OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR LIAM COEN

(On how the potential of WR Mike Evans returning to play changes things for the offense)

"You know, we just don't know what his true availability will be if he is [available]. Obviously, we'll gain some attention from the defense and understand – maybe we'll get played a little bit similar to how people were playing us when he was going. It's something that we just need to be ready for, have a plan for. [I] love him. If he's in there, obviously, we want to be able to get him going. That would be fantastic, but the guys are also ready to go if not."

(On the run game improvement work starting back in OTAs)

"I think we were just trying to really emphasize as much as we could, fundamentals, technique, and maybe a little bit more of the 'Why?' Because you couldn't, as you mentioned, practice it full speed – obviously, the physicality part of it is non-existent, but we're still trying to develop, every time we would run the ball, a 'Why?' An understanding of what we're trying to do. 'Ok, this is versus these kinds of defenses. We like these runs versus maybe a different type of structure.' As you're trying to get these guys as many reps as possible, we put a lot on their plate from early on. That was with multiple plays in the huddle, getting to the right looks – running the football is a mindset and mentality and it had to start right when we first started and the guys were pretty bought in from the beginning."

(On learning the 'Why?' in the run game from Rams Head Coach Sean McVay while coaching under him)

"I think it mentioned it before – when I first got hired by the Rams and I sat in a few early self-scout meetings, we were talking about our self-scout and how to make things better. There was so much defensive talk in those meetings about Sean explaining why some of these runs are good against some of these different looks, how defenses respond to jet motion, fly motion, Y-trade motion, different coaching points but it was more focused on the defensive side of the ball. That helped us transition here where when we're not going in a physical setting but we can really dial into the 'Why?' and understanding, 'Ok, what do we like this against?' That's where I really kind of learned the most was from Sean in that aspect."

(On if Sean McVay teaching the 'Why?' in the run game led his assistants to have larger roles)

"I think that's probably a good point. I think there's probably some validity to that in terms of – yeah, there's a lot of detail that goes into the system, I would say. There's not a ton of just, 'Ok, let's go out and backyard it.' I mean, maybe we'd like to have some more of that and there's a lot of detail that goes into each and every play, all 11 [players] being on the same page, what is each position group's contribution to the run game, and understanding how important those things are. Like I said before, the guys were really bought into that at an early point when we got here."

(On the challenges that the Giants defense brings)

"A number of them. [They've] got one of the best football players on defense in the National Football League up front. They've got multiple pass rushers that can affect the quarterback, they're first in the NFL in sacks right now, they're sixth in third-down defense, they've affected the quarterback – everyone that they basically played they affected. They've got a young group of guys out there that seem to have some juice, they're at home on a fast track on that turf. [That's] when you can really see those guys playing at a speed there that nobody has been able to truly handle. I mean yeah, wins and losses – it's a different deal. We're just talking about that side of ball, and what they've been able to do and effect offensives, has been impressive. I have a ton of respect for those guys over there and what they've been doing, how they're playing the game. You can see it's being taught and coached the right way. It's detailed, it's fundamental, it's going to be a great challenge for us."

(On how he is preparing the offense to play against Giants NT Dexter Lawrence II)

"It's more just [that] we have to be aware of him on every play. Run, pass, whatever it is, we have to have a plan for '97' and as you mentioned, it's a little different because he's a shade. The center ultimately has to deal with him one way or another, every play. This is going to be a huge challenge for Graham [Barton] and for our interior line. Also, they have some guys on the edge that can rush the passer so you can't say we have to just worry about '97'. That's not the way that this thing is going to be able to go. I have a ton of respect for Dexter Lawrence and the player that he is and it's going to be a huge challenge for us. I can't really say exactly what the plan is but we've got to be aware of him on every single play."

(On if T Justin Skule getting experience early in the season helps his confidence)

"I think it's definitely helped him. You do see Skule having more and more confidence as we go and he had to jump in there last week – a couple weeks ago. We go out and go play and you go let it rip and we've won games with him obviously in there, we've played some good football with him in there. He's a smart football player who understands leverage and how to use his hands and how to be able to use his athletic ability to his advantage. That's just something we're going to have to go throughout the game and see how it goes."

(On what he thinks of Giants CB Dru Phillips' performance)

"Dru is a savvy, smart football player that's obviously still learning the NFL game as a rookie. [He has a] very quick twitch, good movement skills, good change of direction. He's really good against screens, identifying them and trying to blow up some bubble screens and other types of screens on the perimeter, smart football player that I do believe his best football is ahead of him. I look forward to seeing him."

(On how he feels about the usage and rotation of the running backs)

"I think it's one of those things – it's just hard to get three guys 8-10 touches each. I think we did walk away saying, 'Ok, how do we make sure we leave each week saying that '44' (Sean Tucker) has touched the ball a few times.' That's something that we need to make sure that we do and get him involved in the game earlier on, so that we can – hey, if he is running well and getting some juice, he can keep going, but maybe tagging some things for him to just make sure that we can get him in and touching the ball."

