Here are some of the best Bucs quotes following their the team’s training camp practice on Thursday, August 2.

Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles

On if he sees the Bucs quarterback competition as a close race currently:

“Well, it has been tight. That is a good thing obviously. You want players to compete for a spot. You don’t want anyone being given a post. You want to earn your spot every year. Both guys are having a healthy competition and we are just looking forward to the games.”

Bucs QBs Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

On what he has seen from Bucs TE Cade Otton so far this camp:

“Just the growth mentally and understanding the game really. It is a new system for everybody over there, but he understands the game. He is a football player and he is a heady football player. He has been solid all the way around. He has been having a good camp.”

On what he has seen from the offensive line’s ability to pick up blitzes:

“Just them being in sync and understanding what is getting ready to happen to them. Flowing and playing as a group, no individual guy is messing up here or there. They are playing as a group, and they are all on the same page. I see good chemistry.”

On how changing blocking schemes over the offseason affects the tight end group:

“Well, in the run game, they’re apart of the offensive line too. They have to be in sync with the offensive line, not just the offensive line, the five of them. It is really six of them. They have to be in sync with them and the wide outs, so it changes a lot. It is pretty much the same, it is just a different type of scheme as to who they are blocking. I think they understand that pretty well and they work together. John Van Dam does a good job of getting those guys prepared.”

On if he wished former Bucs QB Tom Brady a happy birthday:

“Happy Birthday Tom! We love you!”

Bucs Quarterback Baker Mayfield

On the quarterback competition:

“It’s great for everybody, to be honest with you. When the quarterback room is having success, it shows what this offense can be capable of. We’re distributors within this system – just getting the ball out, it’s not like we’re trying to hone in on one guy. Yeah, there will be specific plays where we want to get a guy open, but for right now it’s taking what the defense gives you.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The past few days, yeah, Kyle [Trask] and John [Wolford] have had great practices of just doing that – going through the system, getting the ball out and making the reads. I think people are starting to see what we’re going to be capable of, and obviously, as we get used to pads more and more, the run game will get going as well. It’s just slowly coming together.”

On if there are any details in particular that he’s focused on:

“Like I mentioned, the two practices previous to this one were not my best, by any means. So we look at it – footwork was a little off, just being out of rhythm. So, just getting back to that. It was a lot better for me today. Obviously, we’ll go back in and watch the tape, but being able to go back in and see, ‘Alright, my footwork was timing up with the reads and that’s why I was able to get the ball out and take care of it.”

On what the connection between him and Bucs WR Mike Evans has been like:

“Just his body language at the top of his routes, how friendly it is. It is unlike any wide receiver I have ever played with. I am getting used to how friendly it is and just being able to trust and let it go earlier and earlier. It just speaks to how great he has been consistently year over year with whoever is throwing the ball to him. He is going to do his job. He is going to do it at a very high level. He is going to make plays for you.”

Bucs Tight End Cade Otton

On how training camp is going so far:

“It’s going great. I’m having a ton of fun. I think it’s been really good for me to just have a full offseason going into it being healthy and just knowing my surroundings a little better. So, I feel confident, having fun, and getting to know these guys, this new group we have. And yeah, I think we are doing really well so far.”

Bucs TE Cade Otton and OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

On what the new offense does for the tight end position:

“Coach [Dave] Canales has talked about marrying the run and the pass, and so, as tight ends, we kind of the link between those two things, we get great opportunities in the play action game, and then just at our position working the middle of the field. You know, we’re early in reads and stuff, so it’s been great seeing guys make plays in the tight end room. You know, we’re a pretty inexperienced bunch overall, but I think you can see all of our guys playing with confidence, playing fast, and I think the offense does a great job at putting us in those positions.”

On being in his second season with the Bucs and not having veterans Cameron Brate and Kyle Rudolph in the room anymore:

“Yeah, it’s kind of strange thinking about that, and looking at our group, but those guys are such great pros and friends. They really helped me out last year, being able to learn from them for a year and see how they operate, how they played, and treated football everyday really helped me prepare for this moment, and all the guys in the tight end room benefited from them. I’m really thankful for that experience.”