Postgame – Buccaneers
Head Coach Mike McDaniel (transcribed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
(On what goes into deciding the players who start) – “It’s a balancing act – a lot goes into it. I talked to the players about it. I waited all the way until Thursday evening to finally stamp it. I talked to the players on Friday that it wasn’t necessarily a punishment or a reward – it was every individual and where they’re at and who needs it to perform Week 1, best guess. So it wasn’t that we were just sitting guys because they’ve done X-Y-Z. It was more protecting guys against themselves, realizing specific positions that guys can get a little taste of in a game – get them in, get them out. It’s a balancing act that we’ll continue to do during the preseason to get ourselves best ready for the regular season.”
(On the decision to play TE Mike Gesicki) – “Just in general, it is not an easy job to play tight end in the offense, so we thought that it would benefit him to get him in a little bit, but again, we’re trying to protect people too so you’re just trying to manage all of those things. Having a scope for the whole preseason, we thought it would be good. We wanted to get him a touch and get him orchestrated in hearing the offense, but also protect him, so I was happy. Before watching the tape, I was happy with the way he played and how he approached it – again, it a punishment at all.”
(On the reaction from his team when the Buccaneers missed the potential game-winning field goal) – “It made me very happy because that’s what I want to see from the team. There’s a lot of guys – not a lot – but there’s probably 16 or 17 that didn’t play snaps that weren’t even suited, but what I was happy about was the whole team stayed locked in for their teammates. They genuinely wanted to win and you better have a competitive nature in this business to be able to succeed. It was cool to see that they wanted to finish what they started so I was happy with that.”
(On his impressions of his offense’s debut in Tampa Bay) – “You’re never going to be completely happy with a performance. That’s the point of being a coach. The day they have a perfect game, I feel like you should walk off into the sunset. I was happy with how they handled adversity. When things didn’t go their way, and we started behind the 8-ball a little bit – they were running a bunch of pressure so we were struggling to get the run game going because they were committing to stop it – so I was happy how they responded, but there’s a lot we can learn from it.”
(On QB Skylar Thompson) – “I have to check myself when certain things will happen during a game or practice where I’ll feel myself getting impatient with him because I’ve completely forgotten he’s a rookie. But he is a rookie, and to his credit, we rely on him as a veteran. It’s a hard thing in this league with a night’s sleep to go in as a starter – we were pumped to give him that opportunity. I know he feels like, and we’ll all feel like, he left some plays out there. But the biggest thing is we didn’t have any turnovers as an offense. I think we had one penalty, so that’s something to build on positively and you can’t have those types of statistics there, specifically, if you don’t have efficient, good quarterback play. It was cool to watch – he was pumped. He was very salty, I think, every series because he was mad at himself for whatever happened the previous series and that’s a good starting point because he didn’t shy away from making plays either after he was frustrated.”
(On seeing poise from QB Skylar Thompson and him running the offense as a rookie) – “That was one of my favorite parts. At the beginning of the game, I thought the operation looked slow. They were trying to get the play in pretty fast and I don’t know what he was saying exactly in the huddle, but it was just taking a long time to get them lined up. I took the opportunity to tell him, “Hey dude, you need to get the guys in and out of the huddle.” He was able to adjust that – he did better with that while also taking each play, one play at a time. That was an encouraging thing you don’t know until it’s real. There’s a lot of rookies out there that I think felt more rookie feelings than he did, and he touches the ball every play. I’m happy with that. There is a lot to get better from, but he’s a stud. We are happy to have him.”
(On WR Lynn Bowden Jr. through training camp and tonight against the Buccaneers) – “I was talking to the team about it – the receiver position in general you have so many variables that are compounding for you to get opportunities. A couple people have mentioned to me that he’s maybe had a quiet camp or whatever. All I’ve seen him do is do his job. So that sets you up for success when you continue to do your job then all of a sudden you catch the right coverage or you get the right play call. I was happy with that – I think it’s a lesson for a lot of guys to take – just be ready for your opportunity and I thought he was ready for his opportunity tonight.”
(On if he has a status update on CB Trill Williams after being carted off the field) – “I don’t – we’ll always try to defer to [the medical staff]. I don’t want to start pushing a direction – we try to have science in our statements with regard to injury. There was some concern definitely for his lower extremity but we’ll find out more tomorrow exactly what it is. But he’s a competitor. He did not want to be hurt and I think that’s what you saw from him – was the emotion that he felt that he was making plays. This is a setback but that’s all it is. However long it takes him, it’s a setback.”
