Bucs had coach Dirk Koetter spoke on Saturday following the team’s first practice since their win over Miami on Thursday night. Below is the transcript.

(On practicing inside)
“We were going to be in here anyway, but we had this crazy weather pattern and now we have a lightning delay and we can’t leave. Everybody is trapped in here for 30 minutes.”

Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter and QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

(On practicing different scenarios in practice)
“For instance, in the game the other night when we were trying the 53-yarder, if we were on defense we would have probably put a guy back. We know from the college game that can be a season-changing play. It’s just one of the things you have to cover in camp.”

(On practice)
“We started off a little sluggish. I’m not going to lie, I don’t think those guys were crazy about practicing today, but it’s training camp. We have to work, we need to work. I thought coming in here with the fans and the AC today juiced them up a bit. The end was better than the start but we’ll go in and correct it and the players are off today so I’m sure they’ll be happy about that.”

(On versatility)“Real valuable. There’s a couple guys on both of the ball that are like that, that can play multiple positions. The players, we always say, the more you can do. Evan Smith is that guy on the O-line and we already mentioned Alan Cross. Guys like that are worth their weight in gold, even if they don’t start.”

(On game-planning for game Tennessee)
“Typically there would be the same amount of game-planning, not much, but the fact that we’re practicing against them, that changes things a little bit because you’re practicing against someone for two days, then have one day off and then you play them. You’re not going to show them the same exact stuff you just showed them in practice because in the NFL, if you show good NFL players something one time, the next time you come out in that look they’ll be calling it out.”

(On if Koetter likes joint practices)
“Absolutely. Absolutely. These guys say they don’t want to hit each other, and it’s great to practice against someone where I have a script for what we’re going to run, but I don’t know what they’re going to run and it’s the same for the players. You’re seeing different offenses and different defenses and it’s always a challenge for the players and the coaches.”

(On injuries around the team)
“We’re thin. Last week and continuing into this week we’re thin at offensive tackle and we’re thin in the secondary, especially at corner. We have, I think, four corners down. We signed two corners yesterday and if we wouldn’t have signed those guys we wouldn’t have had four corners to practice today. That’s tough when you’re playing nickel at least half of the practice. I don’t know if you noticed but we had Justin Evans playing at the nickel today so you’ve got to keep rolling and the two new guys got a baptism by fire. They got a lot of reps today.”

(On Sergio Bailey and Ervin Phillips)
“I’ve got to admit, those two guys did a good job. That was a two-minute drive and a no huddle, you saw how tired both the offense and defense were. I was really proud of those two guys and I think it elevates their confidence and then you see Serg make the beautiful catch in the end zone today. So, you find guys like that in preseason and all of a sudden Erv hadn’t been playing outside at all and had to play outside in the game the other night. You find out who pays attention in the meetings really fast.”

(On Desean Jackson)

Bucs WR DeSean Jackson – Photo by Mary Holt

“Desean’s having an excellent camp. I think Desean has really asserted himself, not only as a veteran, but as a leader. He’s tried to take on more of a role and I’m really pleased with him. We haven’t hit him as much as we should, but that’s progress.”

(On how Desean Jackson has taken over a leadership role)
“What he says, his body language. Desean has instant street cred because of his career. The players respect the heck out of Desean, so when Desean has good body language, he’s talked to the team twice so far, he’s going to be the captain this week in Tennessee. You know, it’s a big difference when you see a guy that you respect out there doing what he’s supposed to do versus a guy that’s out there moping around and hats off to him, he’s doing a great job.”

(On some young players getting more game reps due to injuries)
“It helps them, no question. There’s no coach standing behind you in real football, so you find out real fast guys can play without a coach telling them what to do. It’s great work for those guys.”

(On if those players have responded well to being tested early)
“Some of them. It’s always going to be that way. So for the ones that we didn’t like, we say, ‘Hey, you’ve got another chance coming up this week.’ For the ones we did like, we say, ‘OK, build on that. Learn more.’ If you’re a wide receiver, play more than one spot.”