Head coach Bruce Arians spoke to the media on Monday following practice and talked about some of the things he saw from the morning workout. Below is a transcript from his press conference.

(On if he has spoken with Washington Football Team Head Coach Ron Rivera after he was diagnosed with cancer last week)
“I did. I texted him a long text and told him if he needed to talk about it to give me a shout. Ron and I are pretty good friends, so I’m sure if he needs it, he’ll call me. I think he’s in great hands and everything he’s going through – I think – is very curable and he’ll whip it.”

Former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera – Photo by: Getty Images

(On if reaching out to Rivera is part of the coaching fraternity)
“Ron’s come out to my golf tournament in Arizona a couple of times – he and his wife – so yeah, it is. There’s times when it’s competition and there’s time when it’s just family.”

(On the progress of RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn)
“He’s improving. The game is pretty fast – blitz pickups and all those types of things that go with it. He’s got good vision as a runner, good patience as a runner. He dropped some balls today. He’s got good hands, he shouldn’t be dropping, so it’s a matter of being more consistent.”

(On CB Parnell Motley making plays throughout camp)
“He keeps making plays every single day, he’s going to get a job.”

(On who has impressed him among the defensive linemen)
“Will Gholston’s in great shape – he’s been really, really tough in there. Vita is Vita, Suh is Suh. I think Vita will play better when he gets that [club] off his hand – a little frustrating. I think [Jeremiah] Ledbetter has shown some improvement, Nacho (Rakeem Nunez-Roches) has been having a heck of a camp and Pat [O’Connor] has done a great job. We’re moving him around now. Even Khalil Davis is handling the run well. He can rush the passer – that’s for sure – but he’s handling the run pretty well.”

(On how the wind during Monday’s practice impacted the kickers and quarterbacks)
“I wouldn’t even consider that a hard breeze. That was just a left-to-right wind – the kickers were 100 percent. That type of wind is not going to affect a quarterback.”

(On WR Tyler Johnson missing Monday’s practice and if the injury is the same as what he dealt with earlier in training camp)
“Same injury.”

(On how QB Tom Brady has interacted with his younger teammates)
“I think it’s the same it has been for him in New England the whole time. Young players come in every year and you’re going to be with Tom Brady. The awe factor is long gone, I think. He does a great job of communicating to a younger player what he’s looking for, special things on routes, things like that. He’s like having another coach on the field.”

(On how the younger skill position players help Brady)
“He enjoys it, that’s for sure. It’s just getting on the same page with Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin]. I don’t consider those guys young – they’re veterans. Scotty [Miller] is young and some of those other kids. He’s having a good time.”

Bucs QB Tom Brady and WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

(On if the risk of injury during live-contact periods has made him rethink the scheduled scrimmage for Friday)
“No, I think we’ve got to block and tackle. Defensive linemen have to play low blocks, linebackers have to play cut blocks by the [running] backs. It’s a catch-22. You have to do some of it – you don’t do a lot of it, [just] enough of it. Friday, hopefully the storms don’t take us away from the stadium, so we can get in there and get some good work and we’ll go from there.”

(On who is standing out at the cornerback position)
“[Parnell] Motley for sure – he doesn’t drop any. When they throw it around him, he catches it. I think Carlton [Davis] is having a great battle with Mike [Evans]. He wins some, he loses some. They’re just getting each other better. Same thing with Sean [Murphy-Bunting] and Jamel [Dean] going against those guys. We did a little more one-on-ones, really for Tom [Brady] more than for anybody else. I think all the corners [are] progressing very nicely.”

(On when he will determine if rookie T Tristan Wirfs and rookie S Antoine Winfield Jr. are ready to start in Week 1)
“We still have a couple more weeks for that to happen. Tristan is on schedule right now – he looks pretty solid. Antoine is making plays every single day. Both of them are mature players coming from good programs. I don’t think the lights will be too big for them. They’re progressing nicely.”

(On if he would have doubts about Winfield’s ability to start Week 1, should the team decide he is the starter)
“No, I don’t.”

(On where the team is meeting expectations and where he feels it needs more improvement before Week 1)
“I think we’re about 75 percent as a team where we need to be. We still have a lot of practice time, a lot of things to install and look at. We’re in no hurry. I think if there’s one area – just because you can’t judge it very well – is special teams. But, I like the intensity out there [and] what they’re doing. Until you see a guy go up against a Pro Bowler, you never know.”

(On if CB Parnell Motley could play his way into a cornerback role as opposed to a primary special teams player)
“If he’s not starting, special teams takes precedent. It’s as simple as that. If you’re a backup, you might be the second best corner, but [if] the third best is a good special teams player, he’s taking your job.”

Bucs CB Parnell Motley – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

(On if QB Tom Brady’s ability to call audibles and read defenses pre-snap will impact Tampa Bay’s run game)
“He’s got great experience in that. We’ll have more run checks than we’ve probably had in the past – more than last year for sure.”

(On Brady’s ability to pump fake and move the defense)
“That was a well-done pump-screen thing, but he does a good job with his eyes. He can lean guys and move them, especially zone players. They’re taught to break on movement, and he’s got enough experience and knows how to do that to get guys open.”

(On the earlier trade talks surrounding TE O.J. Howard and how Howard has performed well in camp while working with TE Rob Gronkowski)
“I think the trade talk was outside the building. I never talked to him about it. All I talked to him about was getting better and he was going to be here for a while and believe it. I think with Tom [Brady] helping him confidence-wise and watching Gronk work, they’ve been a good combination helping each other – him helping Gronk learn the offense. It’s been great for him. He’s still a young player, and to be around a great player [will] elevate your game.”

(On the depth at both inside and outside linebacker)
“Kevin Minter is a solid guy – we can always count on him to start if we have to and he’s a great core special teams player. The rest of the guys on the inside, it’s up for grabs. Noah [Dawkins], Chapelle [Russell], Jack [Cichy], whoever is in there, it’s all special teams. Like I said, if you’re not a starter, you better be a hell of a special teams player if you want to get a hat. Same thing at outside backer. [Anthony] Nelson has his spot and the other four guys are fighting. It’s not about pass rush, it’s about special teams.”

(On his message to the players when there are more dropped passes in practice)
“I don’t think the running backs dropped any today in live stuff. But, if you drop the ball, you’re probably not making the team. You better be really special at something else. I thought yesterday was kind of an aberration with the running backs because that’s the first day they had it. It’s all about concentration.”

Bucs RB Ronald Jones II and DT Vita Vea – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

(On RB Ronald Jones II having a strong practice on Monday following his performance in Sunday’s practice)
“I’ve got all the confidence in the world [in Jones]. He knows what he’s doing and he knows how to do it. But, you’ve got to have your mind focused on every single play you’re getting a rep on. There are times he’ll go through the motions and it will show up real quick – like a dropped pass when he knows he should have caught it. There are still some little things in the passing game he’s still learning that each rep he learns something from. He’s a pro [and] he’s getting there.”

(On TE Rob Gronkowski’s blocking ability at tight end)
“[He’s a] big, big man. He can cover you up pretty quick. He knocked the edge back pretty good a couple times today. His size and his length – you put him and O.J. [Howard] over there, that’s two pretty powerful blockers together. It’s something he loves to do [and] he takes a lot of pride in it, too.”

– Transcription courtesy of the Buccaneers communications department