PASS GAME COORDINATOR/INSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH LARRY FOOTE

(On what he did during the team's Bye Week)

"Well, we just got back to the details…We got back to the details, the fundamentals – we even went back to the spring and some of the stuff we wanted to do as far as looks and formations and stuff we want to concentrate on. We're trying to remind [those] guys what we've got to do to finish this season off."

(On the Buccaneers signing S Mike Edwards)

"First and foremost, just from a communication standpoint, he made a lot of plays in this league for us. I don't know the details of why he was a free agent, but we [were] able to get him back and we look forward to him jumping in and helping out the young guys."

(On CB Jamel Dean being designated for return from Injured Reserve)

"He's a vet. He's played a lot of ball in this league. It's tough on [those] young guys because you've got to learn on the run, but it's going to be good getting him back. Hopefully he keeps progressing during the week and we can have him out there on Sunday."

(On the entire defense, including S Antoine Winfield Jr., missing tackles and how to fix that)

"You've really got to concentrate on everybody getting to the ball – that's just my belief. Sometimes, kind of like baseball, you go into a slump. Winfield – he hasn't missed a lot of tackles, and it seems like he's missed a majority of his tackles in one season than he did through all of his career. It's tough. We've got to concentrate. More hats to the ball – it's tough to bring guys down in this league. We gave up some big plays by some missed tackles, and we all know that. We've got to take one more step, we've got to harp on the fundamentals – wrapping guys up, keep your head up. The main thing to focus on is getting off of blocks. We need more hats to the ball."

(On if the team has made any substantial changes to the defense during the Bye Week)

"We want to win the game. We want to win the game. We're rejuvenated. We needed that break. We're getting some guys back. We've been in [it in the] fourth quarter of games. This is the NFL – you've got to win the game in the fourth quarter. You've got to make the tackles, you've got to communicate, you've got to make plays. I don't care what the Giants' record is, I don't care who the quarterback is, we know it's going to be a fourth-quarter game. We've got to come up with more plays than them."

(On the coaching staff's willingness to evolve)

"I want to start with [Head Coach Todd] Bowles – the mastermind. If you can do a job for us, we're going to throw you in there. It doesn't matter what position. We've got a lot of different packages and we come together during the week and see what can help us win. We'll put guys anywhere. We'll figure out what we're trying to stop, who can use their strengths and help us win on Sunday."

(On if the defensive game plan changes depending on who the New York Giants' starting quarterback is)

"We [haven't] gotten into that yet. In the little bit I've seen of [Tommy DeVito] last year, he can move just like [Daniel] Jones, so I'm sure the offense isn't going to change that much. He's an athletic quarterback, so we're going to have to be ready for that. I don't know how they're going to try and attack us, but last week and this week going forward is about what we do. He's an athletic quarterback and we've got to have a plan for him."

(On how to get S Antoine Winfield Jr. to return to his All-Pro form)

"He's just got to keep playing. Playing the safety position, if the quarterback doesn't throw you the ball, you might not get that many opportunities. He doesn't need to press. Everybody has [gone] through slumps in this league missing tackles, but Winfield will be just fine. I know you guys are used to the splash plays, so when they [are not] there, we sound the alarm. He's doing a lot of good stuff for us. My glaring thing is he's probably missed more tackles. He'll fix that going down the road. No matter what, we're going to be remembered in December and January, so I'm looking forward to him bouncing back."

(On if Winfield Jr.'s missed tackles are due to an injury or because of something else)

"I don't know – you've got to ask him that. It's hard to bring guys down in this league – I can speak for that for myself. I'm perfectly healthy, but I've missed a tackle that normally I'd make. It's hard to get guys on the ground. Like I said earlier, I challenged the guys to get off blocks, get more hats to the ball…It's hard to bring guys down."

