Dave Canales Defines “Offensive-Line-Friendly” Scheme
March 3rd, 2023
“It’s a very new day, Kyle.”
Here at the NFL Scouting Combine, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles noted the Tampa Bay offense to be crafted and installed by new offensive coordinator Dave Canales will be “offensive-line-friendly.”
This morning, Joe asked Canales to explain what that means.
He didn’t hesitate. And it sure speaks to the Bucs looking to draft a running back or two net month.
“We run the ball a lot; they love it,” Canales began.
“So, pass protection gets pretty hard. You know, especially with the athletes they face on a weekly basis. We’re going to have to throw the ball at some point. But when you run the ball effectively, your play-actions are friendly. So the defensive lines have to play the run first, then they have a secondary rush to the quarterback and it’s usually about 3.2 to 3.5 seconds later that they’re actually getting any type of effective runs off the actions, if you run the ball effectively. And then just minimizing the amount of dropback pass, pocket passing, whether it’s quick game or empty or even like longer drops, just minimizing the amount of time under tension for your tackles or your guards. It just makes it for a friendlier system to play in.”
Joe liked the “time under tension” line from Canales, and how he quoted rush time down to the tenth of a second. Those are the kinds of analytics that can be extremely valuable — and seemingly the kind the previous offensive guru wasn’t interested in.
Yes, the run focus for the Bucs will be unmistakable, a striking contrast from the past three seasons. And Joe wonders how much that will play out next month in a draft loaded with running backs and solid at tight end and offensive line.
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:24 pm
I genuinely don’t remember being this optimistic and excited about an assistant coach hire. He really seems like a steal and cautiously hopeful we are actually going to see a big offensive jump in production (incl. scoring) even without Brady.
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:35 pm
KC Buc…yeah I like this dude too…then I think about Bowles.
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:43 pm
Canales has a plan. I’m game.
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:47 pm
Buc1987
I was thinking the same thing
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:52 pm
I like hes a young motivated coach but hes got to work old clueless Bowles.
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:53 pm
So, in a pass first league, we think running the ball is the way to win? Seriously? We will gain 3 yards in a cloud of dust, while our opponents gain 30 yards without a spec of dust. Come on man!
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:54 pm
What a breath of fresh air! His ideas sound good on paper. Actually excited to see this new-look offense.
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Toad Blowes will make sure that whatever run blocking schemes are installed are failures.
5 in a row, Toad! Let’s go.
March 3rd, 2023 at 12:57 pm
The fact that Canales understands the concept of sequencing and timing of play-calling is exciting. Run to set up play-action concepts later, sprinkled with a few deep passes, and it sounds like, mostly a short passing game.
What a novel concept!
For the first time in some months….I say, GO BUCS!!!
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:13 pm
When Joe says,
“Those are the kinds of analytics that can be extremely valuable — and seemingly the kind the previous offensive guru wasn’t interested in.”
D-Rok says,
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA. He used the word guru. I think you mistyped “gnu,” Joe.
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:21 pm
Canales seems like a good choice for O.C., who’s going to be the D.C.? Bowles I assume will still want to call the defense, but who will wear the title of D.C.. Last year he had co-coordinators, has he decided on one yet? Personally I think he should find, or promote someone. That’s what a good head coach would do.
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:22 pm
See this is kind of like “well DUH!” to me.
It doesn’t take a savant to understand this. Anyone who’s watched or played football for any amount of time should surmise the same. That a professional level coach (ahem, BL) doesn’t understand or refuses to understand this principle, needs to put down the Madden game and come back to reality.
Football is NOT complicated!
It is refreshing to hear sobody talk sense for a change.
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:23 pm
this guy talks a lot- which I guess goes with the Rah-Rah coaching style
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:32 pm
I also like this hire. When you have a first year starter at QB you cannot play the same way that you did with freaking Tom Brady. It sounds like a scheme that Ronald Jones would excel at. Why don’t we replace Lenny with a much cheaper Jones and see if he can’t get us 1,000 yards. I bet he could
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Predictable offense. Great. That’s gonna work…not.
