HEAD COACH TODD BOWLES

(On his takeaways from today's joint practice against the Miami Dolphins)

"I thought they competed. Some mistakes made…[It is] a very good group Mike [McDaniel] brought in here – defensively, they're more aggressive up front. I thought we had some runs in there. We've got to do some work in protection that we've got to clean up. I've got to look at the tape to see that. I'll look at the defensive tape and the defensive side as we go in, but offensively, we did some good things. We've still got some things to work on."

(On if Ben Bredeson has won the starting left guard job)

"Ben is our starting [left] guard."

(On if OL Robert Hainsey will cross train at other positions besides center)

"We're going to try to move him around some. We're going to try to move him around. It's hard to do in the game when you only get two or three reps in practice, but as the week goes on, we'll get some more movement and try to place people in case of emergency."

(On the communication in the secondary)

"It was good in practice all week. I'll see once we start watching the tape. It's really the second group that I've got to get talking more. They've got to talk to each other a lot more. We'll see the tape and see what happened."

(On CB Zyon McCollum getting an interception early in practice today)

"He's had a good camp. He's playing the way he plays – it doesn't matter who is out there. He's got a job to do and he comes to work every day with a professional attitude."

(On what he liked about Tampa Bay's offensive performance today)

"There were some run creases out there. At the same time, I thought there were some protection breakdowns. We've got to look at the tape and see what happened."

(On if he was pleased that QB Baker Mayfield didn't throw any interceptions)

"I'm very pleased with that."

(On OL Cody Mauch standing up Dolphins' DT Calais Campbell and what that says about his development)

"I don't think it says much about his development…He's a competitor. He's been developing the entire spring this offseason and most of the summer. The fact that we don't call his name much and he's not getting moved back in the backfield and he can be aggressive in run blocks and understands the game a lot more – as far as passing off stunts – says a lot more about his development, not really so much as him standing up Calais."

(On if today's practice against the Dolphins was better than last week's joint practice against the Jacksonville Jaguars)

"I thought last week when we had pads on, I thought it was a very good practice. I'll see the tape and see what happened."

(On the reason for pass protection breakdowns)

"I've got to see the tape. I don't know whether we had slide issues, whether somebody got beat, or what happened. I've got to see the tape."

(On if he's satisfied with where his team is at right now)

"Yeah, I am. I am. We've just got to get some game action. If we get some game action Friday and make sure the operation is going smoothly…Baker [Mayfield], Liam [Coen], the offensive line get some coordination then I'll be satisfied. For the most part, everybody has been professional, everybody has been working hard, the communication has been there…We had some nicks in camp, but nothing too serious and hopefully those guys get back soon so we can get ready to play in two weeks."

(On there being minimal distractions during training camp)

"There [are] always going to be distractions in football. We just deal with it."

(On DB Christian Izien's injury status)

"He's still day to day. He's got a leg. We're just keeping him out a little more. Hopefully he can get back next week."

(On who would replace Izien at the nickel position if he can't play on Friday)

"Tavierre [Thomas], you've got [Andrew] Hayes that has done a little bit. We can move people around, we can stay [in] base [defense]. We don't necessarily have to go nickel. But, Tavierre, right now, with 'Izzy' down, would go in."

(On the plan for the starters in Friday night's game against the Dolphins)

"They're going to play. I want to see some coordination and get them in sync. I don't have a set number of plays, but they're going to play. I'll get them out when it's time to get them out."

(On how much more effective play-action passes will be with a strong running game)

"If you can get the running game straightened out, play-action [passes] are everything. If you can't move the ball, play action means nothing. Everybody is just going to sit back and let you sit there – you might as well do drop backs. It's imperative for play action to work that we have some type of running game."

(On if he's decided the primary kick and punt returners)

"Not yet. Depending on what happens in the game, I'll see how much has played into it…We've still got about three or four or five guys back there. We'll make a decision as we go forward."

(On if he's accomplished everything he wanted to during training camp)

"No. There's always going to be work to be done. We won't accomplish it during the season, either. We've got to get better every week. That's the biggest thing – we've got to get better every week. Get used to the grind, get used to working, get used to the regular season grind. These guys have got to get used to playing 60-something plays a game, as opposed to coming out every four-to-seven plays. That's going to be important."

LINEBACKER LAVONTE DAVID

(On if the Dolphins were the team he rooted for growing up in Miami)

"I never liked the Dolphins for a day in my life. My whole household was Dolphin fans. I was the only one who was a Rams fan growing up."

