Here are some of the best Bucs quotes following their the team’s training camp practice on Friday, August 4.

Bucs Head Coach Todd Bowles

On how the players are doing in the areas of energy, fundamentals, technique and execution:

“The energy is good. The focus on the fundamentals is always ongoing in football camp. The execution is a little bit up and down – it’s more ups than downs as practice goes on.  When the chirping starts – it’s about that time of camp – we’ve got to focus on what we need to focus on.”

On how the quarterbacks looked today:

“They did a good job of limiting the turnovers. We’ve got to do a better job of seeing when to throw the ball away – when they’ve got guys coming back there and you see them, we’ve got to get rid of the ball. Both guys have got to get better at that – but not turning it over is a plus.”

Bucs ILBs Lavonte David and Devin White and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

On how Bucs LB Devin White has done during training camp:

“Devin has done great. He’s been outstanding. He’s really taking the onus of understanding the defense and it’s his defense to run. He knows when he can cheat plays and when he can’t cheat plays – that shows the growth he’s [had] over the past year.”

On how important Bucs T Tristan Wirfs’ transition to the left side is for the team’s success and how he’s doing:

“I think he’s doing a great job. The importance of it – I think he can play right or left very well – he’s a good football player. If you put him somewhere, he’ll challenge himself to be the best he can be at it. We’re very comfortable having him over there, I think he’s very comfortable over there. [There is] nobody better to protect your blindside.”

On what he’s seen from Bucs WR Russell Gage:

“He’s going full speed, it’s just a matter of getting him in camp condition. He runs and plays but he’s not running like the rest of them almost every play. That takes time when you get out of injury but we expect him to be back taking almost every snap in about a week or so

Bucs Tackle Tristan Wirfs

On how he has adjusted to the blitz pickup role of playing left tackle in this offense)

“Yeah, I think it is really about getting my eyes in the right spot, and I didn’t think that would be as big of a thing as it is coming from the right. When I first started in OTAs and stuff, coming from the right I felt like I could see everything. Now since I have moved over, I felt like I had blinders on. So, really getting used to that and my spatial awareness and stuff has been big.

Bucs OT Raiquon O’Neal and LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It has gotten a lot better, and I am feeling a lot more comfortable in being able to see a linebacker coming through the [A-gap] or the [backside A-gap] or whatever. Coach [Todd] Bowles always dials it up, so I have to be on my toes – everyone does. It has been good for us as an offensive line though, especially in the new scheme. Just being able to see all those and pick all those up.”

On how the switch from right to left tackle changed his footwork and other technical aspects of the game:

“Everything flipped. I am trying to retrain my brain by getting as many reps as I can, by throwing my left hand as much as I can. It is really hard. I hold onto this little sponge in my right hand just so I have something to think about, instead of wanting to throw it across my body. That is a big no-no for tackles. Really, it is just about building confidence in throwing my left hand, staying square in my set, and keeping all my weight inside, not letting my weight get on my outside leg.

Coach Joe [Gilbert] told me, ‘I am not going to let you fail.’ It is great having him push me every step of the way. I try not to let anybody down and do the best I can. They trust me and they put me in this position. I want to go out there and do the best that I can and show that I can do it.”

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and OL Brandon Walton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

On if the trepidation of switching positions has subsided for him at all:

“I don’t know if it has necessarily subsided. I think just that the negative thoughts have been outweighed by the positive thoughts now. I have been meeting with our team sports psychologist to try and help it a little bit, because I was in a really rough spot mentally. I was really nervous. I was playing out the season in my head over and over again like, ‘Oh, what if it goes this way or what if it goes this way?’ So, I was like, ‘It is freaking May. You have to calm down.’

It has been a lot better by just trusting myself and having confidence in my abilities. Knowing the work that I have put in will pay off. I have been coming out here every day with the best attitude that I can. Especially with us having young guys kind of look up to me now. We have these two, Silas [Dzansi] and Raiqwon [O’Neal], they’re asking me questions and stuff. It is weird because Silas is freaking older than me. I am trying to help him and help the both of those guys the best I can.

It is weird because sometimes in team drills, I am like, ‘It might not look how I am saying it should, but I am trying to do it.’ I am just trying to stay as positive as I can. It helps me quite a bit.”

 Bucs WR Russell Gage

On his process reintegrating himself into the offense:

“So first of all, it’s great to be back, you know, out here working with my brothers [and], learning a new system. I think the biggest thing though for me is learning, [and] building that chemistry with my quarterbacks. Definitely learning the system, plays, and where they want me to be, the timing of everything that’s essential and that’s crucial to any offense. And so, I think that’s the biggest thing to me right now, trying to get the rhythm and the timing down of the plays and where they want me to be at the right time.”

Bucs WR Russell Gage and OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

On the differences in the offense with Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales:

“So, I really love the offense. You know, honestly, it’s something that I am used to. You know, I remember being [in Atlanta], and you know, we kind of took over the KyIe Shanahan offense and I see a lot of similarities in that. You know, a lot of deep shots, a lot of quick game, but you know I’m actually pretty used to it and I really like it. It’s going to be a lot of explosive plays, but he’s also a ‘take what they give you’ type guy and I think that’s really essential for our offense moving the ball around the field, so it’s kind of familiar.

On noticeable differences between Bucs quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask:

“Oh man, honestly, it’s tough to tell. These boys are really going at it. You know, I see them every day. I saw them back before OTAs when they were throwing. They both look really good. It’s kind of hard to see anybody taking the edge on the other guy or anything like that. You know, they [both] throw the deep ball really well. It’s kind of hard to see anything different between the two.”