But…I get it
Ease Trask into an expanded playbook.
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:38 pm
Run first teams generally are one and done in the playoffs these days. Still, I’m intrigued to see what Canales can do.
Who do we draft, though: offence or defence?
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:40 pm
Would be nice to see a breakdown of formations that Seattle ran the last two years.
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:55 pm
Canales is like opening a window for fresh air. Bowles lingering farts will still be there.
March 3rd, 2023 at 2:13 pm
If the Bucs have a successful running attack that gets multiple 20+ yard carries per game, I might enjoy it, but if it’s a steady diet of 3-5 yard runs, I’ll probably stop watching. I’ve seen that. It’s boring.
March 3rd, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Sounds legit. But I fail to see why we would need to draft an RB???? We have White and Vaughn. Take one on the 7th. Good enough.
March 3rd, 2023 at 2:39 pm
@SKBucsFan
Tyjae Spears added to White & Vaughn would give us a wild 3-headed monster in the backfield. Spears is small, but noticeably fast, shifty, and has a great set of hands.
March 3rd, 2023 at 2:49 pm
I’m looking for results. Way to many stalled possessions running the ball last year. I hope the new OC has better ideas on how to make this work and delivers!! We’ll see!!
March 3rd, 2023 at 2:50 pm
I’m trying to be cautiously optimistic!
March 3rd, 2023 at 3:05 pm
3-5 yard runs are NOT boring, they can be exciting. Anyone who says that wasn’t a Bucs fan in the late 90s/early 00s when we had “Thunder and Lightning”. Thunder – Mike Alstott – was fun as hell to watch when he had to get us a first down or a touchdown by putting his head down and just bowling over befuddled defenders. And Lightning – Warrick Dunn was also very fun to watch as a “scatback”.
Passing is boring when teams do practically nothing but pass, like the Bucs the last couple of seasons, especially the season just ended. When teams don’t respect the run they just tee off on the quarterback and receivers with impunity and the result is very few points scored. Teams like San Francisco, Buffalo and Baltimore are fun to watch, as long as their starting quarterback is healthy. Better to be more like the 49ers who don’t rely on the QB to be the main runner.
March 3rd, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Beef up the Oline & TE positions, then all RBs will be more successful.
As far as Canales & Bowles…..the good thing now is I think Canales’ gameplan will be Bowles approved……that wasn’t the case with BL.
March 3rd, 2023 at 4:03 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
March 3rd, 2023 at 1:32 pm
Predictable offense. Great. That’s gonna work…not.
————————————————————
As a defense, being able to predict what your opponent is about to do and being able to stop them are two different things.
If our 0-line gets good at run-blocking it *could* work.
March 3rd, 2023 at 5:18 pm
If we didn’t have half our defense hitting free agency, I’d be for a draft focused on OL, RB, TE. We’ve got to find a way to maximize our picks to get boost the running game AND the defense. Anything they can do to get more picks (short of trading away our best players) I’m in favor of.
March 3rd, 2023 at 5:21 pm
SKBucsFan Says:
March 3rd, 2023 at 2:30 pm
A run focused team needs 3, and it would help if we had one guy who was a speedster.
March 3rd, 2023 at 6:36 pm
How did that work out for Titans, Indy 2021, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Carina, Atlanta, NO, Ravens, Cleveland, Patriots, Chicago, etc??? NOT SO GOOD!!! One team pulled If off, SF and they didn’t get to the big show.
March 3rd, 2023 at 6:57 pm
From high flying, exciting to watch passing offense to painful to watch boring old run the football, then run the football again offense?!?!! F U Todd Bowels!!!!!!!
RIP no risk it no biscuit
March 3rd, 2023 at 7:26 pm
Boo hoo.
