“I Want To Make Coach Bowles Proud”
December 21st, 2023
Things got emotional at One Buc Palace today.
Offensive coordinator Dave Canales had his weekly news conference and got choked up while being asked to reflect on his taking the job and building an offense.
Within seconds Canales to get choked up.
“First and foremost, you know, I want to make Coach Bowles proud,” Canales said. “You know, I want to make him right. Excuse me (pause to compose himself and exhaling loudly). Just a guy who believed in me and gave me a shot. For me, it’s about grinding and working hard and trying to prove him right. You know, Jason Licht, too, the whole group. It means a lot to me. It’s important.”
The last time Joe can remember a Bucs player or coach this emotion when a death was not involved is Josh McCown. But today’s emotion was much cooler.
Joe will leave it right there. Canales is driven. And he loves him some Todd Bowles.
Dave Canales will be a NFL head coach one day.
He's getting his flowers after a tremendous game, and deservedly so. Far from a finished product as an OC and needs a bit more time to develop in that role, but his attitude and genuineness are infectious. Nothing feels owed to… pic.twitter.com/isAT6R87Vc
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) December 21, 2023
December 21st, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Dave Canales has overcome some personal demons, for which I can relate. — That often will contribute to the emotions of someone who is appreciative of opportunities provided. — He is doing a hell of a good job.
December 21st, 2023 at 3:50 pm
Don’t sully Canales comments by bringing up Stuart McClown
December 21st, 2023 at 3:52 pm
Pretty sweet. The Bucs might go down in the playoffs (yes they will win the division) but they’re gonna go down fighting. This team has heart. Love it
December 21st, 2023 at 3:52 pm
Somewhere Spongebob Square-hat is mad bro
December 21st, 2023 at 3:54 pm
Well said TAMPA BAY DEMON.
December 21st, 2023 at 3:54 pm
It’s always heartening to witness gratefulness.
There are so many ungrateful for what they have been afforded.
December 21st, 2023 at 4:02 pm
He has got to be related to the guy who plays Dave on the CBS show “The Neighborhood”. Anyone else see the resemblance?
December 21st, 2023 at 4:10 pm
I’m ok with him choking up, he got a shot at probably his football dream and wants to do well…. I bless it no McClown crying on a losing team that was unacceptable
December 21st, 2023 at 4:15 pm
#TEAMPOSITIVE! yayyyy
December 21st, 2023 at 4:15 pm
If he can get his offense playing on Sunday the way they were against the Packers, he’ll have me all choked up too!
December 21st, 2023 at 4:20 pm
We have to give everyone a chance in life even in professional football. The guy has never been a coordinator until this year. A lot of stuff you have to learn on the job. The guy is driven, he believes in what he is teaching and trying to accomplish 100%. The offensive players believe in him and we can see their progress in this offense. I really hope he can continue as a coordinator either here or somewhere else because I think he is going to be a real good one. We may look back one day if this staff is not brought back and scratch our heads asking why did we let him go.
December 21st, 2023 at 4:21 pm
Great press conference, I’m feeling confident come Christmas Eve…Guy has heart and desire no doubt!! pretty cool. Go Bucs!!!
December 21st, 2023 at 4:24 pm
I remember this, and I remember this article. This is why I have always disliked it when you called him “Stewart McClown”. The guy got an opportunity to be a starter in the NFL and he took it. He did his best and he physically took a beating behind a putrid offensive line.
December 21st, 2023 at 4:25 pm
That’s the good stuff right there. Keep on keeping on brother. Go Bucs!
December 21st, 2023 at 4:35 pm
This is a must see presser……
Canales v Leftwich……..Chicken Salad v Chicken $hit
December 21st, 2023 at 4:43 pm
I’ll get all choked up too if Bucs can win division AND one playoff game.
December 21st, 2023 at 4:44 pm
When you’re installing a brand new system on a team with a Qb most laughed at (not me personally loved it) with a guy who’s never been an OC I expected time and more than just one season to be able to prove your worth. I can’t stand the Coaching carousel I find it nauseating.
December 21st, 2023 at 4:44 pm
Canales has been learning on the job.
I think he will just keep getting better as time goes by and he gets more games under his belt.
I still can’t believe though that it took he and Bowles and Licht and whoever else 13 weeks to put Godwin back in the slot.
December 21st, 2023 at 4:49 pm
We could be Heros
Just for one day
December 21st, 2023 at 4:51 pm
Personal Demons? The man has an extensive football background and Pete Carrol had him on his staff at USC . He worked under some great offensive coordinators also. He is obviously emotional about getting a chance from Bowles and let’s face it he was under huge stress from our mediocre offensive start at best. So our recent success feels like the weight of the world lifted. Hardly a personal demon narrative. Just a hard working coach that cares about his players and coaches. You can say what you want about Pete Carrol but he is forever the optimist and a good leader to learn from.
