HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On if there were any players who would not have practiced today)

"I would say Jordan [Whitehead], Tykee [Smith], maybe one or two more that were nicked up that wouldn't have practiced. The rest of them were good."

(On playing a Dime package defense on third down against the New York Giants and what he likes about that package and how it might be impacted by the loss of S Jordan Whitehead)

"We had guys communicating on the field. Mike [Edwards] has been there before, so if we didn't have [him and Jordan Whitehead], obviously that limits us at safety, but other guys can do other things depending on what the game plan is during the week."

(On the state of S Jordan Whitehead's injury)

"I don't know [what] my estimate is because some people come back quicker, and some people stay out longer. I just try to hear what the trainers tell me and listen to how he progresses. When he's out there, I'll be happy. That's the best I can tell you. Some people can play through injuries but it's a significant injury for him, unfortunately. Jordan is tough – he's one of the toughest guys we've got. If he can get back, he's going to get back."

(On facing former Tampa Bay Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales as the Carolina Head Coach)

"It doesn't [change much]. I've coached against guys before. We're trying to concentrate on things we can do better. We understand what they can do – we know the players they have, we know the coaches they have. We still have to correct our little things. We corrected some things last Sunday – we've got to correct more of them this Sunday."

(On what the Panthers have been doing better in the last month)

"They've been playing solid defense and Bryce [Young] has been taking care of the football. He's been playing great. He can make things happen and they have a heck of a running back. Their running game has really picked up."

(On if Carolina RB Chuba Hubbard is underrated)

"He's very underrated."

(On Carolina Head Coach Dave Canales)

"Dave is a heck of a guy, he's a heck of a friend, he's a heck of a coach. You can see how his influence has taken over in Carolina. He's building a team. I'm happy for him. He's progressed very well. They've got a few coaches over there that I'm happy about, but on Sunday, he's going to do his best to beat me and I'm going to do my best to beat him."

(On Tampa Bay's turnaround in the ability to rush the ball year over year)

"We try to do everything right. We got better in the run game – we've got to get better in a few more things in the run game. You attribute it to the offensive line, you attribute it to the coaching staff, you attribute it to the running backs, tight ends, [wide] receivers blocking. It's all inclusive. It's going to be different every ballgame. We've got to keep it up and keep at it."

(On the status of OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka)

"He's the other one that didn't practice today."

(On how Carolina QB Bryce Young looks different after sitting for a few games, and how Head Coach Dave Canales is helping him)

"He's been playing good football of late that we've seen. He's been playing very good football. Dave's positivity and his coaching, period, is a good influence on him. It takes a while to learn offenses, no matter who you are. He's got a good handle on it right now. I think they've figured each other out – they're getting along, you can see it on the field."

(On Head Coaches receiving criticism like Canales did earlier this season)

"It comes with the territory. When you take this job, you're going to be open to criticism. The minute you say, 'This is my job,' every day is going to be criticized. You get praised when you win, you get criticized when you lose. I understand that, he understands that. You've just got to keep your head down and keep working."

(On how to continue the team's improvement in tackling)

"You've got to continue it. You've got to keep harping on it and keep pointing it out on tape and understanding angles and where you need to be and knowing where your help is and you act accordingly."

(On Tampa Bay's improvement in red zone offense compared to last year)

"Really, schematically, we've been running the ball well – that kind of opens up quite a few other things right there. They scheme it well and the guys do a good job of executing. I think Baker [Mayfield] does a great job of understanding situations down there. [Mayfield and Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen] do a great job of understanding each other – when we can take a shot, when we can run it, and taking advantage of certain things we see."

(On if outside pass rushers will benefit from the interior pressure provided by defensive linemen Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey)

"[They've] got to. Certain times, we were out of position, and we flushed it to them and they've got to stay up high. Last game, they had one of their better rushing games. It didn't show statistically, but from where we want them at, they made some progress there. It just has to show on the board. With the push up the pocket, they've got to fall into something. They can't just be antsy and try to come underneath too early."

(On NT Vita Vea playing fullback)

"We've been practicing Wildcat with him, so he can probably do some of those things. I gave that away [laughs]."

