OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR LIAM COEN

(On Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson's performance against the Buccaneers on Sunday)

"At the end of the day, he's a really good football player who – as I said last week – had developed a pretty mean spin move in the offseason. [He is] a really tough matchup for any tackle in the NFL, and at the end of the day, the guy is going to be productive. We obviously would have liked him to be a little bit less productive than he was. We've got to help those guys in some of those situations, but that doesn't just rest solely on that right tackle at all. The guy has 4.5 sacks in the book, but two of them were at the right tackle and one of them was my fault. At the end of the day, he's going to get his and we have to learn from it and be able to move on."

(On the designed run from QB Baker Mayfield)

"That was a huge drive for us from an offensive and team standpoint. Having each other's backs and playing off of one another, where they go down, take the lead, we go down, put a good drive together and go down and Baker makes a great play off of a scramble. I was a little hesitant to call the play at the time, just because I figured he might be a little out of breath, but I also knew he'd be a little bit juiced up and have some energy flowing. I didn't really think that they would maybe expect that at that moment. That was a call that we looked at as a staff that we really liked kind of inside the 10[-yard line] and in. I called it right at the 11-yard line. They ended up doing the exact defense that we prepared for and had the exact look that we were hunting up. 'Bake' (Baker Mayfield) ended up trying to go and get himself hit and then got back into the wave and made a great play."

(On when he would consider bringing in an extra offensive lineman to help defend against Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson)

"First and second down, I would. First and second down, we would maybe bring in an extra tackle. The problem is on third down, if you bring him in, you're writing a memo to the defense that you don't have an eligible [receiver]. It was hard enough on Sunday with us using our tight end in chipping and now only getting three [eligible receivers] out in the concept and they're playing top-down coverages…You're not getting into the defense, right? You're not threatening the defense at all. That was a challenge. I would definitely use a jumbo-type player on first and second down if we felt like it was going to truly give us an advantage in play pass protection, specifically, and in the run game, as well."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's numbers when pressured)

"You don't want to be in that situation as much as possible. We'd like to be clean, we'd like to have as many pockets look like a seven-on-seven rep, but that's just not the reality of an NFL pocket. We need to clean things up, we need to be better inside, we need to be better as a group, but, what he provides and what he's doing right now is hard for the defense – that's a little bit demoralizing for a defense, where you feel like you're getting home on a pressure and you might have an edge on an offensive lineman and he's about to get home, and then he makes a play and gets out of it and ends up scrambling to either keep his eyes down the field and make some throws or use his legs as a weapon. As a play-caller, that's really nice to have, because you don't necessarily always have to be perfect because he's going to be a football player and make it right."

(On if the touchdown pass to WR Chris Godwin was specifically designed for this game)

"That was exactly what it was. We threw some of those kind of bubble-ish screens and kind of whipping those out, we used Bucky [Irving] as some eye candy on that play, and just kind of faked it to him and got Chris on the fake block, essentially, to get the defense's eyes a little bit dirty. That was exactly what it was, that was the whole point of the design. Good call."

(On what has made WR Chris Godwin so effective to start the season)

"He's been that way. He's been practicing that way, he's been preparing that way. You should see him in meetings. Whenever an offensive coach gets up and speaks in front of our unit, Chris Godwin is taking notes. We do a run-game meeting on Friday and Coach [Kevin] Carberry talks about how we're going to attack the defense in the run game and Chris Godwin is on the edge of his seat paying attention and taking notes and then will come and ask questions. That's how involved and engaged Chris Godwin is. It's no surprise. It's kind of what we've expected, a little bit, of him. I think his expectations are there. It's really good to see because of how good of a person and how much of a pro he is."

(On why Godwin and QB Baker Mayfield have had such success on scramble drills this year)

"We haven't even worked it all that much, either. I mean, we've talked about it. It's hard to simulate in practice because the quarterback isn't live [and] more times than not in practice, you're trying to throw within the timing and the rhythm of the play. You don't get a ton of opportunities. We present it, we show the guys clips of scramble drill, we have scramble rules on where guys are supposed to go within the concept and where they go if it is a scramble to the right or the left. But, those guys, that's just guys being a football player – they're being football players and their natural instincts kick in. He's been able to find him. I don't know. I don't really know."

(On the instances where multiple wide receivers were in the same vicinity during the game against the Lions)

"That was just a miscommunication. That was a play where Chris [Godwin] was supposed to be a little bit shallower, Mike [Evans] was supposed to be a little bit higher. We got alert coverage. We talked about not wanting to run that play, potentially, then we talked about it and wanted to run the play and they had a perfect coverage and made a good play."

(On facing Broncos DE Zach Allen)

"Yeah, [he is] a really good player. I actually recruited him a little bit. I remember he was from Connecticut and went to Boston College – a northeast [guy]. [He is] a really good player and I have a ton of respect for him. [He is] active, uses his hands extremely well. We've got to do a great job when we cover him up. The other thing that he does extremely well that I think is taken for granted is his batted passes – he's got one of the highest amount of tipped and batted passes in the NFL over the last three years. When we have him, we've got to stay locked on him, we've got to drive him, we've got to chop him with our hands, we've got to use a ton of different techniques and use our toolbox to get his hands down in the pass game while also [removing] him in the run game."

