good. Everyday I'm getting better, so it felt great today."

(On maintaining the standard after making the playoffs for the past three seasons)

"That's the standard every year. That's our goal, make it to the playoffs, [and] make our runs. That's what we emphasize, and that's what we try to do every year."

(On the potential of the Buccaneers defense)

"Thirty takeaways is our goal every year. It's great that I am still able to play with Carlton [Davis] and [Jamel] Dean. Those are the guys I came in with, and we have years together. It's going to be an awesome year for all of us."

-BUCCANEERS-