(On if the team has confidence because they feel they control their own destiny for the remainder of the season)

"That's how we feel. Our playoffs started last week. We've just got to keep our head down and take care of us. If we look up at the end and take care of us, we'll be fine."

(On the team's renewed focus on fundamentals and technique coming out of the Bye Week)

"I mean you can't tackle [in practice], but you can hone in on the basics. We can block better, handle doubles better, play double-teams better, we can take better angles in tackling, we can be where we need to be in zone coverage, we can break off our routes better. That's all fundamentals and technique as well – it's not just tackling, it's all the little things that go with that. We've been practicing and harping on that for us to get better."

(On his Thanksgiving plans)

"I mean, we're going to work. We're going to come in tomorrow, come in a little early, and they'll get out. My only tradition is I've got to have a slice of sweet potato pie."

(On what he's thankful for)

"I'm thankful every day I get up and get to live, thankful for my family, thankful for the team, the coaches – just thankful to be alive and having fun."

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR LIAM COEN

(On the performance of the offensive line against the New York Giants, and their growth this season)

"I think when we got going, especially later on, more in the second half, we started to really run it better. Early in the game, they were doing a good job of holding us to about three-yard runs. We had a few decent hits, but we ended up throwing it a little bit more to open it up, in terms of the run game, where we threw for 230 [yards] at the half and then we said, 'Hey, okay, second half, we've got a lead, let's really try to run the ball here.' I thought they did a nice job, and I thought, up front, like you mentioned, those guys stepped up to a huge task and a huge challenge. 'Skuley' (Justin Skule), 'Bred' (Ben Bredeson) inside, Graham [Barton], Cody [Mauch] – I mean, all of those guys, really. There wasn't a ton of pressure on the quarterback and they were number one in the league in sacks. They hadn't allowed 30 points, I don't think, up to that point. The guys did a good job. We've just got to finish better. We've got to finish better. If Baker [Mayfield] just pulls the ball on the fourth down…I said, 'Just go walk and pull it and slide and get the first [laughs].' No, we went as [the offensive line] went. It was great to have Mike [Evans] back, it was great to have some of the skill players make plays, but we went as the O-Line went."

(On if he views RB Sean Tucker as a goal line running back)

"You try to look for some of those situational football things to give guys roles to make it easier for us in terms of rotating and things like that. Whether we continue to go that way or not, I couldn't really tell you. It was more that was kind of the thought coming off the Bye [Week], was to get him in on the first drive, get him in as we kind of talked about in here, to get him in the flow of the game early."

(On having WR Mike Evans back in the fold)

"Huge. Huge. Just his presence alone – what it does, what you can, at times, dictate, in terms of trying to see the defensive structure you're going to get…And his confidence, his ability to go win one-on-one routes, and give us some plays down the field, more so in that intermediate range that we were trying to get into a little bit this past week. He's such a good dude, it's always good to have him back. I think the players draw confidence when he's back, as well."

(On QB Baker Mayfield running downfield to block for RB Bucky Irving)

"Nope, [We don't] practice [that], but it is encouraging, in a way, because our thought process as a unit is to play for each other. That's all we talk about – what you put on tape, your teammates are going to see. Everybody is going to see. If you put kind of crummy effort on tape and you have an opportunity to get a block on somebody for your buddy and you don't do it, well they might look at you a little funky the next time. I do think it's a product of him and how he's wired and the type of person he is, but also, trying to exemplify how we want to play the game on offense, as well."

(On what makes an offense good in the red zone)

"Not really having a lot of tendencies, I think, is a huge thing in the red zone. The field shrinks, but are you either run or pass? Or are you run, pass, keeper, screen? Different types of plays, I guess you could say…Trying to mix in different personnel packages to stay out of the predictability of the game and trying to give them different looks, maybe plays-off-of-plays in the red zone. I haven't looked – I have no idea where we are in the red zone in the National Football League…I have no clue. I do think that when you can run it in the red zone, things are a lot easier. They just are. We ended up, against Kansas City, running from the nine[-yard line] and getting in; against the 49ers, Bucky [Irving] ran it in; and then last week, we had a few runs that weren't goal line runs that ended up in the endzone, which is really helpful."