(On the field goal success rate being very high around the league to start the year and if he feels a sense of comfort as soon as the Buccaneers cross the plus-45 yard line)

"I guess, in the moment, I don't really feel that way. Looking back at it now, yes. I didn't really probably pay attention to our special teams units as much as I should have, knowing how good [Chase McLaughlin] is. It's frustrating any time you don't score, but, I would say the second drive of the game where we went negative – we went backwards for three consecutive plays almost – and then we hit the screen to Chris [Godwin] that gets us in plus territory…That was a huge play in that game, actually. Those guys executed the screen almost to perfection – he almost scores – but it got us into field goal range. Any time you can get points is good, but at the end of the day, field goals aren't going to win you a lot of games. We can't play like that and play like that in the red zone and not finish those scores and those drives not with touchdowns and expect to win a lot of games."

(On the team's rushing attack)

"We've got to get it back on track. I think there were flashes in Week 1. I think we played against two pretty solid run defenses. I would say the two interior guys in Washington are really solid around the NFL [and] they've got Bobby Wagner, who's still a good run defender…But, last week, I mean, what's that, one of the top-five rush defenses in the NFL? Not where we want to be, not what we want to do. A number of times, we did a great job handling the noise from a penalty standpoint, [but] it affected us in the run game on Sunday. We had at least three or four miscommunications up front. Detroit played in, I don't know, like eight different front structures on normal down-and-distance. You've got a guy in your gap on this play and the next play, he's over here – the communication. We had a few of those. I'll be honest, we [also] missed some runs at the end of the game. We missed two runs at the end of the game, that, in a game like that, where you need to extend drives and run the football to close out a game the way we want to close out a game – we can't miss those runs."

RUN GAME COORDINATOR/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH KACY ROGERS

(On what the key has been for the backups to step up as well as they have)

"You know, everybody that made our roster was asked that, 'You have to be able to do your job. When your number is called, be ready to go.' And that's kind of worked out for us because we've had a lot of guys step up when guys went down and we've had guys [go] from one position to another position. It's just kind of worked out that guys were ready when their numbers [were] called."

(On how DL C.J Brewer and DL Mike Greene were what the team needed)

"No question. Listening to you put it out right there [made] my stomach hurt [laughs]. That's exactly right. It's kind of funny [that] those are two practice squad guys that played multiple reps in the game, but to their credit, they were ready. They knew what to do and stuff like that, and we trust them [when] we put them in the game. So, from that standpoint, anybody that has a jersey on gameday [is] expected to do [their] job."

(On how good CB Zyon McCollum has been playing)

"I tip my hat off to that young man. When he stepped up last year and the stuff he did, and we put him in a bind with some of the stuff we've played but [we] have him – we don't have a lot of help. We asked him [and] he took the challenge. This year, some of the plays he made, and he comes to work every day and doesn't say anything crazy. My hat goes off to him. I think he's a tremendous player and [he has] a great future."

(On the keys to getting the backup defenders to step in the way they did)

"It's tough. It all goes back to those guys preparing in meetings and you're not the starter but you're a play away. Those guys – as we said earlier, they know what to do, they know what's expected. When the game is on the line and you know, somebody went down, the next guy [has] to step up. We have to keep it moving. We're not going to tailor the calls down because you're in the game. This is the game plan you are responsible for and then we just get on down the road."

(On the defense's overall ability to create pressure)

"It was kind of interesting looking at it. I think they had 'X' amount of sacks but they had seven quarterback hits and we had 10 quarterback hits but no sacks. It goes different ways. Sometimes we pressure, get the ball out of his hands – that's the one thing we try to pressure. We don't want the big guy to be able to sit there and pat the ball, we want the ball to come out fast. If the yards per attempt are low, we're okay, but when it's patting the ball and getting [those] deep digs, then we have a problem. It balances out, so to speak."

(On what he thinks is the ideal number of snaps the defense should have)

"As long as I've been out there, you just never really know. On average, we'd say as a defensive player, we're probably going to play up to 65 snaps, on average. Some games earlier in the year – in our preseason we had like 50 something snaps. It just all depends. You just never know."

(On guys being in the right position to make plays and tackles)

"I think it goes back to a lot of experience. A lot of our guys [have] been going since OTAs. We have a lot of young guys, as you know, that played a lot last year and now they're in year two and the system is the system, so they're more comfortable with the system. I [tip] my hat off. They're just trying to get a little better each day."

(On LB SirVocea Dennis and his role so far)

"That's another guy [that] we talk about, his versatility. We loved him a lot last year as a rookie. [He] was flashing and then he got injured and came back and did some good things for us. This year, he was kind of the same way. [He] got injured in training camp so now he's coming back. It's another guy that's versatile. You want to match packages – we like him for this job, we like him for [that] job, and it just helps us with versatility."

(On how good it is to have S Jordan Whitehead back in Tampa)

"To have Jordan back is just huge because – it's funny, the year that we lost him, we were going through the cutups afterwards and we were like, 'Jordan made the tackle, Jordan made the tackle.' We were always fond of him, and then to have him back and his presence is just – in the past, to me he was the catalyst. Jordan was the guy that made us go. To have him back in the building, just at practice every day, in the building, it just lifts everybody."

