HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On having to evacuate to New Orleans with their families due to the hurricane)

"I think overall, everything went smoothly. We got the team out, we got their families out, we got their pets out and everything else. Family is the most important thing right now. You can replace material things, and you want everybody to be okay and you hope everybody evacuated – if not, [you hope they're] hunkered down safely. Family is the most important thing. If you can get your family out and keep them safe, everything else can be replaced."

(On how they've been able to concentrate on the game with everything else going on with the hurricane)

"The task at hand – most of them have their families here with them so that's a big relief for them and they're able to focus on football. We understand that the things that we do in football [are] a small mechanism in the game of life and how the hurricane is going to affect people, but we're focused and we're trying to get ready for a game. Everybody's here and their family is here and that makes it a lot easier."

(On the logistics of the travel process getting to New Orleans)
"We get to practice at Tulane, and it started coming about [on] Friday and Saturday when it was really [looking like it could] hit us… a lot of phone calls, a lot of work. We were torn between New Orleans and Houston, but rather than get on another plane at the end of the week and go from Houston to New Orleans, it was easier for us to get here to New Orleans. We practice at Tulane, and we have our meetings – [we're] trying to keep everything like a normal Wednesday as possible, other than the bus ride. The meeting times, the practice and everything else has been the same. We're trying to keep that kind of structure, and we know [that] when they go back to the room, a lot of people go back to the room with families in it and it's a little smaller and they won't have the concentration part, so we're trying to get as much done as possible while in the meeting rooms."

(On if there are any updates on the injured players and if everyone traveled)

"Yes, we brought everybody here on the trip with us and everybody is getting their normal treatment. We have certain guys that will come back, that will be tracking to play."

(On if there is any progress on any of the injured players returning to play against the Saints)

"Calijah [Kancey] was full today so that was encouraging. [Antoine] Winfield is limited – we'll see a little bit more, and Luke [Goedeke] did some things today, so we'll see how they respond to practicing today and we'll see how the week goes, but they did do some work today."

(On what he can take from evacuating to Miami in 2022 that applies to the current situation)

"The evacuation part was easier this time around because [the] Miami time, half [the team] drove and half flew and that made for a long trip back and it was a little chaotic and we really didn't know what to expect keeping everybody in the hotel in the same place. Learning from that, we're a little bit more organized as far as when we meet, how we meet, when the families eat, how they eat, and putting everybody – kind of keeping it normal like a normal practice week but yet still having time to see their families at the same time. It was a little – I don't want to say easier, but it was a little more structured this time around."

(On if T Luke Goedeke is still in concussion protocol)
"Yes, he's still in protocol. He has to pass some tests."

(On the staff behind the scenes that have worked hard to make the travel situation go as smoothly as it has)

"They've been huge. Zach Orth and Tim Jarocki have been world [beaters] in this whole thing. Tim has been on the phone with hotels in every state trying to make sure not only the team is okay, but the families are okay and making sure the pets are okay and getting different travel destinations. I don't know if he's been asleep in the past 36 hours or even more so, but he's been a world beater, Zach has been a world beater, and there's a lot of other people that work with them that have been unbelievable and phenomenal in getting us everything – not just situated but practicing the normal way and getting means for everybody's family and understanding what's at hand. They make it [go] seamlessly and effortlessly and they don't get mentioned, but they're really the kings of this whole thing."

(On the differences in the Saints offense between last season and this season under new Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak)

"I don't know if it's different any. I think they're feeding [Alvin] Kamara a lot more. He was getting the ball a lot in the past, but they're feeding him a lot more and really featuring their speed wide receivers down the field. It's similar because of the guys but it's different in scheme."

(On Saints WR Rashid Shaheed)

"He's tough. Everybody he has faced, he has gotten over the top of. We've got to be very careful, and we've got to read our keys, but we can't be scared to play him. At the same time, he's a very talented receiver. They've got one on the other side, as well, in [Chris] Olave, so [Jamel] Dean and Zyon [McCollum] have got their work cut out for them."

(On what he knows about Saints quarterbacks Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler and the difficulty of facing a quarterback you haven't seen before)

"[It's] probably difficult because of the unknown. I mean, we've watched the preseason tape, and we [saw] them coming out. We did our due diligence when they were coming out of school and everything else. Both can get rid of the football, both can use their legs when they need to and both are very accurate on the deep ball, and they have deep-ball receivers, so we don't expect much to change from an offensive standpoint in that way."