(On his first game as an NFL head coach) – “It’ll be interesting to maybe reflect on the plane for five minutes, but really in the moment, I feel such an obligation to the organization, the players, the coaches that it just felt like I was trying to fixate on what my job was at the time. I guess I did feel some goosebumps during the national anthem, for sure, but you try to do your best. For me, there was a lot of it that felt like practice because if you put yourself in the right mindset each and every day at practice, practice should be like a game in theory, right? I was just focused on doing my job for all the players, the coaches and the organization. It was cool to get that out of the way so that we can continue to focus on getting better and making everyone the best they can be for the regular season.”
(On depth of the cornerback position and if there are any concerns going forward) – “I’m very happy with the group. They’ve been very competitive and there’s a lot of guys that have really gotten better through the last couple weeks specifically. Now that you get some dings, you kind of have to reassess and you have to figure out exactly the timeline. But I know Chris [Grier] and his staff is probably – I saw he had his backpack on – so he has probably already started to look at it just in case we get unforeseen or really any bad news tomorrow on some injuries. We’ll just be prepared for whatever is dealt and we’ll find out first and foremost what those injuries are and the extent of them and move forward from there.”
Halftime – Buccaneers
Head Coach Mike McDaniel on WFOR broadcast with Kim Bokamper
(Coach, you get a couple late scores to take the lead into halftime. What did you see in the first half that you liked?) – “What I liked was – the whole objective of the preseason was to have some adversity and fight through it. Obviously, we didn’t come out the exact way we wanted. Guys are getting used to tackling, but what I did like is no one panicked and then people made some plays and then we were opportunistic. In the second half, we have got to run the ball a little bit better. We can stop the run a little bit better because it’s coming, but this is a great opportunity for all these young guys to keep performing.”
(How do you feel about the energy and the effort from your team?) – “I like it. That’s really what I wanted to see. I was happy that we got down a little bit because you get to see how people react. People maintained focus, so I liked that. Hopefully moving forward when we do have adversity, we’ll have a little bit more energy on top of that.”
(Any butterflies before the kickoff?) – “No. The thing is I’m not good at much else besides football, so this is the one time I’m pretty comfortable. It was pretty cool through, a special moment to share with all these people.”
Halftime – Buccaneers
QB Tua Tagovailoa on WFOR broadcast with Kim Bokamper
(Let’s talk a little bit about this offense. How do you like this new Mike McDaniel offense and the way you’re becoming accustomed to it?) – “Yes, I think all the guys love it. He brings something different that I would say none of us in our experiences playing in the NFL have been accustomed to with his style, his swag, who he is as a person. Just the aura of what he brings to the building, it’s been different and new for us in a good way.”
(You’ve got some speed out there, too. Any quarterback has got to like that. You have a lot of good guys out there playing and a lot of guys that are making plays. Some of the young guys stepping up big, too.) – “Yeah, I think any quarterback could say that having someone like Tyreek (Hill), having someone like Jaylen Waddle, that they could make those throws too. They just make my job easier. They make it easier for the team. They also get other guys open as well, so that’s a plus.”
(You’ve been working this offense all offseason. What’s your comfortable level with it right now?) – “I would say there’s no comfort level yet. There’s always nuances to (Head Coach) Mike’s (McDaniel) offense. I can say that we are getting comfortable with timing, route distribution with guys on the field and our communication I think has been a lot better as we’re moving deeper into training camp.”
(You’ve got time, but how excited are you getting ready for the opener this season?) – “We’re super excited. We’re really excited. You look around – football is back. When we stepped foot on the field today, you could smell the grass, you could see the fans, it’s exciting. It’s exciting.”
4th Quarter – Buccaneers
CB Xavien Howard on WFOR broadcast with Kim Bokamper
(Let’s talk a little bit about this defense. You kind of brought everyone back, how does that feel?) – “It feels great to have everybody back, man. We’re starting off where we ended last year.”
(Communication is very important in this game. The more you can spend with these guys, the better. How much does that help you?) – “It helps out a lot. Especially on defense, you all have to be on the same page. Communication is everything for the defense, so we all can just play as one.”
(Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer is an aggressive coach. He likes to put some pressure on the quarterbacks. It certainly helps you guys on the backside when he puts that pressure on and has those guys up front kind of pinning their ears back.) – “Most definitely. We’re putting pressure on the offense and the quarterback. At the end of the day, we want to cause turnovers. We have got to be aggressive, and we’re trying to make plays on defense.”
(How good can this defense be as you move forward?) – “I feel like the sky is the limit for the defense. We just take it one week at a time and continue to get better.”
