DEFENSIVE END TRAVON WALKER
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
AUGUST 25, 2026
(On where the defense is at) “I feel like we’re in a great position as far as coming out of our
third joint practice. I feel like we’re just continuously elevating from where, progressing from
where we were the week before and days before, but it’s still a lot of room to improve.”
(On DE Josh Hines-Allen’s performance in joint practice) “Man, Josh, he had a hell of a day,
which that’s typical. He’s one of those, you know he’s going to come into practice ready to
work every day, and he just continuously keeps growing and keeps working on his craft
every day, and it showed today.”
(On situational periods at the end of practice) “Oh man, we’re going to always have to
perform at high levels but once you get in those situational situations in practice and in the
game, those are the ones that you tend to… Obviously, you can go close out games or you
can close out the half in those situations and that’s kind of what you want to aim towards to
give the other side of the ball the momentum going into half or the end of the game.”
(On the physicality of today’s practice) “I feel like the physicality was definitely there for us
today. That’s something that we pride ourselves on, being the most physical group on in the
league in general and just whooping the man in front of us. I feel like we just continuously
keep taking steps in the right direction.”
(On how he feels physically) “Physically, I feel good. Obviously, you know that heat is going
to take a toll, but that’s where I just have to continuously dig in deeper into my mental just
to keep going.”
(On whether he looks back at everything he went through last season) “100 percent.
Obviously, like you said, I’m looking back, being able to just go through the things that
happened last year that that took place and the position that I’m in now. I feel like it’s going
to continuously get better even more than it is now.”
(On what he wants to see out of the defense on Friday vs. Tampa Bay) “Defensively, I’m just
looking forward to the guys coming out playing free, physical, whooping the man in front of
them, and just taking the thinking out of the game and going out there and playing. Like I
said, we know everybody’s not going to make this roster, but I want the guys, a lot of the
younger guys, to go out there and put some great things on tape because it’s 31 other
teams out there that they’re interviewing for, and I wish all of them the best. But I definitely
want to see the physicality on the defensive side of the ball, and I know I’m going to see
that.”
(On the secondary’s performance today and how that helps the defensive line) “Man, I feel
like when they’re on point, it’s definitely going to be good. That that goes for us up front.
Like, when we’re on point, that’s going to help them out, and when they’re on point, it’s
going to help us out. So, everybody doing their 1 of 11, that’s going to play a big role on
helping each other, being able to play off of each other. If they’re covering on the back end,
we can get home in the front, keep the quarterback from getting it out quick. And if we get
home, that keeps them from having to cover so long. So, it works hand in hand.”
(On if the sentiment of the secondary and defensive line working in tandem is more
prevalent this offseason than prior years) “I wouldn’t say it’s more. That’s what we always
aim for. We always want to be on the same accord. We always want everybody to be able to
do their 1 of 11, because we know the outcome, regardless of whatever year it was. But this
year, we know that’s what we have to do in order to achieve the goal that we want to
achieve, and that’s to go 1-0 every week.”
(On the intensity joint practices bring) “Obviously it’s always going to get ramped up going
against another opponent not coming out here in practice hitting your own teammates
every day. You know you got to make it to the season. So, when you’re going against your
teammates, you can still be physical in an aspect, but once you’re in a joint practice, you
don’t have to be as lenient on an opponent as you would your own teammate.”
(On the defense forcing turnovers in today’s practice) “Oh yeah, that’s something that we’ve
been emphasizing on. We’ve been getting our hand on the ball a lot. We just haven’t been
able to take those away in the previous weeks. But that’s where we continuously wanted to
grow and just continuously elevate every week. You saw it show up today.”
(On the opportunity to go against an outside opponent in tomorrow’s final training camp
practice) “I’m always looking to go up against another opponent. Yes, I don’t always want to
go up against my teammate, but whatever I can do to get better, whether it’s going against
my teammate, going against another opponent, I’m looking forward to that opportunity.”
(On tomorrow being the last padded practice of training camp) “100 percent. Like you said,
tomorrow is the last one until we get obviously to Week 1 in the season. So, we just want to
come in and take advantage of every opportunity that we get. You never know if it’s going to
be the last padded for sure or not, so just take that with a grain of salt. That’s how my mind
is.”
(On the offensive line) “Man, I think those guys done a great job just from coming in OTAs,
kind of putting everything together, seeing how the pieces were going to play. They were
throwing a lot of guys in different positions. I just feel like that makes our offensive line a
little bit more versatile, and they’ll be able to gel a little bit more, regardless of if somebody
goes down or whatever. You’re always going to have that next-man mentality ready to step
in and fill that role to be able to accomplish the goal that we want to accomplish. So, I feel
like those guys have done a great job, even with the transition.”
HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
AUGUST 25, 2026
(On the work today) “Yeah, you just can’t simulate this any day of coming out in training
camp scrimmaging against your own guys. Just can’t simulate the work. Was really
appreciative of Tampa and Todd [Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles] and the way they
worked with us to get this thing organized. It was physical. It was a good physical practice.
