Bucs Best Quotes From Camp: 8/1

On if he is going to be cautious with Bucs DL Calijah Kancey’s injury or if he could play against Minnesota:

“It all depends on if and when he gets healthy. If he gets healthy in enough time, then obviously he will play. If he is iffy right up until the game, then he may not play. I do not know exactly when he is going to come around and get healthy, but we will monitor it and we will play it by ear.”

On if it is music to his ears that Bucs WR Mike Evans is running routes he has never run before:

“It is a different offense. He is happy to be in it. He is happy to learn. He is full of energy right now. He is playing like a rookie and I love that about it because he is into it. He has done a good job. Brad Idzik is doing a good job getting those guys ready. I like the excitement he is bringing. It is a great fresh challenge.”

On if there is any concern with Bucs CB Carlton Davis III being held out of practice:

“No, he bruised his shoulder, so we are just taking care of it. We are just taking it one day at a time.”

Bucs WR Mike Evans

On going into year 10:

“In the moment, it seems like it’s taken a while, but then you just look up and you were just a rookie and now you’re [in] year 10. That’s how all the vets explained it to me and that’s how I’m explaining it to the younger plays. You’re going to look up and time is going to have flown by. Try not to take it for granted.”

On what he’s learned from his experiences with Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and what changes he’s seen in Bucs QB Kyle Trask:

“I mean, they’ve both been having a really good camp. We’re all learning a new offense and it’s going to be much harder on quarterbacks, but they’re making some really good plays. They’re both really mobile, they both [have] really great arm talent. [They’re] really good, young players. They’re doing well right now. I’m looking forward to seeing who gets the job.”

On what he likes about this new offense:

“I love what [offensive coordinator] Dave [Canales] has brought – a different type of energy. He’s a really interesting guy – really fun to be around. In the past, I’ve been moved around a lot but in this offense, I’m going to be moved around even more. It’ll be harder to get a double team on me. I’m looking forward to seeing what we are able to do this year.”

Bucs Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales

On his assessment of the position battle between Bucs quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask:

“It has been good. The first couple of days, the experience that Baker [Mayfield] brings just playing in games, being in camps, going through installs, you can see where the offense was gelling really well. The timing of the snap is really critical for us, so probably a little bit of an edge for Baker to start off in terms of the smoothness of the offense.

But it just took a couple of days for Kyle [Trask] to really settle in and then what we saw in the last two practices, Kyle really showed what he can do, stretching the field with his arm, getting the ball out quickly, and making decisions. I am really excited about both of those guys and the progression that they have made throughout the last couple of days.”

On why he chose to pick his five offensive line starters and let them build continuity:

“High hopes that group just stays and plays, but we all know the NFL. We know that different combinations get thrown in there, but I think what happens is the communication thing. When guys get used to talking to certain players, then that communication becomes really fluid. They are used to guys playing next to them, the combinations, and the blocks.

It is not just the verbal communication, but that physical communication where two people are working on one guy, comboing up to the second level, they start to get used to how he hits this guy onto me, or how this guy slows him down for this other combo to overtake it. Even if it doesn’t end up being that combination, at least the work of it, the physical work of it, allows us to get good clips on film for us to study and to show the team like, ‘Hey, this is a really good rep, etc.’.”

On if Bucs RB Rachaad White is everything that he was hoping for thus far:

“Yeah. I am just waiting to see some live bullet play from him, but I mean he is just so natural. Everything he does, the run game, the pass game, pass protection, and routes. He is really a natural with both hands catching the ball. I think he is going to be fantastic. My part, and our part as a staff, is just making sure that we are able to take advantage of all that skill set that he brings.”

Bucs Co-Defensive Coordinator/ Defensive Line Coach Kacy Rodgers

On how Bucs DL Calijah Kancey is doing thus far in camp:

“Actually he was doing a really good job from OTAs and into camp. The thing about him is that he is very sharp. He asks a lot of questions and everything. He was doing everything we thought he could do before he was drafted. We hope to get him back as soon as we can.”

On Bucs LB SirVocea Dennis’ performance thus far in camp:

“He has a great characteristic; the ball likes to find him. That is always a good thing in the league. He has been making a lot of plays for us. It makes for a lot of healthy competition all across the board.”

On what he has seen from Bucs DL Logan Hall thus far in camp:

“What really helped Logan [Hall] was when we started OTAs and you look at all the film, the plays, the things he could improve on, and the mistakes that were made. It will be a big year for him growth wise. He was here all offseason. We are expecting him to take a big step forward.”

Bucs Special Teams Coordinator Keith Armstrong

On how the kicking competition is coming along:

“Right now, I really like both guys. I like their attitude, their work ethic, and they know what they are doing in terms of technique. They are both two different styles of kickers, but they know exactly what they are doing. For example, they both made it from 58 [yards] with the ball on the 40 [yard line]. It has been a really good competition, and I am pleased with both guys. Good handle, good height on the ball, and doing a really good job.”

On if Bucs P Jake Camarda could be a Pro-Bowl punter:

“No doubt. No doubt. He is extremely talented. Obviously, punts and kicks off – he does a really good job with both. He has a strong leg, very athletic guy. He loves ball. I cannot say enough about him.”

On how the kick return competition is shaping up:

“It is going [well]. Deven [Thompkins] is doing a nice job. He is very twitchy just watching him out there. It is none of my business, but it looks like he is doing a good job at receiver as well, which makes me happy, [laughs]. You [have to] build a case, you know what I mean? No, but Deven [Thompkins] is doing a really good job. When we were talking about that speed last year, it was not just at returner, it was also we wanted to get some speed inside the guys that are actually blocking for them. I think we have done that as well.”

On how the gunner position battle is shaping up thus far into camp and if there are any early favorites:

“Well, Zyon McCollum. I love him. He does a great job for us. There are some other guys who will get in the mix. Christian Izien is another guy who comes to mind that I am looking forward to seeing. As we get pads on, we just had a padded day, obviously, and went against each other in vice the other day. Christian [Izien] is a guy who jumps out right now.”