HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On the first day of practicing with pads on, and if LT Tristan Wirfs will participate in any padded elements of team drills during training camp)

"The first day of pads I thought went pretty [well]. Obviously, we've got some technique things to clean up. As for Tristan, we talked before practice. I know he was only doing individual period [drills]. He's here in good faith while his contract is getting done. We're trying in good faith to negotiate a contract. Hopefully something gets worked out soon. The fact that he's here and not holding out…When he gets it done, or whenever that gets done, he can come and step in and not lose any plays, mentally, by being here."

(On if Wirfs is completely healthy right now)

"Yes."

(On which defensive backs have performed well in terms of cross training between multiple positions)

"I think all of them. This is the first time that we've had safeties that can play free, strong, and – at least over half of them – nickel [cornerback]. [Kaevon] Merriweather can play free [safety] and strong [safety], Tavierre [Thomas] can play free [safety], strong [safety], and nickel [cornerback], Tykee [Smith] can play free [safety], strong [safety] and nickel [cornerback], as can Jordan [Whitehead] and 'Win' (Antoine Winfield Jr.). We've got a lot of guys back there and [Marcus] Banks is a good athlete, as well. We've got a lot of guys back there that we're moving around and seeing who moves well and stays where. It's pretty good, athletically."

(On the difference between S Jordan Whitehead from when the Buccaneers drafted him as opposed to now)

"He's more experienced, obviously. He went to a different system. He was in our system before he left and he went and experienced a different system and had some success. He came back here and he's a lot more experienced that way. You can tell his footwork has cleaned up quite a bit. Even before he left, we were hesitant playing him on third downs. Right now, I wouldn't even hesitate. He looks great out there. He has a great intelligence of the game and what we're trying to do. Him and 'Win' (Antoine Winfield Jr.) try and disguise all the time and they're becoming interchangeable that way. [We are] very happy with where he is right now."

(On if Whitehead's biggest change is in his mental approach or his physical game)

"I mean, he was young when we had him. If you go away for two years, you're going to come back and learn some things and you're going to become a better pro, a better athlete. You're going to take care of your body more. It feels like we got him right in his prime right now, coming back here. His mindset was always great. Just coming back in shape, picking up the system where he left off…[He is learning] a few new things, but the communication with him and 'Win' (Antoine Winfield Jr.) has never wavered."

(On what he has seen from CB Keenan Isaac)

"I think he had two good practices between today and yesterday. He's kind of picked it up and got his hands on balls. He's very long, he's very heady, he has good change of direction. It's just understanding the scheme more and knowing when he can take advantage of his situations is what I'm trying to see."

(On his impressions of C Graham Barton and WR Jalen McMillan in their first day of practicing with pads on)

"I've got to watch the tape. I can't keep eyes on all of them. I've seen a play or two, but not enough to sit down and say, 'They did this, or they did that.' There's a lot of people I'm looking at there. After I watch the tape and see everything, I'll get a feel."

(On how he thought the team performed in terms of discipline, as there were referees officiating practice)

"Again, I've got to look at the tape. A lot of flags [were thrown]. I want them to be ticky-tack now, so we can learn it so we don't have them during the season. I said [on] anything close, they need to throw the flag and they need to learn from it – we need to learn from it. We'll see what the flags look like."

(On what kind of growth he's seen from the team over the last week)

"We've had mistakes and mental errors, but it hasn't been sloppy. Normally, you have those sloppy days to start, or especially after a day off. They haven't been sloppy. There have been technical things we have to clean up. They've been very mature since they got here. Obviously, we have a lot of work to do, but where we are right now – mentally – has been pleasing."

(On if the team will scrimmage during the night practice tomorrow night)

"We'll see how practice goes. Sometimes we'll go live a little bit, and sometimes we'll just go straight through to practice. Depending on how practice goes, we'll talk as coaches tonight and we'll see how it goes tomorrow."

(On if there's a reason for tomorrow's practice being at night)

"For us, the first day in pads, you know it's going to be hot and they're going to be a little drained. You want [them] to stay off their feet a little bit more and give them a little extra rest. You still come out and have a productive practice. The fact that it's indoors and they've got a little more time to rest, it helps out a little bit with the body."

(On his impressions of S Kaevon Merriweather today)

"It's good to see him running around. He's been very vocal. He hasn't lost anything, mentally, which has been great for him. It's a credit to him studying off the field. He's been moving around a lot faster and he's just got to keep it up."

(On if there's a particular position group that he thinks will be tough to determine who makes the roster)

"I think, as a whole, it's going to be a lot tougher. When you get better athletes and you get good players, there's going to be more competition. The fact that everybody is kind of young right now…It's going to be tough."

