HEAD COACH BRUCE ARIANS

Opening Statement:

"Really, really good practices. You can't get anything better than going against another team, putting in all the situations, looking at young players, veteran players. No better team to do it against than Mike [Vrabel] and the Titans. I thought it was outstanding work. We'll grade the tape as far as who did what and who didn't, and I know one thing – we dropped way too many damn passes. We have to stop that."

(On what he attests the dropped passes to)

"They dropped it. Catch it. Shit, [there] ain't no excuse. They're perfectly thrown balls – you catch the damn thing."

(On what the team can get out of joint practices as compared to preseason games)

"You know you're going to get all the situational work: red zone, third down, first down stuff, run-pass options. You put them in certain scenarios that sometimes never happen in a game. They ran out of offensive linemen, so we missed a couple scenarios where it was 10 seconds or 16 seconds left at the end of the half or the end of the game. So we didn't get to go to those scenarios but that's the stuff you teach on, you go against yourself. It's normally a walk-through period."

(On joint practices being more controlled)

"It's very controlled. There's obviously no tackling, no touching the quarterbacks, but it's great work. Great work. One-on-ones, all those types of things."

(On how Tom Brady looked in a live period against the Titans on Wednesday)

"I didn't think he was very sharp. Our third-down percentage I think was really poor in that one. We took some shots downfield on first down [and] guys were open. He made some really good throws that were dropped, too. We'll grade the tape, but I didn't come off the field saying he wowed everybody."

(On if the goal on Wednesday was to get Brady a lot of work)

"Oh yeah, all our starters. All our starters, especially the offensive line, tight ends, those people hitting and doing all those things you don't really get a lot of in practice."

(On if he's amazed that a 44-year-old Brady puts himself through grueling practices)

"There's only one. There's only one."

(On if TE Tanner Hudson has a wrist injury that could extend to the regular season)

"He's still got to make the team to get to the regular season, so there's a lot to go there. But hopefully he gets back as fast as he can because he's one of those bubble guys."

(On if the dropped passes were concerning for him)

"If it's Mike [Evans] or Chris [Godwin] or 'Gronk' (Rob Gronkowski), no. But if it's young players, yes. Maybe the lights are too big. We'll go back and evaluate it but way too many drops."

(On the competition between Buccaneers receivers and the Titans defensive backs)

"They're very physical guys – good press coverage, very physical. That's exactly what you want to practice against. The quarterbacks need to see those guys working those routes, other than just fade balls. Working routes against press coverage and I thought we got a lot out of that area."

(On if the offense or defense was better on Wednesday)

"Well, I only saw the offense. I'll have to grade the tape. Talking to the defensive players they were pleased; didn't get enough turnovers, they didn't think. Offensively, it was average at best – dropped balls and we did have a couple turnovers."

(On QB Tom Brady's son, Jack, being at Buccaneers training camp and helping out the team)

"He's done a heck of a job. He knows how to get them back. He's the 'get-back coach' right now and he's doing a hell of a job."

(On being able to have family more involved than they were last year)

"We have Jack here. I would love to have all the teenage sons. My son was a ballboy in Wisconsin and it's such a great bonding experience. But with COVID we are so limited still on the number of people who can be in the building so we can't do it for everybody."

(On if Brady's son Jack is a 'chip off the old block')

"Oh, there's no doubt. No doubt."

(On if he thinks he'll know who the starting running back will be within a couple weeks)

"It really won't matter who starts. I'm very, very confident in both of them. 'Ro' (Ronald Jones) is catching the ball really well, Leonard [Fournette]'s running really well, so whoever's out there we've got a premier back going. It's not a matter of who comes out of the tunnel, we'll come out as an offense. Whoever gets the first series, the other guy might get the second, so it doesn't really matter."

(On RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn making progress)

"Ke'Shawn had a hell of a game and he had a great practice in special teams, so that's his niche right now. Gio [Bernard]'s got his role, Ke'Shawn's trying to find roles to get a hat on Sunday."

(On if he's concerned about offensive line depth if the starters don't play in Saturday's game)

"See if we get through tomorrow. We lost one today and we'll see the numbers, but hopefully we'll at least have seven for the ballgame."