(On improving defensively in the middle of the field and the importance of that when going up against Saints RB Alvin Kamara)

"Well, how we do it has nothing to do with Kamara – it's us playing the right way, being where we're supposed to be and the communication part of it. If we can get that done, we can limit a lot of that."

(On balancing the urgency of winning divisional games early in the season with the hurricane preparations)

"You don't balance it – there is urgency every week, whether it's an NFC South opponent or anybody else. It's the next week, so it's the next game. You [have to] balance it because of the travel and you have to move, and everybody is [here] early, so nobody is in their comfort zone right now, but we understand. We have a mature team for the most part with our veterans that are helping the young guys. We have to focus, and we know that the game is on Sunday, as well. We took care of our families and that was part of it, so the next part of it is just focusing on next week and just getting better at the little things."

(On the status of the wide receiver room)

"That's yet to be determined right now. It's too early in the week, but we've got guys practicing and on the practice squad. Obviously, Ryan [Miller] is practicing, we already moved up [Sterling] Shepard and we brought back [Tanner] Knue, so we will see what the health is toward the end of the week and then we will make the adjustments accordingly."

(On any injuries that arose from the Week 5 game vs. Atlanta)

"I mean there were quite a few – probably too many to mention as you [will] see [on the] injury report. I don't want to forget any, so I will let you guys read it and I will have a better answer for you tomorrow, but we had quite a few guys banged up."

(On the difficulty of having to adjust to not only the hurricane but also a late change in terms of the Saints starting quarterback following the injury to Derek Carr on Monday night)

"The preparation wasn't difficult because we were playing the Saints offense, not just Derek Carr. I don't think those guys are going to change [the offense], whether they play [Jake] Haener or whether they play [Spencer] Rattler. I don't think that's going to change – just seeing how they move and what type of quarterbacks they are is a little different. [It's] us being in different meeting spaces and altering some of the practice times and all of us getting on the bus to go to practice as opposed to just walking outside of our own home, but other than that, it's been pretty normal."

(On if the team has made contingency plans in case its unable to immediately return to the Tampa Bay area after the hurricane)

"We are talking about it. We hope we don't have to, [but] we will see what happens the next couple of days and then we will adjust accordingly."

(On the status of S Jordan Whitehead and if he practiced today)

"He was limited. He is still sore, but he did some things today and he will progress through the week and we will take it day by day."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On if everything going on with the hurricane and the evacuation to New Orleans makes it easier to put last Thursday's game versus Atlanta in the past)

"Obviously, first things first, [we] wanted to make sure everybody was safe and everybody's taking the right precautions and doing what they need to do to get things done. With the support of the Glazer family, we were able to relocate here, which is huge. Obviously, they provided travel for the team and family members and pets, as well, so that's big time, just to be able to shift the focus there – safety first – and then go on. So yeah, short memory when it comes to the Atlanta game. Obviously, [we] had to watch the tape Monday, correct the things we needed to and move forward."

(On having a couple of extra days to recover from the hit at the end of Thursday's game)

"Obviously, [it's] not the exact week we were looking [for], but a few more days always helps."

(On what lessons the team can take from the loss to Atlanta)

"Looking back at the tape, we executed well in the first half – I know I mentioned to you guys postgame – I think we should've had 28 [points] instead of 24. Then looking at the second half, [it was] just being very, very close to some of these plays being successful. Instead, they weren't and in a tight ball game against a divisional opponent, the game can shift just like it did, so you look back at it and it's just execution. It wasn't the same thing for us in the second half that it was in the first."

(On how being in this situation with the hurricane tests the resiliency and relationship of the team)

"Yeah, it's an unbelievable opportunity for us to… We're kind of messing with Kevin Carberry about this one – he talks about an opportunity to test our mental toughness and as cheesy as he might be saying it, it's the reality. Like I mentioned earlier, how can you make sure to take care of the things you need to before we leave, get your family safe and then go from there? How quickly can you focus on the game plan and execute?"

(On the biggest challenge this week)

"For our guys, you get into a routine as the season starts and you understand your bodywork, what you have to do rehab-wise after a game, get into a routine at home when you are practicing and just that schedule that you normally have and having to adjust on the fly. That's the biggest difference for us, but we just have to deal with it. There's no way around it, so just find a way to make it work, and this is a group that is capable of doing that."