(On if he thinks the team is more confident than last year)

"I think because [Baker Mayfield] is settled in, you see a lot more confidence in the squad and a lot more confidence in each other. The fact that we went pretty far last year – for us, not far enough – but you see some confidence and some hope. They come back maturity-wise and understanding what they have to do. We're just trying not to beat ourselves."

(On if there's a competition for the backup quarterback spot)

"There's a competition everywhere. [Kyle] Trask and 'Wolf' (John Wolford) have competition, as well."

LEFT TACKLE TRISTAN WIRFS

(On what the process of working on a new contract has been like)

"I mean, obviously it would have been nice for it to have been done already, but that's part of the business that I'm still learning about. But it's all been good. I was here all offseason training. Everyone knows I like it here, so it's just working on getting it done, but it's been good."

(On teammates like QB Baker Mayfield and WR Mike Evans having gone through the same process)

"Baker has had my back, everyone's had my back this whole time. There's no bad blood anywhere. But I was like, I've got to be out here with the guys, I've got to do something. But, no, those guys have been good."

(On striking a balance between working with the team and protecting himself)

"Yeah, I talked to Coach [Todd] Bowles about it. I pretty much told him the same thing: I have to be out [here]. I've got to be out here. It's just not in my DNA to…it was hard enough missing OTAs. I was in the weight room window watching the guys practice. I just told Coach Bowles I wanted to be cautious. There's a lot at stake. I was out there when [Ryan] Jensen went down a couple years ago. I'm just trying to be as smart as I can, and now I've got a little one to look after now. I'm just trying to be as smart as I can but still be out here and get as many mental reps as I can. It's still a new offense and stuff, and being there to watch 'Schooly' (Justin Skule) and coach 'Schooly' as much as I can. And he does the same thing for me all the time. So yeah, I talked to Coach Bowles and kind of worked it out."

(On his girlfriend Meredith and infant son Julius being at practice)

"Yeah, tell you what, seeing him and her after practice is pretty cool – a pretty cool feeling."

(On if he feels like his contract talks are progressing and getting closer to completion)

"Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I mean, it's all been good. We're just trying to work out some little things. But no, but I think we're moving [well]. These past couple days have been really good. We've just got to bring it home."

(On if the contract talks have always moved along or if there was a recent development that led to a greater sense of urgency)

"I think it always moved along pretty. I think a couple guys in the [draft] class below me getting extensions may have sped things along a little bit. Obviously, I'm happy for those guys, I love those guys. Penei [Sewell] is awesome, Christian [Darrisaw] is awesome. So yeah, it's been interesting learning this side of it, the business side of it. I think it's been great."

(On some other players at his position holding out from camp)

"I think that's just part of who I am. Like I said, it was hard enough sitting out those OTAs, so [I am] just wanting to be out there with the guys and not let them down. Just knowing what's at stake almost. We got close last year, so every rep counts, being out there as much as I can, building that camaraderie, building the continuity with everybody, with the line. We've got a new guard competition, center competition, so it's like wanting to get all our communication down and be on the same page. So [I'm] just trying to be out there with my guys as much as possible."

(On the Buccaneers learning a new offense under Liam Coen)

"I think he said it as well, there's a little bit more on us this year, so I want to get all those reps in this new offense, learning as much as I can and getting as many reps as I can. I think that also played a big role in it as well."

(On rookie C Graham Barton)

"Yeah, Graham's a great dude. He's a pretty big kid; I think he was like 317 coming into camp. But no, he moves around great, really smart. Him and [Robert] Hainsey have been going back and forth and picking each other's brains, too. But no, Graham is a good dude."

(On what this time of life is like for him)

"It's pretty surreal to think about it. I feel like a completely different person almost, especially being able to go see my son after meetings are done. It's a crazy feeling. You look back and it's like, where have four years gone? I remember my first camp out here with Tom [Brady], like 'I'm in the huddle with Tom Brady right now.' Now it's Baker Mayfield, Luke Goedeke, my best friends – Hainsey, 'Schooly' (Justin Skule). It's been an incredible journey – a lot left ahead and I'm excited for it."

(On this year compared to last year)

"I think there [were] a lot of new parts last year – new quarterback, new offensive coordinator. I mean, I was going through it, you guys remember that. But I think everyone's kind of settled in. I think Baker said it the other day: He really can dig his feet in now and make a difference. So I think just the leadership that he's bringing, the confidence and experience we have all across the board. Mike Evans, HOF (Hall of Fame), it's incredible watching him come out here every day and fly around. Chris Godwin, Vita Vea, Lavonte David, Will Gholston…you've got all these leaders, incredible players, incredible people [who] come out here and show these young guys what it's like to be a pro. It's hard to see that and not want to emulate it, and everyone steps and be the best you can be. I mean, we're only what, five days into training camp and it's been awesome. I'm super excited. It's great being out here with everybody. We've got a long road ahead; it's going to be fun."