March 3rd, 2023 at 8:23 pm
NE fan – the Eagles were a heavy run team and they made it to the big show. Both teams in the NFC Championship game were run heavy teams. The team that knocked out the pass heavy Bucs and the GOAT in the Wild Card game was a top ten run team.
March 3rd, 2023 at 10:02 pm
Get ready for the Tom Cable zone blocking scheme. Good luck finding the right personnel to do it right.
March 3rd, 2023 at 10:24 pm
Duane
“Thunder and Lightning”
You mean WD-40?
March 4th, 2023 at 8:19 am
Bucsfanman … ‘this is kind of like “well DUH!” to me.’
Interesting you say that because I was thinking the same thing. Words provide a clue as to what a coach WANTS TO DO, but performance on the field is all that really counts IMO. Everyone has a great plan until they get punched in the mouth as the old saying goes. I’m excited about Canales being our new OC, but I fully expect there’ll be some growing pains. Not only has he never called plays before (I don’t consider that to be a big deal), but we’ll have a sizable number of ‘new moving parts’ (QB, OL, TE, possibly RB) that’ll all take time to gel most likely.
I have trouble understanding many of the negative comments about Todd Bowles. He interviewed something like a dozen OC candidates before settling on Canales. It seems obvious to me that Canales reflects the proverbial ‘big picture’ from an offensive perspective that Bowles wants to strive for. I view that ‘big picture’ as a more BALANCED ATTACK than BA’s ‘No Risk-It, No Biscuit’ philosophy was, but whatever. Fact is … after a rather extensive search, Canales is who Bowles chose to run the offensive show. Constantly negative comments from Bucs ‘fans’ like Goatfarmer & Jack Clark do nothing but remind me of too many loud-mouthed politicians in our nation today who believe that if say something loud enough and often enough, then ‘enough people’ will believe it. Boring boring boring.
March 4th, 2023 at 8:27 am
Duane, the Cowboys were also a very heavy passing team avg 407yds, game. The Eagles lost because the run failed them. My point is the teams that run first in today’s game do not win SB’s. Especially when there D fails, there is no coming back. If you are a run first team, you better have a pretty good QB to bail you out if the run is shut down. The Patriots were never a run first team until Brady left. Where are they now? I n search of a elite WR.
March 4th, 2023 at 9:26 am
This is a passing league… if you run the chances of holding increase significantly that’s a 10yrd penalty and a lot times a drive killer.
I love to see the run become more effective because the run finishes games in the 4th.
Passing opens up calls like interference and def holding.
We still have a elite wr room..
Evans Godwin and the falcons receiver who who took that can’t stay healthy…you thought I met Jones no gage..
We desperately need a te that can catch n block with elite ability.
Running back who can lead the pack I like us to kick the tires on Barkley from the giants.
I open to Trask getting his shot if he looks good in Ota and training camp then run it.
If not we’ll black mail Brady to coming back lol jk.
March 4th, 2023 at 3:03 pm
Canales got spunk. Splainin’ for Bowles blunderin.