(On what RB Bucky Irving can take on while still being able to succeed in both the pass game and the run game)

"It's just finding that balance, like what can he truly handle without thinning out the integrity of his footwork, his read, his blitz protection, his check-down responsibility? Those things can sometimes get thinned out and sometimes when production is over processed, you can hit a wall. You also don't want to overcoach things either. If his footwork isn't perfectly clean on a play-action check down but he still caught the ball and gained 32 yards on it or whatever it is, we're not going to overcoach this in some ways. Even still, I think you talk to him and see like some of his slash running on the screen that we threw to him that almost scored – should've probably scored – and he sees these things and hopefully will continue to grow from them."

(On if there is a lot more room to grow for RB Bucky Irving)

"There is, yeah. He's also making some unbelievable plays. The one Rachaad [White] made on a critical play in the red zone on a screen versus man coverage that really should've been blown up and he makes something out of completely nothing. That's what they're able to do right now. As a play caller, that makes things easier."

(On if the running back's versatility is considered in the process of choosing to play more pony personnel on offense)

"It's interesting. I mean, we go through the entire season of '21' whether it's pony or whatever the package is, and there hasn't been really a snap of man coverage to that package so you can dictate some things a little bit and what you're going to get. Yeah, we looked at it on the Bye and said, 'Ok, well where are all of our best players? How do we get them more involved? How do we get them as many touches as we can without thinning out the integrity of what we're trying to get done here.' So yeah, as they go, in a lot of ways, we do as well. With those backs – their production – when they're making people miss and making something out of nothing and gaining yards, we're typically having some good nights."

(On RB Rachaad White and QB Baker Mayfield having back-to-back games with a missed exchange)

"Well, that was a play we've practiced now for a number of weeks, you know, put it in the pistol in order to try to get on the perimeter sooner. It was a combination of errors there between the snap not being perfect, the [running] back leaving a little early, Baker not being flat enough. You know, we kind of have a lot of ball handling back there with some of the misdirections and things like that and it makes you kind of look and say, 'Well hey, is it too much on them? Do we have to pull it off of them a little bit?' You never want to truly do that unless it is an issue and that was an issue."

(On if having more explosive plays in the pass game is a result of WR Mike Evans being back)

"It was a combination. I mean we looked at… obviously we know where we are in terms of yards-per-attempt, like we understand where we are. We also know that the quarterback is at 71% completion percentage so that's something that you want to continue but what we looked at a little was, 'Ok, can we call some of these actions while still giving him good check downs [where] he's going to make the right decision and still be able to find a completion.' First play of the game, we run two-man route concepts with check downs. I mean, we catch that ball – it might've been about 15-20 [yards] on the sideline there. That was the one incomplete that we did have on play action the other day, and you saw him make plays and other guys made plays as well so yeah, we'll continue to do that as we go."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's efficiency and how he has taken it to another level this season)

"Yeah, I think, it's just knowing your personnel, knowing the guy, right? I mean he's at his best when he's spinning the ball, when the ball is able to come out on time and in rhythm. As much as we can do that without just throwing quick game all day – that's not what we're trying to get done – we're trying to attack the defense as many ways as we can. It just so happens that getting the ball out of his hands quickly and getting people at the right spots at the right times in space has been good for us. So, I think it's probably a combination of [him] and Thad [Lewis], their work together, and our work together as a group getting his feet, his mind and everything, and his reads, on time. Then, also, just playing to the guy's strengths."

(On the strengths of the Carolina Panthers defense)

"I think just as a team, they're playing some better football now. I mean, you look at that game [against Kansas City], they could've easily won that football game. They've been in some really tight games. You look at [Jadeveon] Clowney, who still has juice. You look at, obviously, [Jaycee] Horn, who is one of the best corners, if not the [best] corner in the National Football League. You look at [Josey] Jewell and Trevin Wallace at the second level – those are guys that… I'm familiar with Trevin, and Jewell I've coached against a number of years – he's a smart football player. I know they're well-coached, I know that for sure. I know those guys that are coaching them. I know the kind of DNA and what they're made of. I know they're sound, they're trying to do all of the right things. We know what this kind of game is going to be like – this is going to be a football game."

