Bucs Locker Room Quotes

The Bucs discuss Sunday's game against Arizona and other topics:

DE GAINES ADAMS

(On how he feels the first half of his rookie season has gone)
''Well, overall I'd say there were some good things. I've still got a lot of room for improvement. Overall, I've been doing some good things but I've still got room for improvement.''

(On if he expects more playing time this week with Greg Spires)
''Whatever the coaches have in mind. It's a tough loss with Greg going down; he's a great player. Whatever the coaches have in mind I'm going to be up for. I'm just going to go out and practice hard this week and get ready for the challenge.''

RB MICHAEL BENNETT

(On the need for a fresh start for the team)
''I think it is more mental than anything. If you look at the last two weeks, the games that we lost, we basically had the game and just had some mental malfunctions in the game. If you go back and look at it, we did everything we wanted to do defensively, offensively, and special teams-wise. Last week we had a great outing and just fell short in the end. I think we are prepared, it is just those little things in the end that you really have to hone in and maintain and make those plays when they count.''

(On the biggest adjustment he would like to make this week)
''Just to get out on the field and play, whatever the coaches need me to do, just go out and do it. I think we have a great scheme offensive-wise and also special teams-wise. I hope I can contribute and just be a big help and that will be fine with me.''

(On how he prepares himself psychologically when he sees teammates getting hurt)
''The thing is you can't think about it, and when you think about who's next, then it's normally going to be you. The thing is you've just got to stick in, wish those guys well and go out and play football. Because if you're playing football and thinking about injuries, nine times out of 10, something's going to happen. So you've just got to go out with the mindset, 'Hey I'm here to play and I'm going to do that' and let the course of the game take itself.''

(On if the Bucs are emphasizing his talents through the passing game)
''Yeah, because one play we had against a linebacker, the guy was basically on pins and needles because he didn't know what to do. I was able to run past him and get open. It's just one of those things you can see in Coach Gruden's eyes - he loves speed. I have speed. And he likes to take advantage of matchups. If he can put me in at wide receiver or maybe tight end or something like that - whatever he creates - I'm definitely all about doing because I know he knows what he's doing.''

(On if he believes he's going to win matchups with linebackers all of the time)
''Yeah, if they put a linebacker, safety or even a cornerback on me, I think I can beat everybody. But you do have some great cornerbacks in this league. My thing is whatever he puts in, just do it to the best of my ability.''

DE/DT KEVIN CARTER

(On playing with a sense of urgency)
''We all know it, we all know that we have a good team, we all know we have a lot of injuries, obviously we have to be realistic about it but the realistic approach is only going to help you halfway winning that game. You have to have belief, you got to have want to and willpower, and you have to have character. I believe this team has that and that's what we're going to do, put our front foot forward and get through it. Time is going to pass either way, you're either going to get better or worse and we want to get better.''

QB JEFF GARCIA

(On if something is missing with the team's ability to close out games)
''I don't know that I feel like it's missing. I mean there is always a sense needing to find out a way to close out a game and finish a game. I don't think it's a lack of an attitude here on this team or a focus, it's just a matter of eliminating unfortunate errors that may take away from our chances of closing out games, winning football games and that's where we have to be better. The last two weeks we haven't been real good at protecting the football at crucial times and eliminating certain mental errors at certain times and that's where an offense, I can only speak for the offensive side of the ball, that's where we need to be better and find a way to create a winning edge. Guys are working hard, they're trying as hard as possible, now it's about ironing out some of the mistakes that are taking place.''

(On how he feels physically)
''Physically I am fine, I'm more mentally banged up right now than physically because I take losing so hard. It's something that doesn't sit well with anybody, but I think the older you get, the more you play in this league, the less opportunities you have to look forward to in the future. Every game is critical and that's what I am battling with right now and I will overcome it. But physically I feel like my body is sustaining itself, I'm doing the things I have to do to work the kinks out every single week and to prepare myself to be physically strong on Sunday and I feel good about where I am at right now.''

WR CHAS GESSNER

(On his thoughts about joining the team)
''My thoughts are just to come in and help contribute any way that I can. I guess they have a couple of injury issues and I am just going to try to help them win on Sunday.''

(On the Bucs having lost their last two games)
''It is tough. I haven't been in the locker room but I am still friends with a lot of these guys. I know it is tough and I know that those are games that a play here, a play there, it goes another way, it is a different outcome. Everything is week to week. We have the Cardinals, we have another chance. We have a chance this Sunday to win a ball game and that is what it is all about.''

RB EARNEST GRAHAM

(On still being in the thick of things in the division)
''We have a lot of good players from top to bottom. Guys like me, I had to step up. We have brought some other guys up. Torrie Cox just went down, Michael Clayton is down and Alex Smith went down. So we had some guys that had to step in. We really haven't lost that much from the way we have been playing from the beginning of the year. We have to gel again of course, because we have new players in. We are doing a good job. We are right there in the games, and that is all you can ask for in the NFL is to be there in the games at the end. We had a chance to win the last two games, and we feel like we should have won those games.''

LB CATO JUNE

(On the lack of turnovers)
''There's always something you can do make better plays. They ran the ball 44 times. We have to rip the ball out. It's just us getting to the football. And we'll continue to play with intensity and turnovers will happen.''

(On how the Bucs' defense corrects that)
''Just get it done, go out there and get it done - no excuse, no explanations. There's nothing scheme-wise that we need to change. It's just going out there and getting the job done.''

LB BARRETT RUUD

(On his performance so far this season)
''I'm kind of playing like I thought I would. I've had some pretty good games. I haven't had a terrible game yet, but I've had a couple of game where I wasn't totally happy with how I played. I always want to get better.''