(Do you guys think about this offense coming into their own and saying, “Hey, we may have to hold up the load a little bit early until these guys really get in stride?”) – “I think we’ll hit the metric at the perfect time, both sides of the ball and in all three phases, I’d say. If we just continue to keep growing and keep getting better on each side of the ball, I feel like the sky is the limit for the whole team.”
(We’ve talked a lot about Head Coach Mike McDaniel on offense. How does he influence you guys on defense?) – “Man, he makes you think, a lot of the stuff he does. We see a lot of different stuff on the offense, and I feel like they’re also going to help put points on the board that I’ve been seeing from the offense.”
(How many picks do you got in you this year?) – “I don’t know. You’ll see at the end of the season. (laughter)”
Postgame – Buccaneers
QB Skylar Thompson (transcribed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
(On his overall performance in the game) – “I thought I did some good things. There’s a handful of plays that are on my mind right now. Being able to anticipate and trust myself, I felt I was seeing the field well. There were a couple of times they stumped me a little bit. But I felt I was seeing the field well and had a good understanding of what they were going to do. There were times where I felt a little hesitant instead of trusting my read, throwing it, and throwing it to a spot. As the game went on, there were a couple throws where I did better. But there’s always room for improvement. There’s always room for growth. That’s what I love about this game. I’m super excited to go back and watch the film and see it from that perspective and see how it aligns with what my thoughts are right now.”
(On the touchdown pass to WR Lynn Bowden Jr.) – “First off, it was a great route by Lynn. They were in soft zone coverage, [it was a] double move, so I had to get my eyes on it. I was hoping Lynn would get separation off the move, and he ran a great route. Throws like that when he is that wide open – it makes it a layup, so I just put it out there for him. He made a great catch, [it was a] great play, the offensive line gave me plenty of time to make the throw. [That’s a] team play right there, [so I was] excited.”
(On his nerves leading into the game) – “Obviously it is a big moment – it was my first time getting out there on the field and starting the game. There were a lot of emotions, thoughts, all good [thoughts]. I was very excited to get out there and play, and just get thrown in the fire. I love being in that type of atmosphere – that’s where I feel that I learn the most and really find out the most about myself. I wanted to have a lot of fun, I tried not to make the moment too big. At the end of the day, it’s football. It’s the game I’ve been playing for a very long time. Go out there with my teammates, my coaches, and go play the game that I love. I just tried to make the game simple and tried to have fun doing it.”
(On getting out of the huddle quicker) – “The whole operational part is one of the most challenging parts about playing quarterback – hearing the play call on third down with music playing and the crowd is going. To be able to understand the call and process it so you can spit it out so everyone can hear it – the communication aspect is so important. There were times where I could’ve been better, more efficient in that aspect, which could’ve helped clean up some of the stuff in the second half there. That is all a part of the process. I know [with] the more reps I get it is going to get a little easier. That was my first time getting exposed to it. I tried to trust the coaching, what he was seeing, and be able to rally the troops, be able to talk to the offensive line, have some of the guys help me out a bit. They did a great job to help me get that cleaned up a little bit.”
(On Head Coach Mike McDaniel breaking down plays with him right away on the sideline) – “He was communicating with me, asking what I was seeing. Asking why I made the decisions I made. Just having conversations about what was going on out there. He picked my mind about what I was seeing, and I was also gathering information on what he was seeing and thinking. That is the most important part – having the open line of communication to be on the same page and to understand the why behind the what, and that is very important.”
(On his discussions with QB Tua Tagovailoa and Buccaneers QB Blaine Gabbert) – “First and foremost, I’m super grateful for Tua (Tagovailoa) [and] Teddy (Bridgewater). Both of them have been a tremendous help for me, having my back, teaching me things, spreading their wisdom of what they know and what they’ve experienced to help me grow. I know that is not something that they have to do, but it means a lot to me. Just giving me feedback of going through the iPad pictures, walking me through what they were seeing, ‘You should have done this or keep this in mind.’ Throwing pointers, not telling me what to do, keeping me on my toes, trying to learn and keep processing things. Having guys like Tua and Teddy who have been there and done it and are able to spread wisdom of doing it, I’m truly grateful for them …Talking to Blaine [Gabbert], it’s actually a funny story. I was in second grade at a quarterback camp in Kansas City and Blaine Gabbert was one of the college kids who came and helped out at the camp while he was at Missouri. We worked with a similar quarterback coach at the time who put on the camp. So, I already knew of him, so I went up to him to ask if he remembered me, so we talked about that. Blaine is a good guy and has been in the league for a long time, so it was good to talk to him too.”
