HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the Houston Texans being good at limiting turnovers)

"It gives you a chance to win when you don't turn the ball over. [Texans QB C.J. Stroud] is playing very smart football. They don't turn it over. He makes very good throws, he's got a very good arm. When you don't turn it over and you don't give up big plays, you always give yourself a chance to win."

(On what the secondary has to do to be in position to generate more turnovers)

"We've got to attack the ball. We've got to see it, number one. Our vision has to expand. In man[-to-man], it's a little tough, but we've played a lot of zone, so we should be able to get more breaks on the football. We've been working on that all week."

(On if the defensive third down lapses are schematic issues or execution issues)

"It's both. As a coach, you always want to make changes schematically when something isn't working, but you also have to make plays, too. Coaching and playing go together."

(On if there were any decent trade proposals at yesterday's trade deadline)

"That's more of [General Manager] Jason [Licht]'s wheelhouse. I'm dealing with football, getting gameplans ready. He'd be better suited to answer that question."

(On if there were a lot of trade requests for certain players)

"Again, that would be [General Manager] Jason [Licht]'s answer, as far as I know. I'm in game-planning [mode]. [If there is] anything serious, he comes to talk to me, but that's his wheelhouse."

(On if QB John Wolford's role will change now that he's on the active roster)

"Yeah, I'm sure there was some conversation about it. John is valuable to us in the meeting rooms, as well as on the field. With Baker [Mayfield] banged up the past couple weeks, you never want to give one away and struggle to bring somebody in here to have to learn a system. It was more of us protecting what we have, as opposed to anything else."

(On if Wolford's experience in a similar offense helps QB Baker Mayfield)

"A little bit from a schematic-standpoint. Kyle [Trask]'s role is just as valuable. They both give him valuable advice off the field and can see things off the field that you really can't see on the field and help him adjust."

(On QB Baker Mayfield not doing as many play actions and bootlegs as of late)

"The defenses have done a good job adjusting and understanding what he was trying to do, so they kind of kept him in the pocket a little bit."

(On if Mayfield's knee was a reason for the lack of play actions and bootlegs)

"No, not at all."

(On how OL Cody Mauch has performed as he transitioned from LT to RG, similar to what OL Luke Goedeke did last year)

"I don't think they're the same issues – I think they're different. Cody, obviously, can get a little stronger there, but he's seeing a lot of things at guard. He's a very smart player. I don't think they have similar issues at all. I think [there are] certain things that he's got to see and get used to the first time. He's making the adjustment pretty [well]."

(On how Mauch has played so far)

"Up and down. Obviously, he has some good moments. He had some moments where he's learned from. As a rookie, we expected that. I like where he's going."

(On if he feels the need to tell the team about urgency at this point in the season)

"You talk about all of that. You don't want to say urgency, because we play with urgency. We've got to play smarter. Obviously, we want to start faster – we've been working on that, as well, doing certain things to do that. We understand that every game is valuable to us. The importance of how we play and what we do is not even to be discussed. But, we discuss all of this as coaches and as players and bring it up, but we've just got to focus back on the things we do well and not have the 'M.E's' (mental errors) and understand what we've got to do to win."

(On what jumps out to him about Texans QB C.J. Stroud)

"I said it earlier, he doesn't turn the ball over. He's got a very quick-flick wrist, he's very accurate all the way around. He knows where to go with the football, he has a good grasp of the offense – that's rare for a rookie."

(On LT Tristan Wirfs' injury status)

"He's coming along. He's moving a lot better than he was or would have been had we had a game. But, he's coming along, so hopefully in a couple more days, he'll be okay."

(On the status of NT Vita Vea)

"He's feeling a lot better."

(On how he can help LB Devin White make more impact plays)

"We talk about it all the time. Coach [Larry] Foote talks about it with him all the time: when to shoot the gap, when to come downhill, when to slide through. Devin does a lot for us and is doing a lot for us. Some of the plays he makes with his brain by getting other people ready. You want to see more impactful plays from really all of them over there. He's playing fine – we've just got to get the small plays to become the big plays. He can't press them."

(On if he feels like White has been limited by injury at all)

"I don't think so. I'm sure after the season, he probably may have [been]. But, there's a lot of guys out there that [are] just playing off of guts."

(On his thoughts on Philadelphia and Kansas City's use of the QB sneak)

"If we could utilize it and run it to the success they ran it, we'd run it. As a defense, you've got to figure out how to stop it. When we figure out how to stop it, something else will come up and we'll work on that. It's a good challenge."

