Dave Canales: Offense Is Evolving
October 7th, 2023
Adjustments.
Very interesting words from Bucs coach Dave Canales about how he is still learning his offense, and his offense is still learning about him.
Appearing on “The Sick Podcast” with J.C. Allen of SI.com, Canales explained how the Bucs offense is still evolving.
Since his hire, Canales has mentioned constantly that the Bucs are a run team and he wants to have a running identity. In short, Canales has no desire to replicate Bucco Bruce Arians’ no-risk-it; no-biscuit vertical offense.
Now? Well, things change.
Canales thinks he may want to incorporate more downfield throwing.
This realization began, Canales said, when the Bucs put together a 9-play, 75-yard drive early in the fourth quarter against the Eagles.
That drive, Canales said, demonstrated to him the Bucs are strong at pass blocking, at least good enough to allow receivers to run longer routes and for Baker Mayfield to have time to hit his targets.
“That drive game me confidence, gave Baker confidence, gave the whole group — ‘Hey, we can be multiple and spread this whole thing out and make the defense defend the whole field by taking an attacking pass approach.”
Canales used this concept a little more during the slimy Saints game and the results were obvious.
Now this is a coach who is open-minded and willing to adjust and to change! Imagine that?
As for the Bucs’ running game, Canales said he’s seeing good enough run blocking to have better results. The Bucs are currently last in the NFL in yards per attempt on the ground at 3.0.
“Honestly, it starts up front,” Canales said of the Bucs’ rushing attack. “To date our run game has been OK. It’s been steady. Mostly we have blocked it up the way we want to. The running backs are kind of growing into the feel for the different styles of runs that we are looking for.”
This sort of dovetails what Bucs running back Rachaad White said this week; Bucs coaches are urging him to run more violently.
But man, Joe is really loving this Canales. He sees something that apparently surprised him but it worked in a game and now he has decided, why not incorporate this more?
October 7th, 2023 at 10:05 am
This guy is awesome! Fresh air!
October 7th, 2023 at 10:26 am
I am confident the run game will evolve, also. Love this Coach!
October 7th, 2023 at 10:26 am
It’s as different of an offensive approach as we could have imagined or hoped. Really hope it continues to mature and evolve and incorporate the strengths of the team and individual players. Arrow is pointed up for sure.
October 7th, 2023 at 10:45 am
Maybe true. Maybe smoke screen.
Either way, Canales is like walking into a rose garden after spending all of last year at the county dump.
October 7th, 2023 at 10:55 am
My respect for Bowles and Canales is “evolving”…upward.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:07 am
How good is to have a competent and evolving OC, instead of that lazy one we had last year.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:09 am
Need a trey Palmer bomb
October 7th, 2023 at 11:10 am
If you go to Youtube for the 5 Minutes of highlights of the N.O. game and can stand all the freaking commercial interruptions you will see a marked improvemenrt in both the OL and White’s ability to get through the small holes they are finally opening.
I only viewed the end of the first half (commercials are overwhelming) and along the way I saw the OL actually open a hole for Rachaad and he blew right threw it.
Canalas will figure out the best way to use White. Meanwhile Buc fans just have to accept there is no bruiser on the team that enjoys trucking people on a regular basis. More than one way to get the job done though and I have confidence in Canalas.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:14 am
So refreshing.
I agree that it looks like wr’ll need to be pass-centric a bit more in the beginning and is the pad to setup the run and get some 7-man boxes etc.
Also, we need to see a few deep shots/ go routes to Palmer etc each game.
October 7th, 2023 at 12:16 pm
There are always teams like this years 49ers and Eagles who sprint out of the blocks and look great. But the NFL season is not a sprint. I would equate it to a mile run. You have to run with speed yet pace yourself. Too many times teams peak during the first quarter or half mile mark.
I actually get really nervous when my team jumps out of a huge early game lead. This leads to mental complacency and leads to a shift in momentum which is hard to switch back. (Note the Falcons blowing a 28-3 3rd quarter lead)
Similarly, teams that jump out to earl season leads have too much opportunity to lose their momentum. An injury here or there or an upset loss can start eroding the confidence of the players.
