Here are some of the best Bucs quotes following their team’s training camp practice on Tuesday, August 24 at the AdventHealth Training Center.

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians on who has made the biggest improvement since last Saturday’s game:

“I think Grant Stuard has had a good week of practice. It’s hard because we’re practicing the starters so much this week. I know what the top 35 guys can do. That fourth quarter will be very important in this game for some other guys to show that they have improved. A lot of guys were running Houston stuff this week because it’s a normal game week. But it’s hard to say who got much better this week because it wasn’t really a training camp week.”

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians on the depth in the defensive backfield:

“There’s a bunch of them and throw that fifth corner and the fourth or fifth safeties. It’s all about special teams. Who shines the best, who covers kicks, who can block on returns. There’s a lot to it. If you have just one coverage unit but can’t block anybody in an open field, it’s not going to help us either. Those are the battles that are going down to the wire.”

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians on what he expects to see from the starters:

“I don’t know – I hope. I hope to see what I want to see in this first half or else we’ll still be playing in the third quarter. We have to play, and I have to see us play. They have to see themselves play.”

Bucs head coach Bruce Arians 0n going on the road to Houston this weekend:

“The road trips are all different. Taking 80 guys versus 53 is a huge difference. I would rather play two away games and one home game – which we’ll do next year – just to get that out of the way because with crowd noise and all of the things you have to deal with on the road. We haven’t had to deal with it.”

Bucs wide receiver coach Kevin Garver on WR Jaelon Darden:

“Jaelon’s done a really good job. I think that any time you come in as a rookie there’s a lot of things you have to learn. He’s getting in the playbook, learning as he goes, taking each rep one at a time, learning from his mistakes. I think there is a really talented guy, really talented player. I think he brings a lot to the table. I think he can be explosive. I think he is very shifty. I think when he gets the ball in his hands, he can make a lot of plays. It’s just about getting him there. Being in the right spot at the right time [and] quarterbacks trusting him. Those are the little things that he is working on every day. I’m going to continue to work with him, and he really wants it – [he is] putting the time in to study. So, I like the way he is progressing.”

Bucs wide receiver coach Kevin Garver on WR Mike Evans returning for training camp in great shape and not taking any time off:

“I think it’s his mindset. When I first got here and met Mike, he wanted to win. That’s everything I heard about him before I got here. I think just tasting that and being able to experience that, I think it drives him even more. He came into camp the best I’ve seen him. This is year three for me (with Mike). For sure, [he is] getting after it every day. Really hasn’t had a day off so I’m proud of Mike and where he’s at right now. Just really excited to see him get started with the season.”

Bucs wide receiver Tyler Johnson on QB Tom Brady trusting him in the playoff game against New Orleans last year:

“I just told him that I appreciate him for trusting me in that big of a moment of a game. Trusting a rookie out there on a third-and-11 is very huge. Like I said, going out there and making plays whenever they come my way. I have a lot of work to do and I’m going to continue to work as well.”

Bucs wide receiver Tyler Johnson on his biggest growth:

“My releases on the snap of the ball and just playing fast. That pretty much ties into everything else. Like I said, I have a lot to work on and I’m with a great group of guys that [are] helping me. I’m just going to continue to grow.”

Bucs wide receiver Jaelon Darden on what it means to him that QB Tom Brady has taken an interest in helping him develop as a player during his rookie season:

“It definitely means a lot. There is a lot of knowledge up there, so I’m trying to learn as much as I can. And I’m young, so it’s definitely good seeing him taking a chance [on me] and taking the time to really work with me and enhance my game on the field, [in addition to] him having to do what he has to do. That speaks volumes.”

Bucs wide receiver Jaelon Darden on if it is encouraging getting reps with the veteran members of the offense:

“Very encouraging. Like I said, I’m still learning. I’m in the learning process, so I’m learning from everybody – CG (Chris Godwin), Mike [Evans], A.B. (Antonio Brown) – I’m learning every day. There’s something new I am learning every day, so I more so say it’s a learning experience for me being able to get out there and go through trial and error and learn, ‘Oh, I’m not supposed to be here because of this coverage,’ or things of that nature. There are just small things that I’m still learning that I’m just really appreciative of.”

Bucs safety Javon Hagan on the feeling of fighting for a roster spot:

“Normal – I’m just staying focused, controlling the things I can control and just making sure that I’m putting what I need to put on film and on tape. Listening to my coaches, trusting them and doing the technique that they’re coaching. All of those [other] things are out of my reach. I trust God first and foremost and I let him handle everything. I’m just going in day in and day out taking it one day at a time just trying to work at the things I need to work on.”

Bucs safety Javon Hagan on Head Coach Bruce Arians saying that the starters will play a fair amount in the final preseason game, and if that makes each of his reps that much more important on Saturday:

“Extremely important. Being the last preseason game, you’ve got to go out with a bang. Being that the starters are playing a tremendous amount in the first half, that’s an important thing for me to sit back and watch, and to see what those guys are doing because they’ve been doing it for some time now and they have some experience. That’s a good opportunity for me to take some mental reps and put myself in the game from the sidelines, so when I do get my opportunity to get out there, I’ll be in the right position. Going back to practice – being in the [right] positions that we’re in in practice going against the offense.”