(On if starting RB Sean Tucker in the second half is a good way to get him more touches)

"That's kind of what we have to be able to do is – it's so hard to be able to say, 'Ok, this guy on this play.' Now we're subbing in and out every play. We haven't been able to play with any tempo because we're changing personnels almost every play because we're trying to put holes in there. 'Ok, we have to fix this one, we have to move this guy.' The goal going into this year was to play an '11' personnel and be ready to go. Now we've had to kind of go this way and that way to go to '12' and '21', and different variations which is great. It gets other people involved but it also does make it harder on us to move those pieces around every play and that gets to be, at times, exhausting."

(On TE Devin Culp's development so far)

'I think Devin is continuing to grow. I think there's some natural challenges you have to get through as a rookie in this league. There's a lot more volume, as he's mentioned, coming from a spread no huddle system where he's just looking to the sideline for signals and now you have to get in the huddle and hear multiple plays called and still be able to go execute and, oh by the way, go run the right route and catch the ball and make a play with it. I think some of those things that he's continuing to grow with and learn, he needs to continue to get better on special teams to be impactful that way, but I do believe he'll continue to get better and hopefully we'll be able to use him at some point."

(On if one of the wide receivers on the team needs to step up and be a consistent option for QB Baker Mayfield opposite WR Mike Evans)

"I think it's collaborative, but yeah. I think the 'Shep's' (Sterling Shepard) of the world, the 'J-Mac's' (Jalen McMillan) of the world, the Trey Palmers, and those guys, the 'Rock's' (Rakim Jarrett) of the world – we need them to be open as much as possible. That's the one thing that maybe showed up a little bit last week, was that we've just got to win and the timing and the rhythm of, 'Oh, we have a backup tackle in, and we're having to chip, and we have to get the ball down the field, but when the ball needs to come out and the timing and the rhythm of the play, we need them open in that timing and rhythm of the play.' Those are some of the things that did kind of occur in that San Francisco game. When we needed the ball out, maybe we couldn't truly get it out at times. That's also on us, too, and helping put them in a position to get open and move them around a little bit, as well."

(On if WR Mike Evans' role in the offense will change in the absence of WR Chris Godwin)

"Maybe a little. It's just going to be hard to tell with Mike right now in terms of how much is he going to be able to go, if he can go? I don't know. How much do you want to send him all the way down the field on a long route or something because we're trying to be smart. We want to keep him going now if we get him back. I don't know if it'll fully change. It helps us, that's for sure. I know that. I don't know. That's a good question. In terms of being able to move him around a little bit more, I think that's something that we've got to do a nice job of as a staff – is he just out at one all the time? Is he in the slot? Is he at two? Is he at three? Being able to move him like we were moving those guys around earlier in the year – that could definitely help us."

(On the self-scouting that the coaching staff did during the Bye Week and if anything stuck out to them)

"It was more of just evaluating, 'Ok, we come into the season as an '11' personnel team, but now with how we've kind of had to shift in ways, it was more about [evaluating] what pecking order of personnels do we want to play in?' That could shift as we go. We've been '11,' '12,' and '21' – [those have been] the three prominent personnel groupings. Does it stay in that order is what we really had to evaluate by our personnel. Where are we most effective? Where can we be more effective if we give it more opportunities? That was really what we looked at. If you look at really just the last game, in terms of your self-scout…We stunk on third down and we didn't score touchdowns in the red zone. That was kind of ultimately what it came down to, and we had been pretty good in those situations up until that point."

LEFT TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS

(On the balance between wanting to get back out on the field and being cautious with his injury)

"For what we're trying to do down the stretch, I don't want to mess anything up, but at the same time, I don't want to let the boys down – I want to be out there with them, fighting. I think I definitely have to be a little smart. I got a couple of texts saying to be smart…I'm just trying to be out there and feel things out this week and see where I'm at and see how it is. I've definitely got to be smart."

(On what he sees from New York's defense)

"I think, obviously, their D-Line. I think a big thing is how they rush at [Metlife Stadium] compared to [elsewhere]...I was watching tape of [their game in] Munich and, obviously, Munich is a little [bit of a] slick field. They fly around when they're at home. Obviously, you've got Dexter Lawrence – what does he have, nine sacks? Nine sacks as a nose [tackle]. Big 'Dex,' he's a handful. They've got [Kayvon] Thibodeaux, they've got [Brian] Burns – they've got guys all across the board. I feel like I'm saying that every week. There are no pushovers in this league. We've got to come out ready to play. I know the guys upfront for us are always ready to go, always preparing – mentally and physically. That's going to be a big test for us."

(On the team's spirits being high)

"Obviously, coming off the Bye, you feel a little bit better – you kind of got away a little bit to reset your mind. At the same time, you've got to stay positive. You can't shell up, you can't go in a hole. You've got to come out here with a great attitude, try and get better, try and execute, work on the details, the fundamentals and come out here and fly around. You've got to make it fun and there's nothing more fun than coming out here and being with the boys. I think it's been a great week – guys were moving around in pads today, so that'll give us a little pop coming off the Bye. I think it's good."

(On the importance of this week's game)

"I think it's huge. I mean, this is a turning point – it's going to go one way or the other. I think, with the right mindset, we can make it go the way we want it to go."

-BUCCANEERS-