WFLA News Channel 8 sports anchor Dan Lucas sits down with Bucs head coach Todd Bowles after each Tampa Bay game to assess the outcome in a segment called Bucs With Bowles. This exclusive content can be found on the WFLA YouTube channel and on PewterReport.com.

Following the Bucs’ 26-9 victory over the Saints that has Tampa Bay off to a 3-1 start heading into the bye week, Lucas and Bowles hit on several topics in the six-minute interview. Highlights include:

Todd Bowles on the bye week possibly coming at the right time:

“Right now because we’re banged up, the early bye week suits us well. We can get some guys well, nursing injuries. We can watch some tape we can self-scout what we do as far as how we can scheme things going forward, seeing what people are trying to do to us. But the biggest thing is for us to get healthy.”

Todd Bowles on the Bucs’ running game producing 114 yards in New Orleans:

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

“Well you have to keep trying to run the football. It’s not about having a success ratio right away. If you can get the volume up eventually you’ll start breaking those runs. The main object is we run it enough to win games. You know if you’re winning games you take it how you can get it and you work on things that you have to work on.”

On how the Bucs receivers like playing with QB Baker Mayfield:

“He’s playing very smart football. He’s playing very tough football. I think we moved them guys (the Bucs receivers) around a lot more this year than they have been in the past, and they’re excited about that part. I think Baker knows how to get them the football – to have chemistry developing by the day. And I think they’re excited to see when he takes off some and makes some smart intelligent runs to get first downs.”

Todd Bowles on the Bucs’ revamped offensive line coming together:

“It’s always good but it can get better obviously we can get better in the run game I think we’re just scratching the surface.”

Todd Bowles on the play of Vita Vea, who leads the team with 3.5 sacks:

Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB-TE Taysom Hill – Photo by: USA Today

“You kind of take him for granted because it is so big and powerful but he’s been tenacious down there even with a a sore a sore pec he’s been tenacious down there he gets through the line of scrimmage he’s been our unquestioned leader on the defensive line he sets the tone all the time up the middle as far as knocking the center back or the guard back he gets sacks he he makes his presence known he runs sideline on the sideline that’s what you really like to see about him and everybody gets excited over that.”

Todd Bowles on Tampa Bay’s 3-1 start:

“I’ve always said this – when you start the season you have to win while you figure out who you are. You know you’re going to make some mistakes, but if you can win while you do it it stacks up. We’ve just got to continue that and cut out the mistakes. We had too many penalties last game. The guys understand that. But we’re coming together as a unit and the more we come together as a unit the stronger we become. The guys been believed, but now they’re seeing it put on paper and the score is showing up like that.”

Click the video below to watch the most recent Bucs With Bowles episode as Lucas sits down for an exclusive interview with Tampa Bay’s head coach.

Bucs Bonus Sunday Nights On News Channel 8

WFLA News Channel 8 is partners with Pewter Report and the Official News Channel of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition to being the flagship station for the Bucs preseason games, News Channel 8 also has a 30-minute Bucs Bonus show following the 11:00 p.m. newscast each Sunday night.

WFLA’s Dan Lucas, Karen Loftus and Aileen Hnatiuk offer post-game reports, Bucs highlights and locker room interviews following each Tampa Bay game.