(On being noticed by QB Blaine Gabbert while only being in second grade) – “Well, that day [at the quarterback camp] I was one of the youngest guys there and I was super nervous to be there because I felt like I didn’t belong. Blaine [Gabbert] was actually the guy who grabbed me and encouraged me, and I still to this day remember that, so it was pretty cool to see him.”
Postgame – Buccaneers
WR Lynn Bowden Jr (transcribed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
(On his touchdown in the second quarter) – “Coach, he just called a good play. He dialed it up. He trusts the quarterback; he trusts my instincts and it’s something we drilled all week. He put me in the right position at the right time, Skylar (Thompson) threw it up and I went and grabbed it for him.”
(On how important the preseason is for him) – “It’s an [opportunity]. I missed a whole year last year – just have to put it on film and just keep stacking the days – just keep going. I’m not nervous. I’ve been here before.”
(On QB Skylar Thompson’s performance) – “Skylar is a great, great young dog. [He’s] got the heart of a lion in him, and I think [he] can be one of those quarterbacks in the league that can really go ball.”
Postgame – Buccaneers
TE Mike Gesicki (transcribed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
(On if he asked to play or if Head Coach Mike McDaniel made the call) – “I am a professional football player. We had a game today and it was time to play. I love football, so I am happy to play.”
(On QB Skylar Thompson’s performance) – “I thought he played well, I thought he played great. Played tough, made plays and was able to handle some adversity in terms of kind of getting pressured here and there, king of using his feet and all that kind of stuff. I thought he did a great job, so I’m happy for him. He had a great opportunity, and he made the most of it.”
(On how he feels after joint practices and the preseason game against the Buccaneers) – “Good. We still have another month until the first game so there’s definitely a lot of fine tuning – a lot more growth in this offense, continue to learn, continue to develop. I just take it day by day and I’m ready to get back on this plane, look at this film and get back at it.”
Postgame – Buccaneers
LB Darius Hodge (transcribed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
(On his forced fumble) – “Start off with Coach calling a good play. You know it was, second and long or third and long and you know he put us in the right position and let us do what we do. You know, coach told me, work what we did at practice and that’s what I did, and it came up and I made a play.”
(On his combination of power and speed) – “I’m just doing the best of my ability. Taking what the coaches are telling me to do and just putting it on the field to show that I could do it. So, I mean if it comes out and helps the team then that’s a win for everyone.”
(On the approach taken this camp and preseason as he looks to become more involved with this defense and this franchise) – “You know it’s taking it day by day, control what I can control. The coaches are doing a great job of teaching me and showing me how to be a professional and how to maintain in the league so just taking it day by day, learning and soaking like sponge and seeing what happens from there.”
Postgame – Buccaneers
LB Jaelan Phillips (transcribed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
(On his thoughts on LB Darius Hodge’s forced fumble) – “You know technique fundamentals and it’s really starting to show, so I mean, I’m so happy that he can get that play. We were so excited for him on the sideline.”
(On his thoughts on LB Channing Tindall) – “Yeah, today I just saw him flying around making plays everywhere and I think that’s kind of his game. He’s a real fast guy, and a great effort guy and he’s really talented. That’s been really cool to see all the rookies come in and just – I know how hard it is as a rookie obviously, going through that last year, so I’ve been really impressed with all of them.”
(On if he expected to play more with the number of players not playing) – “Yeah, I was actually excited to play. Just get back into the swing of things and get that experience. I’m always trying to keep learning so never being complacent, just understanding that I have a lot of room to grow and a lot of aspects of my game and so every opportunity counts so, I’m glad that I got to go out there a little bit. I wish I played more honestly getting into the swing of things a little bit, but excited for next week for sure.”
Postgame – Buccaneers
LB Channing Tindall (transcribed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
(On his approach being that this was his first professional game) – “I try to just take things one step at a time honestly and just coming out here, my mentality was just, know what I’m supposed to do and do my job. Those were the only two things I was worried about. If I do my job and if I focus on what I got to do and not what everybody has to do and we all just do it and we all just trust each other, then we were going win the game.”
(On making it to the NFL) – “I think about every game the same, every single game, regardless of if it’s the NFL or college, I always pray God like I made it here to this day, I always pray for my teammates. I always pray for the other team that we all stay strong, and I tell God every time, just support me and I’m going to give my all and I just want you to be there for me.”
(On focus for the remainder of preseason) – “I just want to get better. Specifically, I want to say schematic-wise just learning the playbook, just taking it day by day. The more I learn the playbook, the faster I can move out there, and the more natural it’s going to become.”