RUNNING BACK BUCKY IRVING

(On the first day of practicing with pads on)

"It was a lot different from college. [There's] guys taking care of each other - a little bit of thumping but it was nice so far."

(On how being here is different than college)

"I mean it's not different for me because when I was at Oregon we were in pads every day so I'm pretty much used to it… the guys thudding me up. You have to practice like how you play so I don't mind the guys thudding me up and getting a good look on me. We always preach you practice how you play."

(On how RB Rachaad White has helped him so far)

"He's helped me out a lot. He always just tells me [to] be me. Don't change how I run. I know what got me here and [to] be the [running] back that I'm here to be. Any time I come back and I have a run and I ask him what [I] could've done better he always coaches me up. Him and Chase [Edmonds] do a great job of doing that each time I ask [those] guys any type of questions."

(On working with a new group on offense)

"I figured out here you just have to have these guys' trust and you have to go out there and compete for each other. Coming in and learning a new offense and being around new guys, there's always a change but you have to know that you can be comfortable around the guys that you have to go to war with."

(On what he thinks of the run game)

"That's something that we always work on every day. The run game is going to be fantastic. We have good running backs in the room that can create explosive runs. Shout out to all [those] guys in the room. If we just keep attacking it every day and doing what we're doing, we're going to have a great season."

(On the new kickoff rule)

"I feel good about the new kickoff rule because if you make one guy miss you're gone."

(On learning Tampa Bay's offense)

"At first it was challenging – really challenging - coming from Oregon's offense to this offense. But I just had to take the time and sit back and know the schemes on what [Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen] is trying to accomplish from getting his playmakers the balls, making the space, and being able to create explosive plays."

(On the transition into the new offense)

"The terminology is way longer. You have all the time in the world to lock in on your play book, go through your play book. I've been doing a great job because I'm kind of a routine guy just coming in here early, going over my plays, listening to the audios. My boy Kyle [Trask] gets me right with them – just so I can hear and let it play in my mind on what I have. Just being here to take the time out and actually learn it."

(On his relationship with QB Baker Mayfield)

"I feel like you always have to have a relationship with the quarterback back there. Y'all have to communicate [with] the offensive line have to have a great relationship too. Just being able to see his love for the game and his competitiveness. Him and Bo Nix are pretty similar in they both want to win football games. They don't like losing. They're the type of guys I like being around. They're the type of guys I'll go to war with."

(On the differences between practice in college and the NFL)

"In college you have more guys that try to tee off on you. Here, you have guys that have been in the league for a long time so they kind of know how to throw it up and take care of each other. It's been a great transition."

(On his relationship with QB Kyle Trask)

"It's been great. Kyle [Trask] kind of took me under his wing when I first got here because I was new to the team. You always don't know what to expect from guys. Just one day after training camp I went up to him and asked him 'Do you mind staying after practice with me so we can get this mesh down pat, throw a couple balls with me?' And he kind of took me under his wing and I appreciate him for that because he doesn't have to do that. He took the time out of the day to make me better and also him better too."

LINEBACKER SIRVOCEA DENNIS

(On the first day of padded practice)
"Living in Florida, living in Tampa, when you're from the northeast, you never get used to [the heat]. Just being in the pads, I prepare well for the heat, I do everything I can. When I'm out there, I just try not to think about it and I just go. Being the first day in pads, it was fun. [There were] a lot of moving parts, a lot of things going. That's what you want. It's football. Football is back."

(On how much the level of intensity increases during practices wearing full pads)
"I would say a lot, really. Because when the pads are not on you, coaches always say, 'All right, you'll be there, you would have made the play,' you know what I mean? You would have done that. But when the pads are actually on, we have to see you move your feet. You have to actually make that play and [see] everything the coaches want you to see, so it definitely ramps up a lot."

(On what improvements he is looking to make entering his second NFL season)
"One is definitely to be healthy. You know, with this game of football, things happen. The heat being down in Tampa is a factor in it, but it's being a pro when it comes to taking care of my body. Other than that, on the field, I just want to execute everything I can. I want to go out there and be like those high-caliber players, even like Lavonte [David] and those types of linebackers."

(On how much facing Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen's offense in practices improves Tampa Bay's defense)
"It helps a lot just because [when] you see all of these concepts and all of these looks now, [when] another team [runs] the same concepts, and of course, it might be a different look, or it's the same look. Now that we see everything here on these fields when game day comes, I've seen it before, I've played it, I know how to fit it, and [then] it's just going out there and playing ball. We take the middle part out of it."

-BUCCANEERS-