(On if Panthers Head Coach Dave Canales has any advantage from coaching QB Baker Mayfield in terms of giving advice to his defensive staff)

"I mean, maybe in a way. Maybe in a way, but sometimes I feel like some of that information can almost hurt where like you tell him to do this, but it's like if you just let the guys go play and don't overanalyze it, sometimes it works out better. I'm sure he has the ability to give 'E' (Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero) some points on maybe some things he thinks might affect Baker in a way, but we're also running a different offense."

(On how close WR Mike Evans' hamstring is to 100 percent and how his progression is coming along)

"I couldn't tell you the number, I just know he is feeling better. We wanted to obviously get him as involved as we could without putting him in any sort of danger. He felt good, he felt solid and I'm hoping that it will continue to grow and get better week after week. We've just got to be smart with him, though."

(On how he has seen RB Bucky Irving grow in the pass game)

"He's got really natural hands. All of those [running] backs really do. When you have those guys that – I played with Victor Cruz at 'UMass' (the University of Massachusetts) – have the ability to catch the ball but [are] already ready to make the move on the next defender, that's challenging as a defender. I don't care who it is. When that guy has the ability to catch the ball anywhere – because he has really good hands – while also still being able to make a move on the defender, that is difficult. That is challenging to be able to tackle. So yeah, you continue to see his development in the pass game [which] will be able to help us really win games."

RUN GAME COORDINATOR/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH KACY RODGERS

(On the growth of DL Calijah Kancey)

"Coming back off the injury, I think now he's playing with a lot more confidence. On a couple of plays the other [day], he looked really explosive. It's kind of nice to see him playing full speed now. Him and Vita [Vea], they really work well together and they kind of play off each other, which kind of helps."

(On facing former Tampa Bay Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales and how that changes the game plan)

"It doesn't make it any easier. The thing we know with Dave being here and being able to practice against him [is] when you watch them play, it's not really the same system…It's the same system but it's dressed a lot differently than it was here. From our standpoint, you can try to look at it and say, 'How are they using the people the way he used the people here?' We're looking at more of the matchups, because the system is going to be the system."

(On stopping Carolina RB Chuba Hubbard)

"The thing is, you're not going to beat Carolina if you can't stop him. He's, to me, one of the most underrated [running] backs in the league. He's fifth [ranked in rushing yards], but I think he deserves a lot more praise than we actually give him. He's a tremendous, tremendous [running] back. He's had success against us in the past and he's had success [against] a lot of people this year if you really look at it. When they get the running game going, it sets up all of their play actions and he's a big part of that. He's got a lot of explosives."

(On what Tampa Bay's defense did differently against the New York Giants)

"The thing is, the communication was really good – that we've been kind of harping on. We didn't have a lot of mistakes. For a while there, the [Buccaneers] were really beating the [Buccaneers], we felt like. Now, I really felt like we cut down mistakes and we played fast and it looks like it showed up on film."

(On NT Vita Vea playing offense)

"I was like, 'Find him, and you've got a good idea of where it's going [laughs].' That was impressive. My first question was, as a matter of fact, I asked [Justin] Peelle, 'Did he get a mental error on the play or was he good?' They said he was good, so we're proud of that."

(On DB Christian Izien)

"We talked about it earlier in the year – the flexibility of him playing all nickel last year, then spending all spring at safety, and he went out to corner one game to finish the game. He's been all over for us. It's amazing that he didn't get drafted. We want to be a pressure defense and to be able to play man [coverage] and he can play man. He tackles and he just makes plays. The thing with him is he's wearing a lot of hats. With our defense, the nickel, the safety, and the corner – [those can be] three totally different jobs and he'd have to play all three of them in the same game. My hat goes off to him and we want him to keep striving."

(On how comforting it is to have S Mike Edwards back in the building)

"We got Mike in the game right away. Having him back, Mike has really good recall. The stuff we were doing, he kind of knows his role. Nick [Rapone] spent extra time with him and Mike got up to speed in a hurry. With Jordan [Whitehead] getting banged up, I'm glad we've got him here."

(On Tampa Bay not having an interception as of late)

"We had a couple of shots the other day. We've just got to finish the plays. We had some in our hands. We're getting our hands on more balls and if we just keep coming, they'll come. First, we weren't even close to people, now we're close to people. The closer to them, the more you get hands on balls, things will happen."

