Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson was surrounded by a gaggle of members of the Tampa Bay pen and mic club today. Joe transcribed all that Jackson had to say.

Tell us about how the team has progressed since OTAs.

Stuff that we were working on from our OTAs we really built a foundation so we can come to camp to tune things up, sharpen them up so when we hit Sept. 9 we can run full speed.

Was there more pressure on you in San Diego?

Oh, no. In San Diego, We were so balanced. We had so many good players coming in and out of there. We had defensive players that were great and we had multiple players on offense, guys like Darren Sproles, so yeah, we were a little more flashy as far as names go, but I think we are just as talented here all the way across the board. We have tight ends and running backs and of course, Josh Freeman. He’s a quarterback that should be mentioned among the top five of the league. For me, not looking for me to shine any brighter than anyone else. I am here to do my job and show my role on this team, whatever that may be.

What about leadership? Think you are more of a leader now?

The way I go about it is leadership really speaks volumes. You just lead by example. Coming out here these young guys just want to see a veteran guy who has been around different teams and different players. I have seen some success in the playoffs and things like that. I come out here and work hard each and every day. I listen to my coaches. I take the coaching very well. I want to get better. When they see somebody in my shoes, has a contract or whatever, seeing [me] do the fundamental drills work on the small details just to get better, I think that shows other guys they have to step up their game and work hard.

You think you have learned some things?

Yeah, it’s all about coming out here and being a professional. You just come out here and work on football and listen to the coaches and do what you are supposed to do each and every day. It’s all about being accountable. Coach Schiano talks about that all the time: trust, belief and accountability. You have believe what this organization is all about and what this organization stands for. You have to go out there each and every day and put on your hard hat and bring your lunch pail to fulfill your job.

Are you a big believer in accountability?

Absolutely. Absolutely. It’s about guys not trying to do too much. Sometimes guys want to make plays and do more than they need to do. All work together, all 11 guys on offense, on defense and on special teams. If each and every guy just focuses on his job and his detail of their own job, then things work perfectly, but when guys get out of their zone and do more than they need to do, that’s when you have mistakes.

The Bucs have never had receiver that looks and runs like you. Are you going to go over the middle?

Oh, absolutely. I think that is one of the strengths of this offense. I was able to do a little bit of that in San Diego but here, Coach Sullivan is giving me that freedom to work in the slot, work in the tight end position as far as running three wide receiver, four wide receiver sets. So I am not going to always be that guy standing on the outside always stretching the field and working the sticks. Down and distance things, intermediate routes, those are the type of things, different looks that makes it hard for the defense to match up.

Do you think you can stretch the field?

Of course, but as a wide receiver, you have to have that confidence, that belief that your fundamentals and body position, so yeah, when we have the opportunity, we will take our shots. I love doing that, but it is all about being fundamentally sound running the ball well and short down and distance intermediate routes, to keep drives going. Everybody loves the big play and taking the top off the defense but again, it is all about being consistent and putting points on the board.

Do you see the big play being used here and trying to stretch the defense?

I think we will take our shots but we will be very balanced offense. I will be moved all over the field but I think there will be an opportunity for that.

Challenging week going into third week of training camp. Seems like the team was not as sharp collectively this morning.

You know what? I don’t know if you can put your finger on one thing but there is always room for improvement. We came out her today with a mindset of getting better. We played a game now. We have things to build off of that now, a lot of game film, some teaching technique. Things we can learn from. Was today as crisp as we would want it? Not as crisp but I think each and every day we set the goal high enough that we won’t accomplish it. You have to strive and believe there is room for improvement.

What stood out for your Friday night?

The ability to finish drives. The ability for us to sustain long drives and get first downs. The defense did a good job of getting some three-and-outs and doing such a good job on third down, that’s a huge job in this game getting out on third downs. As many things as we did well in that game that stood out to me.

Impression of Mike Williams?

He’s done a great job. He’s been a sponge, you know what I mean? He is open to the coaching and has taken to the criticism as far as things he was taught wrong in the past, not his fault. He has become such a better receiver in the last few months just watching him and his ability to put in the work and believe in the system and buy in and it will be fun. We are very deep at receiver, deep at running backs. So it is fun to be part of an offense like that.