December 21st, 2023 at 5:03 pm
“The last time Joe can remember a Bucs player or coach this emotion when a death was not involved is Josh McCown.”
———-
When Dirk Koetter was named the Bucs’ new head coach (2016) he was pretty well chocked up during his introductory press conference.
December 21st, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Canales is trending in the right direction at the right time of year. And we are extremely healthy. As well as controlling our own destiny. It’s not a bad position to be in, despite the record
December 21st, 2023 at 6:03 pm
No BrianBucs, this was their master plan, like Rocky fighting south paw, then all a sudden pow! Right in the kisser…genuius
December 21st, 2023 at 6:51 pm
You shouldn’t have brought up mccown. Just flashes of bad times swirling all around Canales aura now. Bad juju.
December 21st, 2023 at 6:52 pm
I have studied body language and psychological triggered reactions during my previous career and it is something I still do as a fun hobby today.
I can tell you from experience that Dave Canales had a legit emotional reaction when he stated “he was grateful to Todd Bowles and Jason Licht for believing in him and he wanted to prove them right”…
It was a great moment to witness.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:01 pm
Take that all you haters. For all those without a brain or heart maybe you will see that Dave Canales and Todd Bowles are human beings with hearts and brains that are trying very hard and doing their best. Do you think for one second that they were hired and paid lots of money if they were as you make them out to be? Let’s see you even get an interview much less get hired for such a job.
It is reasonable to fairly critique their performances. Be fair be kind. It is the time of year to be especially aware of that. Merry Christmas to all.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:52 pm
This team takes a big leap when the lawn chair cornerbacks either have an epiphany or their demons get exercised which is one of the same! A defensive team effort is not composed of 9.
December 21st, 2023 at 7:52 pm
It was a great presser. No doubt this guy has what it takes, or is a great leader of men. Bowles gave him a shot, but it doesnt sound like many people wanted it. I hope Bowles can turn the page and get rolling in step with his OC. Lots of jobs are on the line. I dont want to see Canales lose his.
December 21st, 2023 at 8:09 pm
There’s something in coming up the hard way. Going thru the grind to rise to positions that are very very important. You can tell it matters to him & not just collecting a check.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:00 pm
Hey Hey Hey…Theres no cryiing in football!!! Done in my best Tom Hanks voice.
Love the passion fom Canales makes me want him to succeed even more.
Go Bucs!
December 21st, 2023 at 9:09 pm
Minus one possible malcontent, this team seems to have really galvanized in the last couple weeks. I’m honestly feeling a lot better about the future. Bowles defense seems to still have some shortcomings, but he’s also dealing with a half deck in the secondary every single week.
I can get behind this entire group sticking together this offseason while adding and subtracting a couple pieces here and there.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:26 pm
That story just made me a believer. When someone feels this strongly, it is infectious.
Maybe I have been wrong about Bowles. Maybe he’s doing everything he is capable of doing. Maybe it will take more time. Is he a good man? It sure seems that he is.
I hope they keep proving me wrong.
December 21st, 2023 at 9:46 pm
I hope this team wins out. I hope the offense looks like it did last week. But if it doesn’t do we keep the coaches and get rid of the players or vise versa. Dungy is a great human being but he couldn’t win the big one here. Gruden was a great coach doing a hell of a lot better than this coach. You settle for mediocrity and that’s exactly what you get in the NFL. Again I hope the offense does well every week. But it’s only happened twice this year.
December 21st, 2023 at 10:42 pm
Well said ‘76..
December 22nd, 2023 at 3:14 am
They were probably a loss away from getting canned had they lost to the Panthers. I hoping to see them fired in season had they lost that Panthers game. I have to admit that Canales and Bowles have turned it around.
That Green Bay game was beautiful. Canales showed growth and willingness to change what wasn’t working.
It also helped that the right players were either benched, injured, and cut from the team. The players that were dragging the team and season down.
December 22nd, 2023 at 5:43 am
Could it be that Canales was finally given the green light to run a more varied offense ?
Especially on first and second down where percentages are greater for pass completions. This also allows Baker to get into a rhythm early in the game.
December 22nd, 2023 at 7:54 am
TF Says:
“Personal Demons? Hardly.”
___________________
I was referring to his bout with alcoholism, TF.
December 22nd, 2023 at 7:56 am
Let’s gooo. Great article Joe. Emotions play a part in football to good ways and bad ways. This is deff a good way and makes me want to root for canales even more. Man if they can have a few more games like the packers game I would change my mind in wanting the staff to be gone and give them next year and see what another year can do in canales offense. It’s crazy how one really good win ( packers ) can wipe away a lot of bad games lol. My biggest pet peeve is like last years cowgirls game (playoffs) Bucs looked very unprepared. If that happens again like it did against a few good teams this year bowels might need to go.
December 22nd, 2023 at 7:56 am
Bob that’s what I’ve bin thinking. The handcuffs came off most likely. Lol
December 22nd, 2023 at 4:33 pm
Go get Mike Tomlin