(On Carolina QB Bryce Young's recent play after sitting for a few games)

"If we can try to make him one dimensional – that's kind of anybody we play, we want to make them one dimensional. If they get the running game going, it opens up their play-action pass game, then their max-pro[tection]-and-shot pass game, then that becomes problematic. The thing you're seeing with their quarterback right now that was different than earlier in the year is when it's not there, he's making plays with his legs. He's using his athleticism. As you know, these mobile quarterbacks are problematic. He's taking what's there, and if it's not there, he's making plays with his feet or if it's not there, he's throwing it away. I think his decision making is really, really a thing that jumps out since he's come back as the starter."

(On what he appreciated about Carolina Head Coach Dave Canales when he was Tampa Bay's Offensive Coordinator)

"He was the same guy every day. He was always positive and upbeat. Have you ever met a guy – I say, very similar to Todd [Bowles] – that never had a bad day? Dave was the same guy every day – very consistent, at that. That's the thing that stood out to me. And it was genuine – he was the same guy every day from the time he got up. Players call tell if you're [being authentic] with them or not. With Dave, if he tells you something, you can take it to the bank. I think that consistency and genuineness [are] the best attributes about him."

QUARTERBACK BAKER MAYFIELD

(On if the team believes that they control their own destiny for the remainder of the season)

"Yeah, I mean obviously after the game, getting the win over the Giants and then looking at where we're at right now and saying, 'Ok, if we just handle it one week at a time – control your own destiny.' I haven't looked at all the scenarios but I know if we control our own destiny and we take care of that then good things can happen and we'll go from there. So yeah, it's very similar to last year's mindset – one game at a time, and see where that takes us."

(On how there is no margin for error in order to make the playoffs)

"No, there's not. We've had a lot of close games before the Bye Week – that margin of error – we were on the wrong side of things, hurt ourselves a lot. I think we're looking at those games, learning from it, and moving forward."

(On his thoughts on NT Vita Vea coming in on offense at the goal line)

"He's a big man, I'll say that. Clearing out – whatever run play we have – the run lane for us, he's a good guy to do that. I'm not sure if I would want to be on the other side of that – a full head of steam by Vita. We'll put him on the JUGS machine this week and see where he can go."

(On if he feels like this is the most balanced offense he's been a part of with the Buccaneers)

"This is the most balance offense I've been in, strictly – obviously, you talk about the scheme that we've brought in and how we're executing the run game now, and then just the different personnels that we've been forced to get into and learn and grow in with the injuries that we've had. It's fun to see. It's fun to see the different packages that we can have and the stuff that we can… You know, plays off of plays, still calling your bread and butter – the stuff that if it [isn't broken] don't fix it. But then, going from there, it's a really balanced attack obviously. Everybody is playing well, 11 guys touching the ball – that's big time so that means whatever package we have out there, everybody can get the ball."

(On what excites him about the explosive plays RB Bucky Irving has been making)

"It's extremely explosive. Throwing basically a screen pass to Bucky on a check down during quick game and having him break a couple tackles and reverse field for 30-something yards – that's huge. Those are simple plays that if the down-the-field shot is not there or whatever, I can feel good about checking it down and we're still going to have a positive play. That goes back to taking care of the ball, not forcing things, trusting our guys to make plays."

(On if he has a favorite play that RB Bucky Irving has made this year)

"There's been quite a few. It's kind of hard to choose from. The against the Saints one was pretty good."

(On if he had planned to run down field to get a block on RB Bucky Irving's run or if it was spur of the moment)

"No, I don't normally plan on running that far. I'm more of a phone booth guy. You know, obviously trying to carry out my fake on the backside of a run. When it reverses field, [I] want to get involved, obviously being safe. I thought I was going to block the guys on his left and I could tell he was looking to the right, so I just had to correct my angle."

(On what it's like to have the offense succeed with both RB Bucky Irving and RB Rachaad White in '21' personnel)

"When we have both those guys in there, it's pretty dynamic. You really don't know how a defense is going to try to play you because we've started to grow in that package and go from there from where we first started. [We're] just trying to get those guys the ball in space. It's fun to watch them support each other and really feed off each other. They're both extremely dynamic players. Just get the ball in their hands – hand it off, or throw it to them. They both catch so naturally so it's hard to beat. It's really fun to watch those two guys work together."