(On how WR Mike Evans has been after not getting an extension this past offseason)

"Mike has been great. Mike is great. He's great at practice, he's great to talk to. We don't even discuss it."

(On if there's anything more the team can do to get the running game going or if it's all about execution)

"If there was something more we could do, we'd do it. We're trying everything. I'm welcome to ideas, but we're working on it and we'll get it together."

(On if playing on a Thursday night can provide a 'reset' effect)

"It can with a few days off. It's not a fresh start because we're kind of halfway into the season, but at the same time, mentally, a break now from having to play 10 games in a row was much needed because you don't get it again."

(On seeing how successful RB Rachaad White is as a pass catcher)

"That part has been a struggle – getting him in open space – but the short passing game has kind of helped that and added to the run game in that aspect. However we can get him in open space, we're going to try to get him in open space. If they're taking away the run where he can't, the passing game part where he can helps out a lot. It's something that's opened up for us and we've got to take advantage of it."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On how teams have adjusted to try and keep him in the pocket)

"I'd say we want to get to our boot[legs] – we want do that, just to get to the edges and attack the perimeter, but teams have done a good job whether it's looping a defensive end out or bringing some edge pressure to take away some of those schemes. That goes into the mindset of, 'What's the defense doing? How can we take advantage of these looks and just take the easy stuff that's there?'"

(On if manipulating defenses with his eyes becomes more crucial when throwing from inside the pocket)

"Yeah, especially with the two-high safety defenses that we're getting right now. There are more zone defenders, zone droppers underneath, so yeah, you definitely have to manipulate a little bit. You have to trust your reads and eyes and go through it. It comes down to delivering the ball on time, and if it's not there, move on to the next progression."

(On the status of his knee and when it first started bothering him)

"I went down on that New Orleans hit – the touchdown to Cade [Otton]. Then just a real awkward fall against the Falcons that I guess reaggravated it. But yeah, it's getting better each day. It just comes with time. It's not something that's going to heal overnight. It just gets better each day."

(On the frustration of starting games slowly offensively)

"Really frustrating. I keep saying it, but it's the truth… You look at the film on some of these first drives that we've had, and some of the slow first halves overall – just shooting ourselves in the foot, whether it's a penalty, whether it's one guy off in the run game, having a penalty in the run game, not hitting the third-down conversion on my part, just being on the same page. It's all things in our control. There's a positive to that but it's also frustrating because you go through the whole week and you should have the gameplan down. You've got to – even more so – be on the same page on the first drive – go out there, execute, let our defense pin their ears back and go hunt."

(On deflected passes at the line)

"It's a tricky game because you want to deliver the ball on time in some of the quick-game stuff, but smart defensive linemen… if they see your footwork and it is stopped, they're going to stop. If they're not going to get to the passer, they're going to put their hands up so, one, I'm not built like those ginormous human beings. I've just got to work arm angles, try and find windows, and if you have to slide a little bit to try and find your target, you're going to have to. But at the time, then that comes to if you're not on time with it, so if you have to move to get a target, you might have to move on in the progression. It's one of those fine lines. If you have time to buy to be able to find a window for him, then great. If not, you're going to have to move on."

(On if the offensive line factors into the deflected passes)

"Yes and no. Some of the quick game stuff, yes, when we're jump-setting them and trying to get their hands down immediately because they know it's not a deep drop. But at the same time, I think about the clip against the Lions, the tipped interception that would've been a touchdown to Mike [Evans]. The play was designed to have Mike come in front of the safety but he's so aggressive that Mike winds up going behind him. I'm not taking a drop for that because that's not how the play was designed. It's a good, creative play by Mike but because I didn't have enough depth in the pocket, that's technically on me."

(On if the offense feels an obligation to step its game up with the way the defense is playing)

"That's the case every week for us. There is always something you can improve on, but especially right now. We've taken care of the ball for the most part, but I think about that – us doing our part. We haven't been great in the redzone. We've had good games [and] bad games on third downs, but we haven't been great in the redzone consistently. So, for me, that's where that comes into play. Instead of getting field goals, get touchdowns and momentum. And obviously our defense is playing well, like you mentioned. For us, we take that accountability. You have to look yourself in the mirror after each game and each practice, see how I can get better and improve and help this team out."

(On if there needs to be an increased sense of urgency offensively in late-game situations when the team is trailing)

"A little bit of both. You want to walk the line of being up-tempo, but still get into some of your good calls to where you know you're driving the ball down the field. There's a little bit of both. You saw a little bit of no-huddle on that drive (in Buffalo), and a little bit of huddling. Yeah, if you hit some of those plays, instead of having a 22-play drive, the time is not going to be an issue like we're talking about now, but we trust our defense to be able to go out there and get another stop, like we did have a second chance. Going back to your question, could we have saved ourselves a little bit of time on the clock? Yes, but we needed a score at that part [of the game], so that was the most important thing for us."