Obviously, got to go watch the tape. There’s a ton to clean up. I was pleased with the way
they started faster. Had little dips and lulls that you just get frustrated with but like I told
them, it’s kind of how football games are, There are ebbs and flows. How do we handle
them? How do we respond to them? But was really appreciative of the work.”
(On WR Brian Thomas Jr.) “I think he’s alright. Just came down on his shoulder. I think we’ll
just hold him out. Be smart, keep him out, and then get him to go for Cleveland.”
(On rookie WRs Josh Cameron and CJ Williams) “Yeah, I have to go watch. There were a
couple things that I think we might have jacked up out there. I know they’re blocking their
tails off. I know Josh had a couple good ones. Probably didn’t get a ton of like target work.
Parker [WR Parker Washington] was probably getting a lot of it. Strange [TE Brenton Strange]
got some more, but I’ve been pleased with their ability to jump in, in terms of Jakobi’s [WR
Jakobi Meyers] down, then B.T.’s [WR Brain Thomas Jr.] out. Being able to go in and us still
operate as an offense and still be able to be efficient at times. Still like to see us separate
maybe a little bit better on some of those second-level throws, but they’re coming along.”
(On offensive play calling on Friday) “Yeah so, I’m going to do the first half offensively, and
then [Quarterbacks Coach] Spencer Whipple will get the third quarter. [Offensive Pass
Game Specialist] John Van Dam will get the fourth quarter.”
(On defensive play calling Friday) “On defense, it’ll be a mix of like four coaches. I’m not
sure exactly yet. We have to talk to Campy [Defensive Coordinator Anothony Campanile],
but I don’t even know if he’s going to start it off or not. But, like Araujo [Mathieu Araujo
Defensive Pass Game Coordinator] will get some work. [Linebackers Coach] Tem Lukabu, a
couple guys are going to be able to get turns. Camp said he did it in Green Bay, where they
just pass along the headset, so we’ll be able to get a lot of guys some reps.”
(On if the team is where he wants them to be at this point in terms of reps) “Last year, we
didn’t have a lot of these opportunities, and so I think you look at from New Orleans to
today, you’re pleased with the progression. You’re pleased with the response. Like I said,
you can’t simulate this anywhere in training camp. So, was pleased with where we’re at.
There’s always a ton to clean up, and a lot of our focus now has to go to final cutdowns,
finishing this thing up, and really headed towards Cleveland.”
(On if he was pleased with the two-minute drill at the end of practice) “You know the
answer. Come on. You know what I mean. I mean, I definitely wasn’t thrilled with the finish.
Would like to see us protect it better. Would like us to see us complete it better. I think that
when you’re down to your wideouts, it’s always a little bit of a challenge, especially ones
that separate in-man coverage. Yeah, we’ve got to be better.”
(On the defense today) “Yeah, I got to take a look and see the defense’s side. I didn’t get to
obviously see much of it, but if our front can go and can cause some of the havoc that we
know and we’ve seen some of the challenges that it can present. It just makes life a lot
easier on the back end, and when we’re tied together, the rush and the coverage is tied in.
We can be a good defense when we have some miscommunications. And look, there’s a lot
that goes into every play, especially defensively. There is. We don’t just line up and call too
many basics. There are checks and audibles and alerts on defense as well, and that’s why
so much communication needs to occur. And we can’t beat ourselves. That’s the biggest
thing when I talked to Campy after, was thought that we did some really good things. Where
we got probably taken advantage of, maybe where they hit some, it’s like one thing, one guy.
We have to start to eliminate that football from our game.”
(On how far CB Montaric Brown has come) “Yeah, that’s a big thing that we’ve been working
on this offseason has been, challenging people a little bit more, eliminating some of the
easy completions that might have hurt us at times last year, and really understanding
situation football for Buster as well. Like understanding the down and distance and what
the call is, understanding in the red zone what type of routes that you’re going to be
typically having to defend, and so it was nice, great to see us get our hands on a few
because we haven’t had a ton of ball disruption as much as we’d like to maybe have, and
that’s the yin and yang. You play a little bit more match coverage. Well, your eyes are on the
receiver, not the quarterback, so that’s always the balance. It’s like, do we want to get more
sacks and ball production in terms of challenging routes, or do you want to sit there in
vision zone and get picked apart, but you’re going to get some turnovers, so that’s
something that we’ve been working through.”
(On QB Trevor Lawrence breaking up a confrontation between the teams) “No, he wasn’t
trying to take him down. I watched the whole thing. He was just trying to break up a scuffle.
It was he wasn’t trying to fight Alex [Buccaneers LB Alex Anzalone] by any means. Yeah,
well, just the hair on hair, work was going at it. I didn’t have a better word for it, but no, he
was just trying to protect Alex and the guys.”
(On if QB Trevor Lawrence has made progress this week) “I think there was some progress
made. We had a good meeting yesterday, talking through. When you go against your
defense so much, that’s why I love these joints. They start to pattern match your stuff. They
start to see your release patterns. They start to see your concepts so much that you can
struggle a little bit going against your own defense very late in camp. It can frustrate you. It
can cause you to get a little impatient and force things. My thing to him was just like, dude,
don’t worry about that right now. That’s not really our focus. Our focus is the process of
your decision-making. Trust your reads, and if it’s not there, man, let’s start getting into
game mode and use your legs as a weapon, as we’ve all seen can be beneficial.”