(On S Tykee Smith playing through illness)

"He had a mask on [for] two days at walkthrough and then showed up and played in the game. Since he walked in, he's been in the first group since the day we got him on campus. He didn't really rotate [for] too long but two days [he] was not even in the building, [he came] through at walk through and had [a] mask on for Friday and Saturday and then plays – my hat goes off to him. A lot of guys prepare all week and don't play, and he was limited or couldn't practice and then [was] in a mask and then played well in the game. Those guys are just stepping up."

(On the biggest challenges of facing a rookie QB early in the season)

"Their system is their system. When we were looking back at their stuff last year and what they're doing this year and our familiarity with Sean [Payton] from his time in New Orleans – their system is the system. You can kind of see how they plug and play with the players. This guy is handling this role, [and] this guy is doing that role. They're really doing a great job of establishing the run. They're hardheaded about running the ball [in order] to make his life easier – easier throws on play action. If we get the running game going, every kind of screen known to man, they've got a hundred personnel groupings, then they mess around with personnel in and out of the game. They make you prepare [for] all of the things. It's tough [what] they do to defenses to make us prepare to make life easier for a young quarterback."

(On OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka's role so far)

"I think it's time and I think he wants it. Joe has been great since he walked in. The expectations for him [are] high, and we want him to get to that bar. Everything he does in practice [and] everything he's trying to do in the game, if he just keeps coming, we'll like it a lot."

(On what the key is to having LB K.J Britt and LB SirVocea Dennis play alongside LB Lavonte David)

"Both of those guys are really unselfish. The more we can play everybody in this league – it's the NFL. People [are] going to get hurt and banged up and the next guy – the more reps we can get him, the more play time against good people is just going to help us down the road. Everybody just wants to help us be successful. No one cares. Everybody is trying to pitch in and see what we can do to help."

(On OLB Chris Braswell Jr.'s development so far)

"What we've had in practice and stuff like that is, [this] is a guy still learning and very talented. The thing is, as he comes – it's kind of very similar to Yaya [Diaby] last year, where he was quiet and then he kind of took off. I think Chris is kind of like that, watching Yaya and Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka] play in front of him, and 'Nelly' (Anthony Nelson) and this and that. He'll find his role and take off because he's a talented player."

(On what he's seen from LB K.J Britt)

"K.J has been 'steady Eddy'. K.J is the primary signal caller when we're in base, so his voice is always talking to the defense and this and that. He's just a guy. He's the same guy every day when he walks in the building so he's kind of leveled everybody off and is one of the most unselfish people we have on the team."

WIDE RECEIVER MIKE EVANS

(On starting 2-0)

"That's the start we wanted to be on – undefeated to start. [We have] another opportunity here to keep it going. We've got a tough team coming in that's going to play really, really hard so we have to match that energy."

(On the offense's strong start to the year)

"We've got a lot of the same guys coming back. The offense is a little similar – obviously it's Liam [Coen]'s philosophy, but with a little bit of the things we did last year. We're trying to keep that going and make it even better each week."

(On WR Chris Godwin's start to the season)

"He's one of the best receivers in the world. I'm glad that we have him. I've been seeing him work since he's been a rookie. He's a do-it-all guy – unselfish, can block, can do everything, run after catch. He's looking really good this year, too."

(On QB Baker Mayfield's success in the scramble drill)

"Baker is one of the best at that. He's been doing that since little league football, I'm sure, back when he was in Austin, Texas. He's been doing that and we're taught as receivers to be friendly for the quarterback and get open. [He and Chris Godwin] connected [well] and there were some big plays for us last week."

(On what the win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday meant)

"It just put us at 2-0. Obviously, we wanted to beat them because they beat us twice last year. They're a really good football team with a lot of great players. That's a good feather in the cap, but we want to keep it going."

(On facing Denver CB Patrick Surtain II)

"[It's a] great challenge. I'm sure he'll be matched on me – he matched [George] Pickens and D.K. [Metcalf] and he did a good job in those matchups. I look forward to the opportunity."

(On if he likes to know the cornerback that he's going up against)

"I want to know the opponent I'm going against, but I love when it's just man-to-man, one-on-one, no help around at all. Just let us play all game, one-on-one. That's what I like, but I don't know if it's going to be like that."

(On if he gets more excited to go up against the top cornerbacks around the league)

"It's a coverage thing for me – it's not about who I'm going against. Obviously, every week, whoever is guarding me, I'm going to try to go as hard as I can and make plays, but if it's Cover-1, I get a little more excited."

(On continuing the hot start to the season after starting 2-0 for the fourth straight year)

"I just tell the guys, 'Keep working. Continue to do what got us here.' That's putting in the work each week and going out there and playing hard."

(On Tampa Bay's defensive performance through the first two weeks of the season)

"They did an unbelievable job. Our defense – we've been going against them all camp – they've got really great depth and they're super competitive out there. They play hard [and] they don't give [anything] up easy."

-BUCCANEERS-