Dave Canales Explains Using Variety
October 3rd, 2023
Reflection pays off.
One thing Bucs fans likely have noticed by now, certainly they saw it in the win over the slimy Saints, is Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales uses a lot of different plays.
As a result, many guys have been able to touch the ball. Canales thinks that’s not just keeping defenses on their toes, but it helps keep his players engaged. They know if they do their job right, there is a chance the ball will come their way.
Canales said he didn’t want to get into a boxing match with the slimy Saints so he made it a point to mix things up.
“The guys do enjoy that,” Canales said. “As long as they’re a part of the play – because, again, that’s a lot of mileage if we aren’t giving them an opportunity for the ball.”
This also helps players buy in, which is critical.
“I just wasn’t going to try and make it this macho, mano y mano type of thing,” Canales added. “There’s ways to do that. Make [the Saints] work.
“I think coming out of the first three games, I just felt like maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough to just get first downs – make yards while we’re learning the core of our system, while we’re trying to learn the fundamental blocking schemes that we’ve got to get good at.”
How refreshing is this guy Canales? He freely admits he probably wasn’t doing things well enough, so he tinkers with his offense to make things better.
And voila! His offense puts 26 on the board, the most points the slimy Saints allowed since the Crows put 27 on them in the first week of November of last season.
Canales was right. By tweaking the offense, the Bucs ended up totaling 21 first downs against the slimy Saints. That’s the most first downs the Bucs have had in a game this season.
Sharp guy, this Canales.
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:04 am
this cat is a keeper. they picked the right guy to compilment the D.
now just stop runs getting blown up 4 yards deep.
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:06 am
It’s really early but by all accounts Canales is exceeding expectations and is a humble guy. If the offense continues to grow and is successful throughout the season the Bucs may have a hard time keeping him. I hope they consider offering him a contract he can’t resist… and maybe a promotion in title just to keep him around for a few more years.
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:08 am
GO BUCS
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:09 am
Byron was such a fool. And now he’s out of the league. Nobody wants Tony Dungy stubborn coaches any more. The key to success is constantly adapting.
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:11 am
Love him…so far.
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:13 am
Bingo. You can have a personal philosophy (Canales is a run kinda guy, no question) but he doesn’t box himself in. He’s introspective and open-minded.
And, yes, adapting.
Fantasy football!
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:18 am
Jeff –
Contstantly adapting. Spot on. Keep it up, Canales.
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:19 am
“while we’re trying to learn the fundamental blocking schemes that we’ve got to get good at.”
And voila! The run blocking got better and “magically” so did our rushing attack. OMG it’s a miracle who would have guessed?
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:24 am
Maybe they can go the ole “Head Coach in Waiting” route with Dave if he keeps it up lol it really would be a shame to lose him. I think him and Todd really balance each other out well from a personality standpoint too. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy that would rush to get any ole HC job too soon, so hopefully he’s patient and we get him for a long time.
October 3rd, 2023 at 9:39 am
I’m getting old so maybe my memory is wrong…it’s shot…but I could swear I saw Chris Godwin get the ball on a sweep and then stop and pass the ball.
I haven’t seen comments about that but it was a good pass that required the defender to face guard the receiver to break it up. Chris Godwin throws a pretty good ball and nobody can say Canalas isn’t adventurous.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:12 am
“make yards while we’re learning the core of our system, while we’re trying to learn the fundamental blocking schemes that we’ve got to get good at.”
That is exactly what I have been concerned about since they brought Canales in with the zone scheme etc. People can, and do, over complicate the game. I think because of what is quoted here, he understands that. That is a major revelation to me about our coach Canales. I also think because of what I have seen in the first four games that our guys are learning more and getting better at it all. On Sunday everything looked a bit more polished and second nature, if that even makes sense. Even the run game, which still looked slow, looked a bit quicker.
Go Bucs!
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:18 am
I tried to explain this variety concept to my wife. She didn’t like it one bit.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:19 am
BTW stpetebucfan is correct and that play call, successful or not is refreshing to me after last years unimaginative offense. Kinda reminds me some of Spurriers old “Bandit Ball”.
Go Bucs!
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:21 am
LOL Jeff…Thanks for the laugh!
Go Bucs!
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:36 am
I also read this to mean I am not just running the ball to say I ran it and then be in a 3rd and long. Which was my biggest issue with Todd Bowles influence.
I do think the zone blocking scheme will work over time based on the players. The oline doesn’t have the massive guys but more agile blockers suited for zone blocking.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:39 am
He called a great game on Sunday. It was refreshing to see a variety of run plays, jet sweeps and even a throw back pass that Godwin nearly completed.
Nice work coach. Even if the occasional trick play doesn’t work it gives the defense something else to prepare for and keeps them on their toes.