(On if it's important to him as a leader to play until the end of games)

"If you think about it, even in the games we've won, we still haven't played four good clean quarters of football. Having two plays to get a first down in the end, Coach [Todd] Bowles telling us that on the sideline… I probably should've pulled the ball on the fourth down, [I was] a little bit timid there. But yeah, it's about the killer instinct, to be able to finish the game on your own terms, kneel out the clock, and that really sets a tone. I have no problem with it."

(On the key to returning from the Bye Week with energy and focus)

"It's just everybody taking accountability. All of the stuff that – we lost however many games in a row there – all the little things that added up to those losses. It's making sure you come focused, refreshed after the Bye, but ready to roll, fixing things that we had hurt ourselves with and go from there. That's a credit to everybody just getting away [or] whatever they did and being ready to roll for the last seven weeks and see where we go."

(On how instrumental Carolina Head Coach Dave Canales was in Mayfield's positive start here)

"Dave – the whole group that we had here when I first game in – obviously Dave, being the optimist bully that he is, just always 'the sun is going to shine again' [belief] and next play. It was weird. It was rare that you see a coach that actually embodied that 'next play is the most important one' we're-never-out-of-the-fight type mentality. He took that literal, day to day, so it was a different kind of energy than I think anybody had been around but it was good for everybody. You build off that, you build some confidence, and then you keep a lot of the core group, and you keep some of those same principles."

(On what contributes to the improved first-quarter scoring)

"[At the] first meeting of OTAs, Liam [Coen] talked about – he got up there on the stage with the offense in the team room – talked about starting fast. You know, our brand of football is fast, physical, and being extremely smart football players and understanding how we want to attack people. When you have your game plan, your priority calls, you know what Liam wants to call, what he wants to get done. He goes over that with us the night before the game and so guys are tuned in to that. It's Liam partially, with the scheme and the rest of our offensive staff all being on the same page, but then it's our guys understanding what Liam is trying to get done and going and doing it."

(On what about this offense is allowing him to complete 70% of his passes)

"You know, completion percentage is obviously the play calls and scheme, but trust with the receivers and then also, like I keep saying to you guys, letting the defense dictate where the ball needs to go. Not trying to force things, not trying to do too much, move through progressions, and then it goes back to check downs and simple things that are easy throws that these guys are making explosive plays off of. It's me just trusting that and trusting the guys that we have, and we have the right group to do that."

(On what his Thanksgiving plate and day looks like)

"It's a lot of food, definitely an elastic waistband. You know, the normal standard operating procedure for mostly everybody. It's about watching football, hanging out with loved ones, and just enjoying a good meal. It's a special time around the holidays always but obviously in the NFL, you're away from a lot of your loved ones. You're able to spend time with your teammates and that's also awesome because you go through all of this stuff together and then your able to share a holiday like that together. It makes it even more special."

(On if he eats triple helpings of Thanksgiving meal like OLB Jose Ramirez)

"I don't know about that. That's a lot of food for me."

(On the legal action taken on his behalf in an attempt to recoup lost money)

"This has been a process going on for a while now but I am not going to get into any details there. But yeah, it's something that Emily and I have been dealing with for a lot longer than people know. It's just a matter of the news is breaking now but yeah, I'm not going to get into details."

(On how he and his wife Emily are doing now)

"We're good. [We've] got a beautiful baby girl, seven and a half months old, living in Tampa, [I got] extended, great group around me. I [have] got no complaints."

(On what the Panthers have shown on film recently)

"They're playing extremely well as a unit. They've had a lot of guys – a lot of turnover at certain spots. Obviously, we have Troy Hill here now. He was their nickel so there's some turnover there – some of their edge guys. But they're playing well as a unit. You see Jadeveon Clowney up front, I think Josey Jewell is playing really well at the linebacker position and then Jaycee Horn looks like he's playing the best he has in a while. Obviously, when he's healthy, he's an extremely good player. They're playing really well, looks like they're on the same page – obviously year two with that system on defense – that some of those guys are understanding it a lot more because that defense asks you a lot mentally. They look more comfortable in it."

-BUCCANEERS-