(On the Buccaneers' defense)
"We've played a couple pretty good defenses the last few weeks, but Tampa's is, from what it looks like on film, as good as any that we've played, so we've got our work cut out for us. It's a very challenging team. They've got a really good system. Just going against them in practice was challenging, at times, to kind of figure out what was going on. They do a lot of things in coverage. They've got really athletic linebackers, and they can really rush the quarterback. It's going to be a big challenge for our offense to stay on the field, convert third downs, and, ultimately, score points."

(On safety Dashon Goldson)
"I love his style of play and how he plays the position. That's how the other guys I've always admired [have played]. And usually the quarterback, when you survey the field, the safeties are the ones that you always have your eyes on. [Safety] Mark Barron's a hell of a player too; I don't want to take anything away from him, because I really respect him. Even though it's his second year, he really looks like an All-Pro-type player. But Dashon – I always watched him when he was at San Francisco and just love the way he plays the game. He's physical, he's everything a safety should be: he covers when he needs to, he plays well in space, he's a great tackler. He really brings an attitude to the whole defense. He's a great player."

(On if Goldson is a dirty player)
"I don't think he's dirty at all. He plays the game as we learn to play growing up. He's an incredible player. He does a lot of things well. You really always have to keep your eye on him. It's not like you want to throw a bunch of balls up in the middle of the field and see if he'll make the play – He's going to make the play. There's usually a lot of big hits because he attacks the ball so aggressively. He'll be someone that I'll always have my eye on."

**

(On cornerback Darrelle Revis)**
"To go out of our division into the NFC, and of course we get him in Week 3 – it's a little bit ironic. He's another guy that is at the top of his position. He's an all-around player; he tackles – I said in the press conference up here – he covers big guys, small guys, he's quick, he's fast, he's patient, he's strong. He doesn't have any weaknesses. I don't think I've completed many balls on his side of the field very often. He's not a guy that you want to test and see how well you're going to do. He's just a great all-around player."

(On New England's offensive struggles)
"It's just all of our offense. I don't think we've played to the level of expectation that we have here. We've got to do a better job in all phases – it's in the walkthroughs, in the meeting room, in the film room, [and] it's certainly when we play on Sundays. We've got to all execute at a higher level if we expect to score more points."

(On New England running back LeGarrette Blount)
"I love having LeGarrette around here. He's a fun person to have around. He's been a really good player for us. He's smart. He's very tough, runs the ball hard. He's got a little bit of experience, so he's fit in really well. It's been great having him as a teammate."

(On the Buccaneers' defensive line)
"They can all rush the quarterback. They've got the starters, they've got guys who don't start that can come in and play that can rush the quarterback. Their front four is very talented; [they cause] a lot of negative plays in the run game and the pass game. They sack the quarterback. They're just very disruptive – I think that's the main thing. They're disruptive in the front. They get to the quarterback when the quarterback's back there surveying the field, so I realize I'm not going to have a lot of time to throw, so I've got to pick a guy and try to get the ball out of my hands [and] try to keep moving in the right direction."

(On winning close games)
"There are so many games that come down to just a couple plays. You really don't know which couple plays those are going to be when they're happening. You evaluate the game after, and, afterwards, you say, 'Look, if we'd have made these handful of plays, the outcome would've been different.' A good win in football always comes back to fundamentals and discipline and toughness. If those are really the benchmarks of your team, then you're going to win the close games, you're going to win the ones that come down to the critical plays. Our coach puts a lot of pressure on us, in practice, to perform well, so when we get in those situations in the game, we don't feel like that's really the first time that we've faced a pressurized situation."

(On quarterback Josh Freeman)
"I really like Josh as a player, and I got a chance to watch him, when he was up here, go against our defense. He did very well when he was up here. I haven't had a chance to see him play much. It's such an early start to the season, but the last few years, I haven't seen him play much, being [that he's] in the NFC. I know our defense is worried about him. I know he can run a little bit. He's got a great arm, makes all the throws – He made a bunch when he was up here practicing against us. It's going to be a great challenge for our defense. Also, going up against an offense with a great running back and receiver – it's a very well-balanced team."

(On defensive tackle Gerald McCoy)
"He's a great player. He's in the backfield on every play. He's just a guy that you can't ever not pay attention to. The negative plays, the negative plays in the run game, the sacks in the pass game, a lot of times, come from him. He's a great player. He really leads the charge for that whole defensive front."

(On New England tight end Rob Gronkowski)
"He's a very dynamic player for us. It's been great to have him back out there at practice, and hopefully he can get back here playing as soon as possible, as soon as he's cleared to go. I have a great rapport with him; I've been around him for quite a while. We're a much better offense when he's on the field."

(On similarities between Head Coach Greg Schiano and New England Head Coach Bill Belichick)
"I'm not able to get too much in-depth with Coach Schiano except for I've just enjoyed watching him from afar. We've had a lot of guys come from his program over the years. Just watching him coach the team – our coach is very disciplined; that's been good for our team. I'm not really in the meetings with the Bucs, so I'm not really sure what goes on there, but I've always admired Coach Schiano from afar and watched how he's motivated his team. He'll have them ready to go this weekend, I know that."

(On why Coach Schiano's Rutgers players have been successful in the NFL)
"I'm not sure. They're all individuals, and we've got a lot of guys from there. I'm not sure. The guys we have I love having as teammates. It must be a great program to have so many professional players come out of there, they must be doing a great job. It's been a while since I've been back in college, so I don't get too much time to watch college [football] these days."

(On his relationship with Coach Belichick)
"We've always had a great relationship. I think the most important thing, for me – and I know for him – is to win; those interests are always aligned. Whatever I need to do to help the team win, that's what I'm prepared to do. He's been such a consistent coach, and there's nobody I'd ever want to play for other than him. He's so consistent and tells us what we need to do to win every week and coaches us hard – he has very high expectations. Hopefully, we can go out there and play to his level of expectation. That'd be a good thing for our offense to do, as we haven't necessarily done that the first couple weeks, although I'm happy we won the games."