(on the most important thing the team can take away from joint practices)

"Just good solid competition, getting better in every phase, fundamentally, scheme-wise, everything."

(On rookie OL Robert Hainsey returning to practice and if he can play in Saturday's game)

"It's going to be real iffy whether he plays. I'm just happy to see him on the practice field."

(On joint practices making players keep their technique honest)

"Yeah, I mean if you don't have good technique against another team's really good players, you're going to get exposed really quick. So yeah, that's the part I love about joint practices. Our guys every now and then they'll 'brother-in-law' each other. Ain't no brother-in-law going on out there today, I promise you."

(On the Titans being a good team to practice against)

"It's a heck of a football team – good quarterback, obviously the runner, the receivers, offensive line, but they've got a hell of a defense. Mike [Vrabel] is obviously a hell of a defensive coach. All the respect in the world for their whole organization."

(On the challenges posed by the Titans' defense)

"They're looking very physical and that's what we wanted in these practices – good, physical, tough practices, working great technique and scheme-wise. I think we accomplished that today."

(On if the Buccaneers' vaccination numbers are where he wants them to be)

"Yeah, we're way up there. By the time we get to 53, I would anticipate it being 100 [percent vaccinated], plus the practice squad being 100. If not, it might be one guy. So we're in great, great shape."

QUARTERBACK TOM BRADY

(On having his son Jack with him at training camp)

"It's great. He's at a good age. The more I get to do with him the better it is. We have a great time together and it's really a treat for me to have him. He thinks it's fun but it's probably way better for me having him out here. It's really, really cool."

(On not being able to bring his son last year due to COVID-19)

"Last year was tough for everything. So, we didn't get much time with anybody's families. At least families get to come out and I know, hopefully, we'll do some stuff during the season but it's nice to get to see everybody's [families]. We definitely have one part of our life that's all about football and we have other parts of our life – some of us have kids, some with wives and girlfriends. It's obviously a great thing to be a parent so it's great to have your kids out here watching you work."

(On having a son who embraces this football life)

"He's just a great kid. I don't want to blow his head up too much. He probably wouldn't even read this. Just a real special kid. It's fun to be with him. He's good with everything you know let's run, go on the boat, let's golf, let's ride bikes and he is pretty cool with anything."

(On going against the Titans' defense)

"They're good. They're challenging, obviously, very good fundamentals. They play to their help all the time. Very stout in the run game. They try to confuse you in the secondary, which they did a good job of that today a few times. Obviously one of the better defenses in the league. A lot of good players. It was good work for us. Obviously the last time I talked to you guys I don't think it was a great day either – we'll have to get better tomorrow."

(On Titans QB Ryan Tannehill)

"I like Ryan a lot. He's a great player. He's obviously a great leader for that team. He's done a great job. Last year was phenomenal and the year before that he was great. I really like Ryan; I competed against him a lot. He's beaten me quite a few times. I think he's a great player."

(On whether he was referring to Tannehill in his HBO 'The Shop' interview)

"Was [it] Ryan? No, Ryan wasn't [it]. Ryan's a great friend. No, I like Ryan. I was just talking."

(On how he envisioned this training camp going)

"I think we're right in the middle of it. It's one thing to make predictions about it, it's another thing to go do it and I think our team has got to go do it. It's a new team, it's a new year, new challenges. This team at the end of the day has done nothing. We haven't had a regular season practice yet, so we've still got quite a ways to go before we get to that first game and then we'll see kind of how we've done. Definitely it's not like we're firing on all cylinders out there."

(On how tempo effects communication on defense)

"Obviously communication is the name of the game. You have to be able to talk and communicate quickly on offense [and] defense. Everybody has to be on the same page. They challenge us with some different looks. We have to be a lot better tomorrow."

(On what's the one thing he wants to feel comfortable with by the end of practice tomorrow)

"I think being on the same page. It's one thing if we miss a pass, if we [drop] a pass. I'm just concerned with us doing the things that we talked about doing and executing them the right way. The throwing and catching, blocking and tackling – that's for the game. If you catch every ball out here and then go in the game and you drop it, it doesn't matter. You've got to work on the fundamentals out here, work on our communication, be on the same page and we can definitely do a much better job of that."