(On if the team learned a lot from the Houston Texans loss to the Carolina Panthers last week)

"Yeah, I mean when you look at film, you look at the break-down games [and] you look at how teams are attacking them – what's working, what's not. Just their defense overall, I think DeMeco [Ryans] has done a great job of getting these guys lined up and playing extremely hard. He knows that system in and out. He's got some good veteran guys that are able to run it. They present their own issues. So yeah, you look at all the film and try and see what teams are doing and how to attack it. But then, at a certain point, you're not going to come up with a whole new offense. You're going to have a little twist of flavor, but then you're going to have your base gameplan of how you really want to scheme it up."

(On the biggest challenge that the Texans present)

"To be honest with you, in the secondary, they're really good. They have their two edge guys that present their own issues. I know they haven't had as many sacks as they want, but they play really hard, so they're always in pursuit. The secondary – I think they react to the ball well, I think they tackle well. We just have to be better on our part with the fundamental [parts] of the offense of taking what is there, breaking some tackles, and then we have our shots, take them."

(On what he thinks of people suggesting that teams have figured out Tampa Bay's scheme offensively and how to combat it)

"We just have to be better. I firmly believe in the system that we have, that has answers for however we're schemed up against. I think, for us, I've mentioned it and I'm going to keep saying it… we have to execute better. We have to be better on offense, finish in the redzone, be better on third downs, run the ball better than we have, good things will happen, and we won't even be talking about it."

(On the Texans' pressure defensively despite the lack of sacks)

"There are a lot of QB hurries on tape where they're getting to the quarterback, affecting throws and doing things like that. The numbers aren't there that they want statistically, but I think it definitely has the same effect."

(On his comfort level in throwing at a high volume)

"Yeah, you're going to do what you've got to do to win a game. It always changes. We improved in the run game. I know it didn't look like it, but we had some penalties and we had some things where we were so close. You walk away from that… We lost, but when you look at the film again, 'Hey guys, we are improving. Don't lose your heads in this. There is progress so keep working at it and it's going to come along. And when it does, everybody is going to be really happy.'"

(On ending the team's three-game losing streak)

"Nothing like a three-game losing streak – go on the road [with our] backs against the wall against a team that has played I think better than everybody's expectations. It's going to be a fight for us, so go in and try to find a way to win in a tough environment and get this thing turned around."

(On players being accountable for penalties and other mistakes)

"I think the thing with Trey [Palmer] is just knowing to let your hands go. I think the one against Buffalo wasn't necessarily a hold – it's always judgement – but if he's going to the ground, just let him go. The false starts always come down to focus and being on the same page. Those are easily correctable things. That's why I'm happy with where we are at right now because we can correct all of these things."

(On QB John Wolford staying in Tampa Bay)

"John is extremely vital to our QB room. A guy that when we brought him in, I was very happy about it. Just his knowledge of the system, he has great experience – he doesn't have the most experience – but the guy, he's wicked smart. He is an extremely important piece for us to have. I know he challenges the guys on the scout team and is always an extra communicator for our QB room. Guys like that are invaluable."

NOSE TACKLE VITA VEA

(On how he's feeling)

"I had some candy last night, so I feel alright."

(On what stands out to him about the Houston Texans)

"C.J. Stroud, he's a rookie – most rookie quarterbacks, when you see them, you see them struggle in their first year. You don't see that in C.J. It definitely makes it harder on us. He's been doing a good job this year. He's probably one of the best out of all the rookie quarterbacks that are playing right now. It'll definitely be a big challenge for us."

(On the importance of a victory this week)

"You always want to win, every week. We don't play to lose. Especially this week, coming off of three games, this one is definitely big."

(On how he thinks the team's pass rush is doing)

"It's a work in progress. We're still getting into our full stride. We're still working at it. There are some fundamental things we've got to work on. We'll get there."

(On if there's been an area of the pass rush that he's most pleased with)

"I think we're all working together. I think that's the biggest thing. We're working together as a collective group instead of people trying to rush individually."

(On why he's been able to generate more sacks lately)

"I think everybody working together – our communication out there and [Head Coach Todd] Bowles calling the defense for us to go out there and execute and make plays. I think the plays are out there to be made for all of us and for each one of us to go out there and take advantage of our plays to make."

-BUCCANEERS-