(On how challenging it will be to cut down the roster) “I think we’re going to have some
difficult decisions for sure. It’s never easy. That day you definitely dread as a coach and the
personnel department because so many of these guys that are here right now are helping
forge our 2026 season, and you want to keep them all. You want to be able to have a part in
all of their development and work. But when you’ve elevated the roster, hopefully you’re
continuing to raise the floor and get these guys to have a little bit more competition at key
spots. I think when you’re having to make difficult decisions at cut time, hopefully your
football team is going to be a little better.”
(On OL Emmanuel Pregnon today) “I saw him on one play. Where I think he drove
somebody down the field a good bit and finished. That was the only real play that I guess I
noticed him on. I have to go and watch this tape and see. I didn’t feel like out there it was
too big for him. I didn’t feel like there was a physical mismatch or a mental ‘man, this is too
fast for me.’ Obviously, have to go take a look. I’ve been pleased with his development thus
far, and hopefully, he can continue to trend up.”
(On if thinks WR/CB Travis Hunter has had enough work this training camp) “No, in terms of
still we need as much work as humanly possible. Yes, in terms of getting better, getting
more continuity, the chemistry between that group back there is so important, and so yes, I
do think we have absolutely made progress. Are we there yet? No, just hasn’t played a lot of
football in the last nine months or whatever it’s been. So, I’ve been pleased with his
intentionality. I’ve been pleased with the group as a whole in terms of really working
together. I think they’re a close-knit group as a whole, and with him not being in the fold as
much, especially towards the back half of the year, he just missed out on a lot of things, a
lot of communication, a lot of continuity, and so that’s something that we’ve been working
to continue to build on. And I have been pleased with the development, but we need more.
We need as much work as we can get.”
(On what the mental transition is like going from preseason to the regular season) “Yeah, I
think you try to stay extremely present throughout these next few days because you owe it
to the guys that are playing. Like you owe it to these guys that are trying to earn a roster
spot, earn a practice squad spot, whether it’s here or somewhere else in the NFL. And so
you want to make sure you’re pouring into them over these next few days, giving them the
best opportunity to be successful in the game, so that they can get good tape, film out
there, whether it’s for us or for another team. Trying not to look ahead too much. You’re
obviously always taking maybe a little bit of time to buzz Cleveland to be able to get a little
bit of a jump, but you’re trying to stay as present as you can because you owe it to these
guys.”
(On if QB Nick Mullens will play on Friday) “I still haven’t decided yet. It’s a good question. I
want to go buzz this, see where we’re at, talk to the coaching staff. Definitely want to get
Joey [QB Joey Aguilar] and Carter [QB Carter Bradley] the majority of the work, and we’ll see
where we’re at.”
(On the Buccaneers defense today) “A lot of new faces, but man, I think they’re fast,
especially in the box. Like their front seven, I feel faster. I have to obviously watch it to see
some of the true like individual performances. But I feel like they have a fast defense. I think
they’ve got multiple players at different levels that can make plays. I thought Zyon
[Buccaneers CB Zyon McCollum] kind of stood out a little bit. Antoine [Buccaneers S
Antoine Winfield Jr.] again with the punch out early on, right away, and it was great to
compete against these guys again. And what I was so looking forward to was we got a lot of
static looks from New Orleans and Carolina and very similar defensive structures, and so
to see more chaos, to see more of the bullets flying all over the place is so good for us. We
get some of it against our own defense, but you can’t simulate this speed and the rush and
the way that these guys play, so I think they’re going to be just fine.”
(On what Buccaneers fans can expect from Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator Zac
Robinson) “Yeah, Zac’s diligent, detailed, works at it, knows the game from a quarterback’s
lens. Obviously, has a strong rapport already with Baker [Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield]. I
think what Zac does is he works extremely hard at situational football, putting guys in
positions to be successful, utilizing motion to an advantage. He went to Atlanta and got a
little bit more of the wide zone stuff, and was able to get people running, getting Bijan
[Falcons RB Bijan Robinson] in positions to be an MVP candidate. I know when he has skill
players, he’ll put him in position to succeed.”
(On the improvement of the run game this camp) “I think there was some good stuff out
there today. At times, there was some good stuff against Carolina. I think we’ve made some
strides in that department. I think it was nice to see Chris [RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.] kind of in
the joint against Carolina kind of shine and have some big ones. Even though Tut [RB
Bhayshul Tuten] did as well, I thought Tuten had a really nice day today. Showed he was
hitting it and had a burst at the second and third level. I think our O-line, we’re getting a little
bit better at knowing what we’re good at and what we can do. And something that we have
to be able to do is run at the tight ends. A lot of what I’ve always been taught is to move the
hard down around as much as you can. And in the run game, the tight ends typically have a
very difficult down. That being said, you can’t run open all the time. You can’t run weak all
the time. And so, we’ve got to have a balance of running weak and strong, and it’s nice to be
able to see us do that.”