(On how he feels like the defense held up today against the Dolphins)

"I think it was pretty good. There [were] a lot of different looks for us today… a lot of stuff that we haven't seen since I've been playing football. All it did was make us better today. I think we did the same thing for them. We got better. They got better going against us, so overall [it was a] productive day. [We] had a lot of good looks. I'm looking forward to watching film today and learning some things and think in different key reads and stuff like that to better my game. Overall, it [was] a pretty good day."

(On what makes the Dolphins offense so challenging to play against)

"[There's] just a lot of moving parts. When you're on defense – linebacker especially, you have your key reads, so you're reading one guy and then you see another guy moving and then another guy moving, so it kind of throws you off a little bit. It gets you thinking a little bit, but at the end of the day, once you hone in on them, I think everything will take care of itself. They do a lot of misdirection stuff that gets people off balance and caught up, so [it was] definitely good work for is."

(On if he liked having joint practices throughout training camp)

"I've been doing them for 13 years. I can't complain about them now. It's pretty good work. Like I said, when you're going against your own team over and over, it gets kind of redundant and repetitive so when you get the chance to throw it up against other guys and be more violent against other people instead of your own teammates. It's really good competitive work. As long as it's competitive – both sides competing – it's a good day."

(On the intensity being higher than usual at today's practice)

"Yeah, for sure. I think that as practice went on, they got better and better, and then you get people trying to freak each other out – see how the day was going to go. Once we got our motor, it started to get better and pick up. Us as a football team… we want to start fast, and we want to be like that all the time so that's something that Coach [Todd] Bowles emphasizes. It got better at the end, but we should've started like that from the beginning."

(On what's important for him to take from playing in Friday night's game)

"Being game ready. I feel like I'm well-conditioned already, you know, being in this Florida heat… but just being able to move side to side, get my hips turning and stuff like that. Doing actual football stuff – tackling and things like that. It's always a good feeling to get that in and get your shoulders a little sore sometimes. It's definitely going to be something that a lot of guys look forward to – that preseason game, to get a little feeling of how it's going to be throughout the season."

(On how well him and LB K.J Britt communicate to each other)

"We're getting there. It's a constant thing. It's going to work throughout the season. It's a nonstop thing – just getting the feel of how he sees things and he's getting the feeling of how I see things. All we're trying to do at the end of the day is make each other better. We always have these little competition things going on – the same things I had with Devin [White] and now it's going over to K.J. There's going to be some competing between us both, but at the same time, we know it's getting each other better. The communication is constant… nonstop on the field and off the field – how he sees this and how I see it. It's just something that's going to happen and that's going to take time and progress throughout the season."

(On Derrick Brooks being at practice today and what he means to him and the Buccaneers)

"It's always good to see 'D.B.' back in the building. I didn't get the chance to actually talk to him because he was far away – you know how he is, being ducked off and things like that. You can't miss him. His presence always [has] an enormous impact when he walks in the building. I'm sure he's probably still around here somewhere, but it's always good to see him come back. A lot of those guys come back and like you said, he was a guy who play a lot of years for the organization and hopefully I can follow in his footsteps. [It's] definitely a blessing to have him around."

(On what Derrick Brooks meant to him as a young player)

"Coming in as a rookie, he was the first person to reach out to me. We met… had lunch and stuff like that. He made me pay. It was cool though. I kind of got the feeling of how it was going to be being in the NFL. Throughout that, it's been a constant relationship, and he reaches out to me, and I reach out to him. After each game, he sends a text message and stuff like that. You don't see a lot of older guys doing that. I'm not sure how it goes everywhere else, but for him to do that – it does something to guys like me, and the other guys in the locker room."

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CALIJAH KANCEY

(On going up against the Miami Dolphins in today's joint practice)

"Today, the work against Miami was awesome. It was finally fun to go against someone else other than your guys. I feel like we got after it today – both sides of the ball."

(On how he's feeling overall)

"I feel great. I'm in great shape, my body is healthy. I feel good – I was moving around out there and having fun with the boys."

(On the benefit of today's joint practice)

"Really just seeing something different. Those guys are actually moving up front, laterally. Lining up in front of a different helmet, other than our guys, not knowing what to expect. The first time going against them, [I was] trying to watch a little film from when we scrimmaged like two years ago, I believe, and their last preseason game. Going against them and getting the physical reps, I think it was awesome."

(On if the intensity level was elevated today)

"It definitely picked up. I feel like we started off [well] as a whole. The intensity definitely picked up and we just matched their energy."

(On which new players on the defensive line have impressed him during training camp)

"I want to say Jose Ramirez, Chris Braswell, C.J. Brewer…Logan [Hall] – he was already here, but he's doing a good job…Earnest [Brown IV]…We've got a lot of guys that [have] some juice that can actually go and get after it when we need a breather or anything like that."