March 5th, 2023 at 9:59 am
I LIKE THE OFFENSIVE MIND & ENTHUSIASM OF DAVE CANALES..HE’S GOT THE RIGHT IDEA’S ON IMPROVING OUR OFFENSE…WE NEED THE BEST LEFT TACKLE WE CAN GET IN THE DRAFT TO PROTECT KYLE’S BLIND SIDE # 1, GOOD PULLING GUARDS FOR THE RUN GAME, A 3RD FAST,DURABLE RUNNING BACK WHO CAN CATCH OUT OF THE BACKFIELD (BERNARD IS TOO INJURY PRONE ) A ROOKIE WR WHO CAN TAKE THE TOP OFF A DEFENSE…DEFENSIVELY, WE NEED AN OVERPOWERING END WHO CAN NOT ONLY GET TO THE PASSER,BUT CONTAIN THE EDGE..(A YOUNGER VERSION OF J.P.P. ) AN OUTSTANDING CORNER OPPOSITE CARLTON DAVIS III, AN OUTSTANDING SAFETY OPPOSITE ANTOINE WINFIELD JR..ZYON NEEDS TO BE READY FOR STARTING NICKEL BACK, LAVANTE DAVID NEEDS TO BE RE-SIGNED TO A 2 YEAR TEAM FRIENDLY DEAL,DEVIN WHITE NEEDS TO STEP IT UP A NOTCH,SHAQ BARRETT NEEDS TO COME BACK HEALTHY (WE MIGHT NEED TO DRAFT HIS REPLACEMENT IN CASE HE DOESN’T) LOGAN HALL,ANTHONY NELSON, CARL NASSAB & RAKEEM-NUNEZ ROCHES & VITA VEA ALL NEED TO STEP IT UP & REMAIN HEALTHY..THAT’S MT TAKE ON THE OVERALL PICTURE ( KYLE TRASK WILL BE JUST FINE AS OUR STARTING QUARTERBACK..I HAVENO DOUBTS ABOUT HIM )
March 5th, 2023 at 10:03 am
I LIKE THE OFFENSIVE MIND & ENTHUSIASM OF DAVE CANALES..HE’S GOT THE RIGHT IDEA’S ON IMPROVING OUR OFFENSE…WE NEED THE BEST LEFT TACKLE WE CAN GET IN THE DRAFT TO PROTECT KYLE’S BLIND SIDE # 1, GOOD PULLING GUARDS FOR THE RUN GAME, A 3RD FAST,DURABLE RUNNING BACK WHO CAN CATCH OUT OF THE BACKFIELD (BERNARD IS TOO INJURY PRONE ) A ROOKIE WR WHO CAN TAKE THE TOP OFF A DEFENSE…DEFENSIVELY, WE NEED AN OVERPOWERING END WHO CAN NOT ONLY GET TO THE PASSER,BUT CONTAIN THE EDGE..(A YOUNGER VERSION OF J.P.P. ) AN OUTSTANDING CORNER OPPOSITE CARLTON DAVIS III, AN OUTSTANDING SAFETY OPPOSITE ANTOINE WINFIELD JR..ZYON NEEDS TO BE READY FOR STARTING NICKEL BACK, LAVANTE DAVID NEEDS TO BE RE-SIGNED TO A 2 YEAR TEAM FRIENDLY DEAL,DEVIN WHITE NEEDS TO STEP IT UP A NOTCH,SHAQ BARRETT NEEDS TO COME BACK HEALTHY (WE MIGHT NEED TO DRAFT HIS REPLACEMENT IN CASE HE DOESN’T) LOGAN HALL,ANTHONY NELSON, CARL NASSAB & RAKEEM-NUNEZ ROCHES & VITA VEA ALL NEED TO STEP IT UP & REMAIN HEALTHY..THAT’S MT TAKE ON THE OVERALL PICTURE ( KYLE TRASK WILL BE JUST FINE(IAS OUR STARTING QUARTERBACK..I HAVENO DOUBTS ABOUT HIM ) ( I HAVE NEVER POSTED ANYTHING IN SUCH DETAIL BEFORE…
March 5th, 2023 at 10:16 am
I FORGOT TO MENTION, AS FOR A VETERAN QUARTERBACK TO PUSH KYLE TRASK ( THE “FIREY”) BAKER MAYFIELD WOULD BE MY CHOICE.
March 8th, 2023 at 8:43 am
Saying all the right things…but… Joe …stark contrast?
First of all we did run the ball we were behind so often and just not good at it. It remains to be seen whether his scheme will enable the offensive line and running backs to indeed be able to produce a better running game.
That brings me to the question that hasn’t been asked as far as I know. What’s your scheme gonna do when our defense leaves us down double digits in the second half and they know we gotta pass?