I’ve said all of that to say this: I live the way the Bucs are evolving, gradually improving. At this pace, barring significant injuries, this team is going to be ready the Bills and 49ers. Beating one or both of those teams will give the players the confidence they need for another exciting playoff run.
October 7th, 2023 at 1:40 pm
The more the field is stretched horizontally and vertically the more space their defense has to cover , and hopefully , the more it will open up the running game . We have to score more points, we are averaging 21 points per game , you take away the touchdown scored by the defense and we are averaging 19 points on offense, that will not cut it, all you have to do is look at the results of the Philadelphia game, the only teams left on our schedule that are averaging less than us is the three teams in our division , with the tier one teams left to play ( the same ones we will see again in the playoffs) ,averaging 25 to 30 points per game . We have to score more if We are going to be competitive.
October 7th, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Joe I have been coming to this sight for over a decade. Visiting over 10 times daily and never had an issue. I just had one of those you won a prize that you can’t get rid of when I clicked on this story. Right when the add popped up and I went to close it. I haven’t looked at porn in at least 45 minutes so can’t be my phone.
October 7th, 2023 at 2:46 pm
What a refreshing change from that clueless Spongebob Leftwich. Imagine that….adapting and evolving vs ‘we do what we do’ or some other condescending ‘this isn’t fantasy football’ remark.
October 7th, 2023 at 3:11 pm
stpete, I know what you’re saying about the BS commercials. The way I listen to Bucs games, I dial in Bucs Radio always. I’m a hardcore NFL radio nut cos the announcers are great, and they’re usually homers. I then turn on the boob tube. There’s always a tech time delay between the 2 media sources but whatever…. Anywho, the TV commercials are so bad now, how can anyone bear to watch them??? Yeah, the tech is evolving, but not the content on those da##ed commercials.
October 7th, 2023 at 4:23 pm
orlbucfan. I agree 100%. I rarely watch TV because of the commercials. That is a great idea for how to watch and enjoy a Bucs game and it will become my favored way to do so.
October 7th, 2023 at 5:10 pm
Using the pass to set up the run to set up more play action passing.
It’s what you do when you don’t have a strong run game by default.
October 7th, 2023 at 5:23 pm
Like every fan, I’m pleased with where the Bucs are. However, I’m not so quick to believe Canales here. I wish I could.
He watched film of our Bucs the last couple of years. He stood on the field during OTAs, summer camp & pre-season games. This team is clearly built to throw the ball. Why not, it is a passing league, after all? Why has it taken him so long to acknowledge this? Does he think Bowles will ever let him “release the hounds”?
I am not saying we should abandon the run or throw 45 times per game but, our opponents WANT us to attempt to run the ball. Wouldn’t you? Why oblige them? Sticking with an unsuccessful philosophy for the sake of ego or a perceived necessity will keep the offense out of the end zone, cost games & eventually jobs.
October 7th, 2023 at 6:40 pm
3 yards and a cloud of dust worked for Woody Hayes for many years at Ohio State. Then other schools started upgrading to a pro style passing game and put Woody out to pasture. I don’t think t&e Bucs have the horses to be successful as run every dam first down offense. And they sure don’t seem to have a “bell cow” runner. They need to pass on first down at least 50% until their run blocking somehow improves .
October 7th, 2023 at 7:14 pm
I’m encouraged by what i am hearing from Canales, however, BL wasn’t reluctant to adjust, he just couldn’t.
October 7th, 2023 at 11:31 pm
Bucsbeback… I think it eludes to Canales not trusting the pass blocking completely. I don’t disagree, that he possibly could have known the OL strengths before now but it seems he has just been playing it safe so far. Take pressure off Baker, be a lil conservative just trying to get some wins and build confidence. Mission accomplished. Now he can start to open things up a bit.
October 8th, 2023 at 12:33 am
A good running game is always a plus. We do not have one thus far. Canales understands that we have to move the ball somehow. Soo..Why not play to your strengths?
Not sure exactly what the problem is in the run game. White needs to stop screwing around and hit the LOS for sure. O line still needs some work in the run game for sure. Got an extra week to work on it is the good news.
Go Bucs!
October 8th, 2023 at 1:15 am
Does anyone know anything about Canales’ contract? I have heard it was for one year but I can’t verify that nor his salary.