Transcript: Buccaneers Head Coach Press Conference

Can you describe kind of the energy or the mood and the vibe in the building now coming in the home stretch?

As we head into the home stretch of the season, the energy in the building is incredibly high. Right now, we’re sitting as the second seed in the NFC, and we’re proud of the progress we’ve made. Our guys have worked hard and haven’t taken anything for granted, even with some of the success we’ve had so far. We’re coming off a big win over the back-to-back champions, the Vikings, which was a huge statement for us. Despite battling through injuries to key players like Rachaad White, Kurtis Rourke, Trey Palmer, and Devin Culp, we’ve still found ways to win. That speaks to the resilience and depth of this team. Everyone has stepped up, and it’s a credit to the leadership in the locker room and the commitment to the team’s success.

I’m especially proud of how our defense has continued to improve each week. They’ve really turned a corner and are playing some of the best football we’ve seen from them all year. We’re carrying that momentum with us as we head into the final stretch. It feels great to win three straight division titles, but we’re not playing for division titles – we’re playing for a shot at the Super Bowl. That’s the goal, and that’s what we’re focused on. The energy and vibe in this building are all about pushing for that next level, staying focused, and making sure we’re ready for the challenges ahead. Everyone knows what’s at stake, and we’re excited to see where we can go with this team.

Can you speak to the overall team health?

Our team health has certainly been a challenge over the last few weeks, but it’s been impressive how we’ve managed to battle through it. We’ve had to play games without key guys like Nic Scourton, Calijah Kancey, and Dre Greenlaw, and we’ve also had stretches without Kurtis Rourke, Trey Palmer, Rachaad White, and Devin Culp. On top of that, we’ve had two offensive guards, Barton and Fusile, go down with injuries. Despite all of that, we’ve continued to find ways to win, and that speaks to the depth we’ve built and the preparation of every player on this roster. Our guys stay ready, and when their number is called, they step up. It’s been a total team effort, and I’m proud of how everyone has contributed, no matter their role.

While we’ve locked up the NFC South, we’re not content just with that. We still have a shot at the 1 seed, and we’re pushing hard these last two weeks to make sure we get there. The goal is to earn a bye in the wildcard round, and we’re not taking our foot off the gas. We know what’s at stake, and we want to make sure we have the best possible position going into the playoffs. Based on the latest reports from our medical team, it looks like everyone will be cleared for the wildcard round, as long as we don’t see any further injuries in these next two weeks. If all goes according to plan, we could have our full arsenal available come playoff time, which will be a huge boost. But we’re focused on these final two weeks and ensuring we’re firing on all cylinders as we make a push for that first-round bye. We’ll keep battling, stay focused, and give ourselves the best shot at a deep playoff run.

Were there any standout performances or key moments in the game against the Saints?

In the game against the Saints, there were definitely some standout performances and key moments that helped us secure the win. One of the biggest highlights was the emergence of Jake Briningstool at tight end. With Devin Culp going down, we were looking for someone to step up, and Jake has been nothing short of impressive. We’d been impressed with his work in practice, and he’s been consistently explosive, even going up against a very solid group of defenders. We brought him in late in the season, and it’s clear that he’s got the tools to make an impact at this level.

We gave him the nod a couple of weeks ago, and he didn’t disappoint. In that game, he put up 7 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown, which was a huge performance. Then, this week, he followed it up with another solid game, adding 6 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. He’s been a big-time contributor, and I think it’s safe to say we may have another star on our hands. Of course, Devin Culp is still our guy at tight end, and we’re looking forward to having him back, but with the way Jake has been performing lately, it’s going to be hard to keep him off the field. We’ve got some great depth at the position, and Jake’s recent performances have certainly made an impact on the offense. It’s a good problem to have, but it’s exciting to see how these guys are stepping up when we need them most.