October 3rd, 2023 at 10:57 am
canales is very refreshing in a multitude of ways…
gotta like how, like the bucs, he too seems open to the idea that he is also a work in progress…
very refreshing to see, and he’s only going to get better and more in a flow, with what works and what doesn’t with the personnel
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:00 am
I still believe we need to target our TEs more often…..we had 4 in the Saints game…..and only 5 targets to backs.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:14 am
A Screen?
Has anyone seen the Bucs run a screen or draw play? R White and S Tucker have great hands. Seems like something that should be in the playbook.
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:24 am
Canales is a very impressive guy. He’s alway upbeat. He’s candid. And, most importantly he understands his own shortcomings. As he grows in this system and gets more feedback as the games progress, he’s only going to get better. A great pickup!
October 3rd, 2023 at 11:45 am
I’m impressed with Canales that he has self-scouted himself and his group, and actually made changes. Some coaches will only say his players need to only execute better and then keep calling the same bad plays. Sure, we want to coach up our players and have each one improve, but that’s not the whole answer.
The O-line is playing new positions in a new scheme and we are seeing an improvement in the O-line. The RB’s are running a little better but that’s mainly because the O-line is better. Our RB’s were drafted as good pass-catchers, let’s throw to them early in the play so they can get some safe YAC,
Let’s keep spreading the ball around in the passing game like we did against the Aints. Let’s start setting up the Young Dawgs for YAC. During the bye, we need to see which TE can catch the ball on seam routes. Otton needs to go to the Allstate ‘Good Hands’ training camp.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:09 pm
Mr. Coach Bowles is showing his intelligence. He seems to really understand how to coach young men. He seems to really understand the evolution of the game and mindset of young players today. I believe Coach is now free of the constraints that antiquated thought had imposed on him. Hiring Dave Canales was a master stroke by Coach and shows me that he is coaching in the present and not the past as others have done. Just look at the difference in the team chemistry from the Kangol Hat days. The young men no longer have a superstar father figure aging legend on the decline as QB and great grandfather as coach. Coach Bowles is an inspirational leader and not a relic. No doubt the young players learned much from TB12 but I suggest they may be relieved to be out from under his shadow.
October 3rd, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Where did Bowles and Licht find this dude?? Talk about refreshing! I am sorry I missed Godzilla’s trick throw. More please. I’m always hollering for sweeps and screens. We’ve got the players including the RBs. Otton will only get better the more balls he gets. BM is more than willing to spread that ball out once he calms down a little bit. Just wait until Canales dials up a trick play with Camarda and the ST. Heh-heh. Opposing team will stroke out.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:01 pm
orlbucfan; Your trick play thought is a good one. Camarda is athletic enough to pull it off and Mr. Coach Bowles has shown the courage to make such a call.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:07 pm
Day and night improvement over old “we gonna do what we do” Leftoverfish.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:45 pm
Hey Jeff, good to see you on here giving a more positive comment.
I don’t think that you have ever picked the Bucs to win.
This year alone you picked our Bucs to lose by double digits in every game.
October 3rd, 2023 at 1:50 pm
This article gave me goosebumps. Seems we finally have an OC.
October 3rd, 2023 at 2:53 pm
“He freely admits he probably wasn’t doing things well enough, so he tinkers with his offense to make things better.”
.
.
He didn’t say this, but I have suspected that he has intentionally been slow to use the whole playbook. Letting the offense get accustomed to base packages, which he will diversify gradually. Or it could be my imagination. 🤷🏼♂️
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Let’s evaluate this OC after playing against a winning teams, Eagles, Bills, Lions, 49’ers . He already failed against one of those four teams.
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:12 pm
Uh, New Orleans was also a winning team when we played them.
Canales is refreshingly honest. And it’s nice to see a more creative scheme, even if it doesn’t always work. Imagine how much more in sync they will be in another 4 weeks.
I do wish our o-line was able to manhandle people a bit more, but I also think that is slowly improving.
October 3rd, 2023 at 3:43 pm
Offensive coordinator Canalis is underrated
October 3rd, 2023 at 5:32 pm
I don’t think he will leave after one year. He was with Seattle ten years and freely admits he has a lot to learn about calling a game. But give him three or four where he improves with the likes of Baker and the boys and he will be gone in a flash to HC somewhere.
October 3rd, 2023 at 8:11 pm
Imagine what having Ryan Jensen out there would have been…
October 5th, 2023 at 10:26 pm
This is my list of what kept the Bucs from appearing in 2 straight Super Bowls & maybe even 3 straight:
4. the blitz call at the end of the NFC championship game
3. Brown’s meltdown at the Jets
2. injury bug
1. Byron F*ckin’ Leftwich
It is refreshing to see an OC with some common sense & humility.