(On being comfortable still playing football)

"It's really fun for me. I love physically to train to put myself in a position to compete. I love the mental aspect of the sport. I have a lot of fun doing it. It [brings] a lot of joy in my life. I think so much of it is you can do anything with people you want to really be with, things will look great. You're with your kids, you're with your family, it doesn't matter if you're at the park, the house, the movies – you're having a great time. I have a great group of teammates, a great group of coaches. I'm really enjoying the camaraderie, and again, we get to play football so that bring us all a lot of joy. It's a lot of fun. Competition is great. I have to keep earning it. I don't think there is any aspect of me that thinks what I've done last year means anything. I have to go do it this year."

(On going against Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel's defense as a coach vs. as a player)

"I think he's toned down a little bit in his old age. He's not as rambunctious as he used to be. He was much chattier as a player. He complained a lot when I didn't throw him a ball like a typical diva receiver. He has, I think, mellowed out as a coach a little bit. He's doing a great job and he's a great coach. Obviously, he was a great player so he kind of coaches the way he would have played – try to be smart and really try to make them beat you. They've always done a good job of that."

(On if he knew Vrabel would become a coach during their playing days together)

"You never know. At the end of the day, you don't know. He's really excelled at it. To go from playing to coaching at Ohio State, to Houston, to Tennessee – he's a great guy and he's a great coach."

(On Head Coach Bruce Arians' scouting report on his son Jack as a ball boy)

"He listens pretty well. I have to keep him hydrated out there though. I'm trying to make sure he is always drinking. It's so hot out here and you always lose a lot and he doesn't think much, he's just running around. But he gets home and he's wiped out. Trying to keep his fluids in him. [He] probably hears a lot of words that he doesn't typically hear at his school but that's being on a football field."

(On his connection with the receivers during Wednesday's practice)

"We didn't connect that much today so hopefully we can really learn from today. I always hate not competing and then saying, 'Oh, we're going to learn from it.' The reality is we've got to learn from when things don't go well – how do we respond early, how do we respond in the middle and how do we respond in the third quarter? I've been in games when we've been down a lot of points, and we came back and won. Just because it doesn't go well early, you can't just say, 'Oh you know it will be there tomorrow' or 'Let's figure it out tomorrow.' We've got a lot of learning to do and we have to push it. We have a certain amount of time before Dallas. Every game is not going to be easy. Every play isn't going to be easy, but we have to fight our way out of everything."

(On what the Titans did from a physicality standpoint in Wednesday's joint practice)

"They're good. They have a lot of good players. It's a good scheme. They keep things moving, they blitz, they play coverage, they have some disguises. They do what good defenses do. They challenge you to think. We have to be much more on top of things tomorrow."

(On Floyd Reese getting inducted into the Tennessee Titans Ring of Honor)

"He was a great coach, great general manager. [He] worked for the [Patriots] for a few years. I think he had a lot of great insight working with some great teams. Obviously, a great contributor to football in the NFL. He kind of made his life out of it. My time around him was a lot of fun."

GUARD ALI MARPET

(On how realistic simulated games are as opposed to training camp practices)

"It's definitely much more realistic – however you still have your scenarios right – you have your redzone period, your third-down period, so it's not just to get a different look – a look that is a little bit less scouted so that's nice. [It's] just fast and physical which is game-like."

(On what he gets out of simulated games compared to a preseason game)

"I mean this is nice because during preseason I feel like sometimes coaches kind of hang back with some of the pressures and some of the looks that you're going to get. I feel like during these, coaches kind of throw anything at you, and that kind of makes it a little more fun."

(On going against a physical Titans defense)

"The Titans defense is a good front, no question about it – however we've been going against our defense all training camp and they are very good, so that's helped us out a lot."

(On playing with the same group of guys for the past couple of seasons)

"I think it helps undoubtedly, playing with the same group – for me, knowing how [Ryan] Jensen is going to play, knowing how Donovan [Smith] is going to play, 'Cap' (Alex Cappa), Tristan [Wirfs] – knowing where everyone is going to be and the style of play really helps you play so much faster. You're able to communicate, maybe even non-verbally, and it's just very helpful."

-BUCCANEERS-