(On what makes the Saints redzone defense so strong)

"[It's] just an aggressive team. They have some of their key leaders that are always down there, aggressive and physical down there in tight spots. [They have] guys that understand concepts. They're able to react and close some of these windows with the pass game quickly, or just [be] physical up front, not really letting you get off the ball and establish that line of scrimmage. So, for us, it's really, really about the details when it comes down to the redzone offense. It's going to be a tough ballgame when it comes down to that area of the field, but we have to find a way to execute."

(On if it looks like the Saints defense is disguising and not blitzing a lot)

"Definitely not as [many] pressure schemes. They're doing a lot of twists up front. The pressure guy is Alontae Taylor, the nickel. He's a very good blitzer. I'm pretty sure he's leading the team in sacks, so [we] have to be aware of that – any time he's near or around the line of scrimmage. And really, they give you a bunch of different looks. They might have eight guys up at the line of scrimmage, but might only be bringing four. It's just the mental aspects of the game. They're trying to give you this crazy look to make you panic [and] get the ball out but then they're dropping out eight."

(On the challenges that the Saints defense presents)

"Obviously, Demario Davis [just] with the amount of experience he has, he is able to recognize things very quickly, he [is] obviously a very physical player when it comes to the run game and in play-action he adds on quickly to try and make you get the ball out. He might not exactly be blitzing on some of these plays, but he recognizes it and forces you to get the ball out. I think Pete Werner is a very, very good player, as well. Those two side by side are a very good linebacker duo. They kind of play off of each other. Pete has come a long way in the aspect of where he is at mentally in the game. You can tell he and Demario are very much on the same page and kind of interchangeable within the scheme that they have. That makes it really tough over the middle of the [field] when they're able to play the way they do. Then, obviously, Tyrann Mathieu has seen a lot of ball, as well – just pattern recognition and going from there. Then you've got Marshon Lattimore who is a physical guy, as well."

(On whom is responsible for keeping emotions in check this Sunday)

"I don't want anything held back."

(On being on the same page with the wide receivers despite all the rotating that the Saints do in the secondary)

"For us, it just comes down to communication. We might be in a different place, but [it's about] the overcommunication in our concepts. Obviously, we had a few days off, but [we're] just getting everybody back in the swing of things and going from there as the gameplan comes along."

(On keeping the positive momentum going in the run game)

"Whether it be scheme or guys just executing really well, especially in that first half [vs. Atlanta] – we've got to keep that same mindset of really establishing the line of scrimmage. Obviously, the Chiefs and Eagles did their own varieties of it (against the Saints) but we have to do our own thing, and it still comes down to the details when it comes down to [identifying] the running backs with their tracks and with their footwork and just their reads. For us, just continue that and take advantage of the looks we're given."

(On his process for compartmentalizing things between the hurricane and getting ready for the game on Sunday)

"A lot of prayer. A lot of prayer. It's out of our control. You can do whatever you need to to try and prep your house, your home or wherever you're at. Other than that, there's nothing you really can do. This thing is coming for Florida – [it's] safety first and getting everybody out. Hopefully everybody listened to the mandatory evacuations. [I'm] compartmentalizing one step at a time the preparation part when it comes to the storm. Then once we're out there, realizing this could be a sort of Sunday to give the people of Florida, especially around our area, some hope and something to look forward to watching… You know, [I'm] not expecting anyone to really have power, but finding out in the days later and going from there."

(On if he has a relationship with Saints QB Spencer Rattler)

"I really don't know Spencer that well. He was on just a couple of visits when I was there (at Oklahoma). General talking back and forth here and there – he sat in on a couple of meetings when Kyler [Murray], Lincoln [Riley] and I were in the room together. But I didn't get to know the guy as a person really."

(On T Justin Skule overcoming his performance vs. Detroit and improving in the weeks since)

"I mean for Justin – he's extremely hard on himself. Obviously, stepping in and not having that many reps in camp because Luke [Goedeke] is ahead of him… and stepping in against a guy named Aidan Hutchinson is not an easy task. He was really hard on himself and I just didn't want his confidence to drop because we believe in him. We knew the more reps he got, the better he was going to feel [and] more comfortable and all that comes with that. He has been playing really well for us and that's really all that matters. It's that 'next man up' mentality and still having faith and trusting those guys."

(On Saints CB Alontae Taylor and what makes him so unique)

"I think, obviously, just his pressure looks. He is getting home quick. He is timing up the snap really well and that's something that real good blitzers have from the defensive back position. He's timing them up really well. Then in the pass game, I think he is playing really well in coverage. Obviously they play a lot of man coverage – they have the personnel to do it. I think he is playing really, really well."

-BUCCANEERS-