(On the Atlanta game)
"I'd just like to again say it's a big win for us. Guys did play very hard and I was impressed by that. We had too many penalties; we've got to clean that up quickly. But we're pleased with the victory. We've got our hands full this week with a very, very good Chicago Bear team."
(On injured players)
"They're still being evaluated. We'll have to let you know on Wednesday. Obviously there is some concern but nothing definitive at this point."
(On how the offense improved from Week One to Week Two)
"Well, we started fast. I felt we took advantage of good field position, made a nice play on third down and we capitalized, scored a touchdown on our opening possession. We started quicker, we converted some third downs, we were able to get a lead and that was probably the biggest difference. There's still a lot of room for improvement, me included."
(On Antonio Bryant)
"We'd like to hit him. We had a chance for an explosive play deep yesterday. He was a key factor on [Earnest] Graham's 70-yard run. He's a physical player and he's a guy we have got to get the ball to. But we like what we see and we're encouraged, very encouraged by what he's done. We're very excited about what he's capable of doing."
(On if most of the Bucs' penalties are being committed by the offensive line)
"No. It appears that way when you get a run called back. We had a penalty on a tight end, we had a holding call on a fullback, we had a holding call on a wide receiver, we had some key penalties on defense, we had some key penalties on special teams. I believe we were the least-penalized team in the preseason and we're the most-penalized team in the regular season.”
(On the improved pass rush)
“Yeah, it was exciting. You know as we said yesterday, you can rush a passer normally you get the opportunities to do that when you get a team behind in the down and distance and behind on the scoreboard. And we had some good opportunities not only to rush but to be creative with our blitz section and we applied some pressure with the four man rush and with the blitz.”
(On what impressed him most about Griese’s performance)
“I thought he did a nice job really. We had the one turnover late in the football game. He managed the offense. He made some great decisions in the running game. We won the football game. I thought he was solid. I thought he played pretty good.”
(On Earnest Graham)
“Well you know he had a 46-yard run in New Orleans. He had a 68-yard run yesterday and I thought yesterday’s game was unique from the standpoint that Michael Turner and Earnest Graham are two great backs that probably weren’t picked in the draft as high as maybe they should be. Probably because of their straight line 40-yard dash time that they ran at the combine. But both of those guys are great backs. We’re proud of Earnest. What he does as a receiver, what he does as a runner, what he does as a protector. He is unselfish. He is cheering just as hard for Warrick Dunn as he is for himself and he is off to a great start.”
(On speaking to other teams about Jeff Garcia)
“I have not. I have not talked to anybody about Jeff. There are a lot of reports out there and if someone ever came to me that had issued a report I would be happy to address it. But there’s a lot of reports out there that are erroneous and incorrect. Not to my knowledge.”
(On Bears RB Matt Forte)
“He is a rookie and he doesn’t look like a rookie. He has physical presence between the tackles, he has perimeter speed, and you saw him break a trap against the Colts. It looks like he can catch the ball, he looks comfortable and he appears to be there go-to back. It is a credit to him, the Bears found a really good young runner.”
(On TE John Gilmore)
“I thought he did well. He ran a nice route in the end zone, and caught a touchdown, his first as a Tampa Bay Buc. He got free down the middle and I think it was his longest catch of his career. There were some great things as a receiver that showed up on the stat sheet but as always, there are a lot of things that he does on the line of scrimmage that are as good as that. He is good football player and a great team guy, we are proud of him.”
(On S Sabby Piscitelli)
“Sabby shows up with big plays whenever he plays. I didn’t like the lateral in that situation late in the game, I let him and his brother know late last night, and his friends that were with him. But I was really happy with the way he played. I don’t want to undermine what Tanard Jackson did yesterday as a football player either, he was outstanding. Our young safeties, to go with Jermaine Phillips, have really been impressive so far and Sabby is off to a good start.”
(On what he expects from the Bears)
“I expect a very physical football game. You love to play in that stadium, the tradition of Chicago Bear football; they are going to be well coached. Lovie Smith does a great job. They possess a lot of talent, physical play, and it is always fun to play a team like that because they are going to bring out your very best.”
(On LB Geno Hayes)
“He did a good job. He played most of his snaps in the second half. He showed poise, he is a collision player; he is going to find ways to get around the ball. He has good instincts and we were pleased.”
(On QB Brian Griese)
“Nobody is perfect and I am really aware of the quarterback position and the notoriety that it gets. It will be a tough call but I think right now we will stay status quo and we will move forward and get ready for the Bears.”
(On if he is getting a feel for the running back situation)
“Yes we are, as you saw yesterday, there were several times they were in together. Both guys have very good stamina, they are both excellent receivers and I think both of them are more physical players than people realize. We did creatively get them on the field for six or seven snaps. We don’t want to get into a true rotation system because these are rhythm runners, they all tell you that. It is hard but we are trying our best to use both guy’s strengths. If we can stay ahead in the down and distance and sustain some 10 and 12 play drives like we did earlier, we will see both of them.”
(On RB Warrick Dunn’s touchdown run)
“There was a third-and-10 earlier he popped a shovel pass, it was an excellent blocked play and he showed tremendous quickness. When we got way behind in the down and distance, we anticipated it in that particular case. A certain look we got it, and we tried to get the ball to Warrick. We didn’t really expect that play to score but you get a great player the ball in space sometimes they make a great play. That is what Warrick Dunn has done his whole career.”
(On WR Michael Clayton)
“We want to get him involved, we certainly do. We would like to get Antonio and everybody involved. Bottom line is that we ran for 150 yards basically, we threw for 150 yards. If we can do that every Sunday we will have a chance to win if we can stay away from the penalties and finish some drives with authority.”