HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the team returning to practice after a day off, and if there were any mental errors)

"[It was] a lot of small, technical stuff – especially on third-and-short on both sides of the ball. We've got to shore that up. Again, the details in situational football is what's going to get us over when your legs are tired and it's hot outside. You've got to be sharp, mentally."

(On what the key is to get WR Chris Godwin into the endzone)

"We're early this year. Obviously, it's practice. Last year, him and Mike [Evans] were the two go-to guys. Mike made a lot of plays and they took Chris away some. This year, hopefully we're trying to get both in the endzone. He had some good plays today."

(On CBs Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollum recording interceptions in practice today)

"I like their ability to make plays. I'm going to get [Jamel] Dean drug tested, because he usually doesn't catch them. We're going to see if he's been on that stuff or not [laughs]. Other than that, they're concentrating more on understanding where their help is. They came back in good shape and they're kind of talking to each other after every play about what they see and the communication has been good."

(On if it's been a point of emphasis to bring in interceptions this year)

"Everybody on defense has to do that. We got our hands on some balls today – we've got to continue to do that."

(On what he sees from OT Luke Goedeke going into year three)

"Luke is going to continue to get better. He's a tireless worker. He's strong as an ox. He loves to compete every day. You've got to protect him from himself because he wants to get better – he wants to take every rep. The game slowed down a lot for him last year. I thought he did a lot of good things. This year, I look for him to continue to get better and better. I thought he played well last year a lot of times. I think he understands how the quick D-linemen are, how the strong ones are, and understands what to do and [how to] set up his blocks better."

(On if Goedeke and QB Baker Mayfield are 'two peas in a pod')

"I think [Mayfield is] good with the whole O-line. In general, I think everybody is good with Baker, but the O-line, especially, because they do the protection. They get along well. They kind of have the same personality, so to speak, when they get fired up. It's just good chemistry right now."

(On if he thinks QB Baker Mayfield's arm talent has improved)

"I think it's early to say whether he's better or not, but his ball placement the last few days has been very good. Understanding the offense and picking it up as fast as he has, and distributing it to the right places…He's got to continue to do that."

(On the tight end room)

"They're still young. They're going into their third year. Cade [Otton] is steady. You don't notice him because he's not flashy, but he always makes the big catch or he always makes a key block. Ko [Kieft] is just coming off of injury. We look for a lot of things from Payne [Durham] this year. He's gotten stronger – we expect that from him; we're counting on that. [David] Wells has a lot of speed [and] he gives us a dimension we don't have. [Devin] Culp has a lot of speed, as well, and he's a gritty blocker. As camp continues to grow, we just look for them to polish that up."

(On if he could have asked for a better start to training camp)

"I think it's been off to a great start with the chemistry and camaraderie. Those guys are working. They're making mistakes, but they're professionals – they're correcting it, they're understanding what's happening to them, and they're trying to get each other better."

(On the Buccaneers not having to deal with hold outs or injuries like other teams)

"Not yet. Knock on wood. We've been fortunate, but again, we go in pads tomorrow, so as camp goes, hopefully they're minor injuries if any. We'll go from there."

(On his expectations for tomorrow's first day of practice with pads on)

"Just fundamentals and technique. It's the first day of pads. It's going to be hot. They've been practicing for a while – legs are going to be gone. We've got to harp on the fundamentals and the techniques for them to get better and do things the right way."

(On the decision to schedule practices in such a way where the players had an off day, followed by a day without pads, followed by beginning to practice with pads)

"It's a mental grind, daily. Whether they're in pads or out of pads, the heat alone is a mental grind. It develops mental toughness. I can say it's better, but I'm not practicing. It's easy for me to say it. The players will sit up here and say, 'Well it's not much better,' because they've got to go in pads tomorrow, but they understand that you've got to play football in pads. You can't play ball without practicing ball – we expect that. We understand what to expect and I expect them to come out and compete."

(On S Kaevon Merriweather returning to practice)

"It's good to see him back. He's moving around a little bit. He's got some catching up to do, mentally, [and] he's got some technique stuff he's got to clean up, but he's running fast."

