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Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS TRANSCRIPT: HEAD COACH BRUCE ARIANS 11-23-21

(On how the team performed from an intelligence standpoint)

"Much better, much better. We still had a couple mistakes, but I really liked the way we played football last night as a football team. Again, some guys stepped in and stepped up with some injuries. Steve McLendon, Aaron Stinnie – guys that have been around and we count on a lot."

(On TE Rob Gronkowski's presence opening up more opportunities offensively)

"Oh, there's no doubt. 'Gronk' is such a good blocker, but what he does in the middle of the field is huge for us. Hopefully, one of these days we'll have 'AB' (Antonio Brown) back and be full strength. But what Robbie brings – the energy and the passion and play-making abilities [are] very unique."

(On the status of G Ali Marpet, NT Vita Vea, CB Carlton Davis III and WR Antonio Brown leading into Sunday's game against the Colts)

"As far as Ali, it's an oblique, so we'll have to wait and see how sore he is Wednesday and Thursday and what he can do. Probably won't be until the end of the week before we know. Vita should be ready to go. He was real, real close. With not having any practice last week, I didn't really want to put him out there. Guys stepped up. Stevie [McLendon] stepped up. Carlton, we'll wait and see. Hopefully, we can activate him when we start practicing this week. 'AB', he's making progress. Again, we'll wait and see Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday will pretty much be walk-through, but we'll see Thursday for sure."

(On what he saw from Colts RB Jonathan Taylor during the draft process)

"I loved him. I thought he was fantastic. Big, active, speed – he has great hands, and he could do it all. It was only a matter of time playing behind that offensive line that he was going to be the force that he is. That offensive line is very, very special and he's a special back. He'll be a hell of a challenge for our run defense."

(On what kind of atmosphere he is expecting in Indianapolis)

"Oh, wow, that's a heck of a place to play. I love Lucas Oil [Stadium]. The Colts fans are fantastic. It's very, very loud in that building, especially when the roof is closed. They're riding high right now, so I expect it to be as loud as it has been anywhere all year."

(On how they can take what they have done at home to find similar success on the road)

"Yeah, it's a matter of the communication. It's so different on the road this year than it was last year, obviously. It's really the first year, in some aspects, with some of that type of thing as far as communication and what we're trying to get done. We have to protect the football. Protect the football, eliminate the penalties and we'll be fine."

(On if he sent a message to the offensive line after the team's Week 11 game vs. Washington to emphasize keeping QB Tom Brady clean in the pocket)

"I mean, that's where we start every week is we have to protect the ball and protect the quarterback. We let him get hit early in that game, not very much after that, but it always starts up front. We ran the ball efficiently. I thought we left some out there, but our offensive line, I think, is playing at a very, very high level – especially both tackles."

(On how he would evaluate CB Sean Murphy-Bunting's first game back)

"Way better than I was expecting it to be. He played really well. He used his arm, punched the ball out with that hand [and] created a fumble, so I think he should have a ton of confidence going into this week."

(On what S Mike Edwards brings to the team in the slot as compared to CB Ross Cockrell)

"Well, Mike is a bigger, safety body whereas Ross is more of a corner body. We used them both a little bit. We'll just keep interchanging them. Antoine [Winfield Jr.] went in there a bunch last night also. We have such interchangeable safeties. When the three safeties are on the field, they can all be in the box or be back deep, so it gives us good flexibility."

(On what he seen from OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka)

"With Vita out, Todd [Bowles] put a good package together with him inside and he handled it extremely well. He played one of his best ball games last night."

(On LB Devin White's ability to get pressure as a blitzer)

"Oh, there's no doubt. He had to play so much middle of the field Cover-2 with all the guys hurt. We got a chance to play a little bit more man-to-man last night. Hopefully, we'll have Carlton [Davis III] back soon, but right now, I think we're able to mix our coverages a little bit better and use him more as a blitzer."

(On if White could be used as a run blitzer on Sunday)

"Yeah, he is always that. We kind of stop the run on the way to the quarterback with him and Lavonte [David] when they're going."''

(On if he is befuddled on why the team hasn't responded on the road)

"Not really because it's so obvious. We turn the ball over way too many times in the road games and then had critical penalties. For us right now, it's being able to take this game, build off it and take it on the road. Hopefully, start winning on the road the rest of the way."

(On what he's seen from OLB Anthony Nelson)

"Steady, steady growth. He has some good pass rush moves. He's starting to learn some counter moves and he still has that length. Cam Gill jumped in there and did a heck of a job, too. Anthony has made great progress and did a heck of a job with the read option and knowing what he's doing and playing at a really high level."

(On an explanation regarding T Tristian Wirfs' holding penalty)

"From the vantage point of the official, I can see what he saw. I thought the guy spun and fell down. Tristan – his feet were never beat. That's always what the ref says, 'Are his feet beat?' We didn't think so, but from his angle he sees that guy twist and fall, they're going to throw that flag every time."

(On if WR Scotty Miller could take over return duties or if WR Jaelon Darden is already entrenched in that role)

"[Jaelon Darden] is pretty entrenched in that role. Scotty has never really done it in live action. If he's up, he would be the backup, so Jaelon is handling that and doing a heck of a job with it, I think. But for Scotty right now, it's just about whether or not the game plan fits, and try to get him rolling again."

-BUCCANEERS-

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