(On his ability to defend the run)

"I think we [were] definitely solid. I think Miami has a lot of good running backs. We were able to flow to the ball, get off blocks, and I definitely think they've got a lot of good running backs that gave us some good competition."

(On the different scheme that the Dolphins showed during practice today)

"They definitely [have] a lot of tricky things. There's a lot of eye candy. If your eyes are wandering, you can definitely lose focus on your keys really quick and just get lost. You've got to dial in and know what they're actually trying to get to, because they can be showing [one thing] and go [to another]. It just comes down to reading your keys. They've got a lot of movement and tricky things to their game."

(On how he feels this training camp was for his development)

"I feel great. Being able to knock the rust off and just actually go against your guys…[They] know what you're going to do, and you know what they're going to do, but how do you still win? I think that's what makes it better for me and my teammates – being able to go against someone everyday and get a win or learn from your loss. I think it's awesome. By the time the season is here, you're ready for whatever is in front of you and you're all ready to go."

(On facing C Graham Barton all throughout training camp)

"Graham definitely did a great job of coming in as a rookie and just really learning the playbook, doing his thing…He's definitely got the physical aspect of it, and [he is] putting the mental aspect of it of learning the plays and the snap counts and calling out the defenses and stuff like that. I think he's doing a great job. He's a great competitor and a great teammate."

(On Barton's skillset)

"The athleticism from Graham…He can move laterally. As a defensive lineman, if an O-lineman can move, that's a challenge for us. It makes us work harder."

CENTER GRAHAM BARTON

(On getting named Tampa Bay's starting center)

"Coming in in April and going through OTAs, [and] going through camp, it's been a lot. I've had a lot on my plate, mentally and physically, but I think I'm starting to adjust and starting to get a feel for the game and how everything's operating here. It's a work in progress and always will be. I know they said it officially, but I think it's a role I still [have] to earn every day. I still think it's something that I'm coming in here to prove that I can do. I know they had to name someone, but I still think it's just [continuing] to earn it and continue to earn my keep and continue to improve because I'm still young, and I've got a long way to go."

(On facing Miami Dolphins DT Calais Campbell today's joint practice)

"Yeah, they have a great D-line. I'm sure Coach [Todd Bowles] will say it, but I thought we came out a little flat today, and that was everyone. I think we need to start faster and come out with a little more juice. I thought we improved towards the end, but [we] came out a little flat. I think we use Friday as a good time to get that back and go out there and put some good drives together."

(On the benefit of facing the Miami Dolphins in joint practice today)

"Yeah, it's great. It's great to get another look. It's great to get, as you said, guys like Calais [Campbell] and [Zach] Sieler, [who] are really good D-tackles inside. It's great to get different looks [after] you've been going against your team for about a month now. To be able to get other teams in here and see different looks and different styles of offense and defense. It's very beneficial for both teams."

(On his relationship with C Robert Hainsey)

"Since the day I got here, Rob has been amazing to me. I think we have a great relationship, and I've got nothing but respect for Rob. He's a hell of a football player, and I look forward to continuing to work with Rob. I'm just really appreciative of his leadership, his maturity, and the way he works. Rob has been awesome, [and] I can't say enough good things about him. [I] just appreciate it and [am] looking forward to continuing to compete with him and learn from him. I think that goes for the whole offensive line, really, just how great people have been and inclusive. We've got a good group, and I'm excited for this year."

(On if adjusting to pass blocking or run blocking at the NFL level has been more difficult)

"I think run blocking is how I made a name for myself in college, and I think that it'll be something that will continue to be my strong suit. The biggest difference from [moving from] tackle back [to] center is pass blocking. I think it's something I've got to continue to work on and something that I've just got to continue to get better at. [Having] good hands and feet and just things like that, good angles, when to use certain sets against different guys, how to read defensive linemen, things like that. That's going to take some time, but I think I've gotten better through camp and definitely will continue to do that through the season."

(On his excitement level to play his first game at Raymond James Stadium Friday night)

"[I am] just pumped. We've had two away games here, and those have been great, but [I'm] excited to play in front of a home crowd and give the fans a chance to see in person what we've been working on this training camp. Hopefully, we'll go put on a good performance, come away with a win, and tune it up one more time before the season."

(On dealing with the Florida heat throughout training camp)

"Yeah, it's hot out there, there's no sugarcoating it, but we're going to have to play in it, too. It's definitely something that helps us get in really good shape, and come season time, it'll become an advantage for us when we play teams from climates that aren't as hot as Florida. It's something that you [have] to work through, but [we're] looking forward to using that to our advantage soon."

-BUCCANEERS-