(On what he learned about QB Kyle Trask over the last year)

"He's one of the more mentally tougher guys I've seen – especially at quarterback, as a backup quarterback. He grasps it, he understands it, he competes when he gets in. No moment is too big for him. I'm proud of the way he's handled things and the way he's come back in shape and picking up the offense."

(On the competition at long snapper)

"I expect a big competition. Every year, it's hard to get them in here. Zach [Triner] has been a stalwart here for a long time. [Evan] Deckers has come in… The games usually tell that. Who can play under pressure?"

(On what he's seen from WR Trey Palmer so far this training camp)

"We know he's fast. I think he's polishing up his routes [and] understanding the techniques better. He's a gritty blocker. I just look for him to get better in year two, mentally."

(On if he's most excited to see C Graham Barton in pads)

"It's the O-line in general, as well as the defensive line. That's when they get to show their full skillsets and the power comes in, and double-teams and taking on double-teams and understanding what the D-line gets. You get more of a feel of what you're going to get during the season. It'll be good work for both sides."

(On whether LGs Ben Bredeson or Sua Opeta will start tomorrow)

"We knock them in there. We rotate them. We're not even worried about that right now."

(On LB Kalen DeLoach)

"He's fast and he's athletic. It's just picking up the system. We know he can run, we know he can hit – it's just being vocal and picking up the system. It's a lot to pick up, but he's learning it fast."

(On if there's any update on OLB Randy Gregory)

"There's no change at this time."

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CALIJAH KANCEY

(On the physicality and speed of the defense)

"For me, with it being year two, I got everything down on what they're trying to do. It's just really attacking it and making sure I'm still getting the work in. Even though it's not as physical, it's more mental, as far as just being attentive to detail."

(On tomorrow's practice being the first day of pads)

"For the offensive line and defensive line in the trenches, we're pretty much going until… We keep each other protected but it's not much [of] a difference, but there's definitely going to be more advantages towards each other. Being able to grab onto pads and stuff like that to create separation with a little 'pop.'"

(On quarterback pressures being important)

"Quarterback pressures and sacks mean just as much as everything to me. I feel like if I could do that then I'm definitely causing havoc, even though it might not show up on the stat sheet. It's still… I'm helping someone else out on my team."

(On what he works on with Defensive Line coach Kacy Rodgers)

"I would say my defensive line coach, coach Kacy [Rodgers],he always harp[s] on us, making sure we have violent hands, making sure that we're winning the rub even if we didn't make the play [and] just not being uncomfortable with other guys having their hands on us, because it could become a bad habit, and that's something that you don't want."

(On what his goals are for this season)

"I definitely want to be an All-Pro – Pro Bowl. I want to go double-digit sacks this year, and I want to contribute to the team."

(On former Buccaneers DL Gerald McCoy giving him advice at practice)

"He was telling me [that] when I'm working a technique, just on my finish, I got through, but if I want to get a clean one, then the way he was showing me with the arm-over on the finish to help me get through clearer – that's what he was talking to me about."

(On the differences between college and professional football)

"This league is a copycat league. If you put something on tape week one, you'll see it for the next five, six, seven weeks, and you have to hurry up and get it off tape and fix it, or they're going to keep doing it. You have to make adjustments"

(On his injury last season)

"I kind of started slow last year. I didn't get a chance to finish camp, and then I came out [in] week one and got hurt again. It was like a setback for me, and the last time I put on pads and did everything 'really' football was November of [2022]. I was really behind, so by the time November came I was just knocking off the rust and getting used to it and getting in my groove. I'm definitely excited, in better shape, the body feels good, and I'm able to get those things out [of] the way now in training camp."

(On the team chemistry)

"It's awesome when everyone on the team has that one goal. We're all trying to achieve the same goal. It's awesome because we're going to gravitate to one mission and just stay on the right track. There's no one thinking otherwise. There's no selfishness on this team. Everyone's all in on one goal and that's to win."

RIGHT TACKLE LUKE GOEDEKE

(On the intensity of training camp increasing entering Week two)

"It definitely ramps up. We are always practicing at a fast speed, but as you get more and more in pads, like from spiders to shells to full pads, intensity and speed only continue to increase and everything. It presents new challenges and everything."

