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About the Author: Scott Reynolds

Avatar Of Scott Reynolds
Scott Reynolds is in his 28th year of covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the vice president, publisher and senior Bucs beat writer for PewterReport.com. Author of the popular SR's Fab 5 column on Fridays, Reynolds oversees web development and forges marketing partnerships for PewterReport.com in addition to his editorial duties. A graduate of Kansas State University in 1995, Reynolds spent six years giving back to the community as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach for his sons' Pop Warner team, the South Pasco Predators. Reynolds can be reached at: [email protected]

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Don’t look now, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won three out of their last four games. At 5-7, the Bucs opened up the month of December with a ton of momentum and expectations higher than they’ve been all season after the team’s 28-11 win over the Jaguars in Jacksonville. Following the game, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said this is the kind of performance they have come to expect.

Here is the full Q&A from Arians after the game.

(Opening Statement)
“I am really, really pleased. I thought the defensive effort was outstanding. [The Jaguars] got a little momentum when they put Gardner [Minshew II] in there but we were able to have that great goal-line stand that kind of put it to bed. Offensively, we had a great start. We moved the ball pretty well in the second half, we just couldn’t score any points once we got to the fourth-and-five. Hindsight, I might have tried a long field goal there but didn’t want to give them the ball that far back.  But overall, pleased with the effort and finally got two (wins) in a row.”

(On how critical the goal-line stand was in the fourth quarter)
“Yeah, that is one thing that you can take and build off for a very long time. For Sean [Murphy-Bunting] to come up with that interception and to stop them a couple of times and force them to throw the football, that is something you can really build on.”

(On if he was concerned Minshew’s II momentum could provide a repeat of what happened against the Giants)
“Not at all. They were not going to score fast enough, first of all. I also knew our defense was going to turn it around.”

(On Devin White’s play today)
“There was no doubt. With the sacks last week, we knew he was a dynamic player. He’s is really coming into his own. You can really see him blossoming each week and getting more and more confident. He’s got to work on his running back skills because the dude drilled him right between the four and the five. He should be our running back.  He is everything we thought he would be.”

(On how much momentum they have with three wins in the last four games)
“It’s what we are looking for. We want to finish this thing strong. We will add them up at the end and see if it’s enough. We want to hopefully get three in a row at home. We can’t get six in a row; we can only get three in a row. I like where we are at. We are practicing and preparing extremely hard each week. We’re coming into stadiums expecting to win.”

(On what the Jaguars were doing in the second half to make things more challenging)
“He [Minshew II] was throwing it pretty quick. He gets the ball out of his hand fast. He’s a scrambler and made a play or two, but he wasn’t anything that concerned me.”

(On what the offense was challenged with in the second half)
“We moved it; we ate up a lot of clock but didn’t score any points. We were eating up a lot of clock.”

(On Breshad Perriman and O.J. Howard’s performances)
“Yeah, I mean you guys keep asking who is [the number] three? There you go. Mike [Evans] had one of the best catches I have ever seen taken away and I can’t say enough about Chris [Godwin] and what he does. It was great to see O.J. step up and Breshad, now if we hit in stride one of these times, he is going to take it to the house.”

(On Jameis Winston making some throws and taking some big hits)
“He hit himself. I thought we blocked really well, and it was tough sledding in the running game. We managed to get our 31 runs in there and I like to be more efficient, but we blocked really well on the touchdown run. Also, just get rid of it. The fourth-and-five, just throw it to the back and see if you can make a guy miss. Just doing do all the whirly-burling and take a sack.”

(On any update with Jamel Dean & his shoulder)
“Just say that it was a bruise and we will see how bad it is.”

(On Alex Cappa leaving with a shoulder injury)
“His left, his other arm was a little bit strained and I wasn’t sure he knew it. He said he could play, but I want him out there next week.”

(On not seeing Ronald Jones II that much)
“Peyton [Barber] had a hot hand. He was making the plays and he was doing the best job in the pickup. Ro-Jo [Ronald Jones] missed a blitz pick up and that is it. You don’t get to play anymore.”

(On Winston having zero turnovers today)
“I think we did have a fumble, but no interceptions. He played really, really well.”

(On how he is feeling his glass is after this week)
“I might have two. (Celebratory drink?). Yeah, I will probably have two of them.”

(On the defense growing up together)
“Yeah, especially the back end. The communication, they see it. Once you see it and you put the time into it, you get the fruits of your labor. I mean, you know you have to put more time into it like Todd [Bowles] said. I show up a 4:30 [in the morning] and these cats are showing up a 5. That is what we are looking for.”

(On his plans to get any more office furniture)
“No, just down to the DB (defensive backs) room.”

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