(On teams attacking the middle of Tampa Bay's defense)

"You've got to make plays. If you're in there – especially in the middle of our defense – you've got to make plays. It's frustrating when you're giving up plays, especially at that position – the middle linebacker position – especially because I coach it. We're looking forward to the second half of the season."

(On the team having three walk-off losses this season, and how they can finish those games differently)

"You can dissect it…You've got to make plays. You've got to make plays. That's what separates teams that go onto the playoffs and make a run. You've got to make plays. Players have got to come up with it. Communication is big – especially in the fourth quarter and two-minutes…It's sped up a little bit and you're tired – only the strong survive."

SAFETY MIKE EDWARDS

(On what his career has been like since leaving Tampa the first time)

"Once I left here, I went to Kansas City for the year, and it was a different experience for sure. [It's] definitely different [from] here and yeah, [we] went on that Super Bowl run and won another ring on a different team and it's two different types of experiences, but it was a good year for me [as far as] winning that Super Bowl. Then [I] end up leaving there, going to Buffalo. It didn't work out for Buffalo, [there's] no bad blood but [I] end up leaving there and then going to Tennessee and now I'm back here. [I] had a good journey. It's crazy, went all over the place, like I said, but I'm back where it all started so I'm happy for that."

(On how he thinks he can help the Buccaneers defense)

"Hopefully I can bring a spark or whatever it may need, bring any type of help that I can bring to this team. I mean, not just defense, but the whole team and yeah, they had struggles but they also had some great parts of the season. It might be a play away from winning any one of those games. I've been keeping up with them from afar, watching some games, stuff like that, so I mean [they're] still a good team. The record might not show, but still a good team, [they] have players all over on both sides of the ball and [we] have to get a good playoff push and take it week by week, but I mean, just from what I've seen from afar and coming in and viewing, it's a good team. [They] have a lot of guys, very good teammates and very good people that I can see in the locker room so happy to be a part of that and hopefully I can help in any way possible."

(On his ability to always find the ball)

"Yeah, since I was a kid I always just try to find the ball – always love the ball – so I feel like I had a knack for just being around the ball. That was my thing and I carried my way all the way to the league. I feel like ever since my rookie year, I've been trying to find the ball and that kind of stuck with the name 'the ball hawk' and try to find the ball and go get the ball – that's my main thing. More than that, just try to bring whatever it may be to the defense, whether it be tackling, or blitzing but I'm kind of known for going to get the ball so that's what I try to harp on."

(On how he will try to help cover the middle of the field as a safety)

"You have to pretty much go sideline to sideline. You have to be that safety – something breaks out, you have to be the one to get him down and limit explosive plays as far as deep balls over passing. Also running the ball – if they get past the D line and get past the linebackers, you have to be that guy to save the touchdown, save the tackle, so that's a challenging spot. People might not see – just playing the middle of the field, but it comes with a lot, definitely, so you have to have that mindset that, 'Can't nobody get past you.' I mean, we have guys – I know [Jordan], I know 'Twon' (Antoine Winfield Jr.) and [I] have to learn a few other guys but I know how they are so we'll get that corrected."

CORNERBACK JAMEL DEAN

(On how it feels to be back out there and how he feels physically)

"I actually feel like a player right now. Ever since I've been out, they've been treating me like a coach, so it feels good to finally feel like a player again."

(On having the chance to be a part of the reset opportunity for this team after the Bye Week)

"You know, I look forward to the opportunity because I was thinking back to Super Bowl year, after that Bye Week, we had the same conversation. After [that], we just took it one game at a time."

(On what causes the defensive breakdowns and what they need to focus on fixing)

"It's always just [we] have to keep up with the little details because it'll be like minor brain farts, but the minor things [are] a major thing. We just have to hone in, like when we're tired, fatigued, we have to continue communicating and talking things through the game."

(On his reaction to S Mike Edwards returning to the Buccaneers)

"I was so excited. I was like, 'Oh man, they're slowly bringing the band back together.'"

-BUCCANEERS-