(On the differences between the Tampa Bay's offensive schemes from last season to the upcoming season)

"It's a completely new, different offense. We have more motions than I have ever seen in my life, and we have different schemes. It's a lot more extensive, and everything is a lot more for the defense to lock in on."

(On how practicing every day against Tampa Bay's talented defensive line makes him a better player)

"It's completely invaluable to play against our defensive line. We have a phenomenal defensive line. From our outside [linebackers] to our interior [linemen], with Caliah [Kancey] and Vita [Vea], we have Yaya [Diaby] and Joe [Tyron-Shoyinka]. Yaya has definitely taken a tremendous jump; Tristan [Wirfs] and I have talked about it. Just the physical traits he possesses and the difficulty he's going to give tackles in the whole [NFL] will be interesting. I am grateful to go against him in practice because he only prepares us for the great [defensive ends] across the league. Hats off to our whole D-line. We have Anthony Nelson as well; it is very extensive. We have a great D-line."

(On how his relationship with T Tristan Wirfs has affected him as a player and person)

"It's huge. [My] childhood dream was to get drafted, and I remember idolizing Tristan when I was in college and everything. The fact that I got drafted here, and now I get to play with him and have had the success we have so far and will continue to have is truly a blessing. I can't emphasize how grateful I am for the guy. Coming out here every day, whether in the offseason or in-season, always putting in the work together, always bouncing off ideas together, even just the camaraderie outside of football. [He is] just an all-around great guy, and I am forever grateful that he is one of my great friends."

WIDE RECEIVER TREY PALMER

(On leaving practice early and then returning)

"Yeah, I had a little [finger] jam. Wide receiver things – [it's] nothing too major."

(On bringing in a deep pass from QB Baker Mayfield today in practice)

"We're just working on it, really. Practice makes perfect and that's what we come out here to do. Practice makes perfect."

(On if there was a check into that particular play)

"No, that's just what we do. We're just getting the connection going."

(On what his main focus was when he was training in the offseason)

"Really, just working on my footwork and getting into the new playbook, really. We've got a new offensive coordinator and everything, so I'm really just grinding, for real. Same thing as last year – just grinding and working. No days off."

(On him battling with WR Jalen McMillan for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart)

"We need everybody – all hands on deck. We're just helping each other and growing together as a brotherhood, really. He came in, we're working with him and we're just working together, for real."

(On injuring his finger at practice)

"No, I just jammed it a little bit. Wide receiver things."

(On learning from players like WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin)

"I'm really just blessed to be in this position, to be [with] a future Hall of Famer – two Hall of Famers – and really just learning from them and taking everything in still. I'm still just amazed and blessed that I'm coming in here every day, just working with those guys."

(On if Evans and Godwin have good practice habits)

"Yeah, it's just practice. In the game, it's going to come natural, but in practice is where you make perfect."

(On the difference between year one and year two for him)

"There really [isn't any] difference, you feel me? It's just like each year you come here to work, work, work. That's how you accomplish things and get 'W's' and stuff."

(On if he feels more comfortable and confident now)

"I've always been confident. It's really just me learning the playbook and going out there and playing fast."

(On how he's grasping the new offensive scheme)

"I'm a fast learner, so I learn playbooks easily. I've had a similar offense because I came from LSU to Nebraska – we hadn't different offensive coordinators there. I'm just a fast learner, for real. I'm just taking it in."

(On the new kickoff format and if he might return kicks)

"Just the get the ball in my hands and I'm going to make plays, you feel me?"

(On his impressions of Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen)

"Explosive. He's an explosive guy. He likes to make the plays fundamental – the small things, really, and just get after it."

(On having success his rookie season but still feeling like there's room to grow)

"I don't really think about the past. I only worry about where I'm at and where my feet are today. I'm blessed that I'm here today. I'm really just going day-by-day still."

(On how QB Baker Mayfield looks and how their relationship is developing)

"It's just a new year, a new player. Everybody is coming out here to work and really trying to get the connection down – make the throws, timing on time, you feel me? Just be more explosive than we [were] last year."

-BUCCANEERS-