“Mutual Admiration” Between Dave Canales, Stinking Panthers
January 25th, 2024
Finalist in Carolina?
One seasoned NFL stenographer is of the belief that Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales has a very real shot at being named the new head coach of the Stinking Panthers.
Conor Orr of SI.com (SI is still alive, for now) has been researching assistant coach openings and a couple of head coach openings. And he typed this morning it would not shock him if Canales is moving to Carolina.
… It sounds like his interviews have gone really well, and there is definitely some mutual admiration there. The 42-year-old longtime Seattle Seahawks assistant burst onto the coaching radar this year after injecting some life into the Tampa Bay offense.
If I had to take a wild swing right now, I would not be surprised if the Panthers job didn’t come down to Vrabel vs. Canales.
The key here is who is calling the shots in Carolina, meddling owner David Tepper or new general manager Dan Morgan?
The former great Canes linebacker was promoted recently by Tepper, and Morgan and Canales are tight. Both worked for Seattle during Canales’ entire tenure there — Morgan in football operations, Canales as a wide receivers and quarterbacks coach.
And if it really did come down to Mike Vrabel or Canales, Joe has to believe Canales has an edge. Tepper has how many hundreds of millions of dollars on the line if quarterback Bryce Young can be developed? When has Vrabel ever coached up a quarterback?
Joe is not as enamored with Vrabel as many in the NFL are. Is he a good coach? Yes. But he is also a typical defensive dude. You know, “Let’s pound the rock and not turn the ball over!” It’s very 1990s-ish. That’s why Vrabel and the Titans were often beaten in the playoffs by teams with quarterbacks.
Joe cannot buy a dude as a dynamic coach who thinks he can win in the 21st century with Ryan Tannehill and Will Levis.
Joe has stated and will type again; Tepper is very much a corporate guy from the corporate world. Canales is the perfect personality for the cooperate types: Always upbeat. Always in a good mood. Energetic, enthusiastic.
Joe doesn’t know if Canales will become a head coach in the coming days. When he does get a head coaching gig, he will be a terrific frontman for a franchise.
Of course, if Canales leaves for Carolina, the status of pending free agents Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans returning to the Bucs would be up in the air.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Just last week he said he wanted to stay in Tampa for a while and learn…let’s hope he sticks to what he said.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
I doubt it works out, getting too big too fast with a crazy owner
January 25th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
Stranger things have happened, but I think it would be wise if Canales spent a few more years as a coordinator.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:09 pm
BM and ME are not up in the air at all.
One will get the franchise tag if need be.
I can’t imagine the Panthers would want Bryce to sit behind and learn from Baker , and that might be 1-2 years. Does Baker want to take the chance that in 1-2 years he will be looking for a job again ?
I imagine if there is anybody sniffing at Baker Licht will just give him the franchie tag and end of story.
ME can go elsewhere if he really wants but his QB is staying here.
Unfortunate if we lose Canales. It does seem like he maximized what Geno Smith could do, and then Baker. Perhaps it will be Bryce next ?
The nightmare is Toilet Bowl being left in charge of Baker, and someone he says is already on the Bucs staff ???
January 25th, 2024 at 12:13 pm
He’s hired!! WTF man. Y’all can say good all you want this is a huge loss!! Another OC for baker a young offensive mind out the door
January 25th, 2024 at 12:13 pm
Schefter reporting that he’s gone. Panthers are making him HC. Not good Ace.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:13 pm
NFL Network saying that CAR is hiring Canales, according to Ian Rapaport.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
I for one was not that enamored with his play calling….
January 25th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
When I was a new paramedic, a few of the paramedics I got hired with put in for, and received promotions to senior paramedic. My supervisors and other paramedics suggested I put in for senior. I chose not to because I knew I wasn’t ready. (I also knew the others weren’t ready.) They sucked. A year later, I was ready. I got promoted. And I didn’t suck.
I think Canales is a smart guy. I also think he’s pretty introspective. I don’t think he will accept a head coaching job until he figures out being a consistently successful offensive coordinator. I think he will do what I did: set his ego aside, assess himself accurately and wait a year or two.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Jury might still be out on Canales as our coordinator. It would be nice if Canales decided to stay in the OC role to see how he does and prove his mettle.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Don’t look now, but according to PFT, Thad Lewis is being interviewed for the Raiders OC job. That’s your in house replacement for Canales…
January 25th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
Bucs get a comp pick for that? I still think Baker comes back, Licht needs to have Baker and Evans in the room for OC meetings. Keep them happy and keep them clicking next year. Really surprised Dave is taking off on us. Damn. Couldn’t dangle the HC coach in a couple years after Bowles hey.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
And he’s gone.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
Dang, happy for him but hate to see him go.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:17 pm
So we lose canales and stuck with bowels. Nice. Fire them all.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Congratulations, Dave, we hardly knew you. Good luck in Carolina.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Lmao, what now Todd?
January 25th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Fml
January 25th, 2024 at 12:19 pm
WoW if I am Mayfield I walk and go get my money because unless this is someone that he has already work with he is learning a new system again. There is no guarantee Evans come back also. Go get your money!
January 25th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Hopefully Bowles has a plan and can pounce quickly.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Wish Dave luck but boy did he take a bad job. That team is a mess, bad owner, and no 1st round pick this year.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:21 pm
For all those who think Canales was staying put, shows how much you know.
He is still young and going to Panthers has only one direction it can go and that is up. If he fails it will not hurt his career that much. Good move for him.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Big picture – is DC really ready to be a HC for that lunatic owner who picked the wrong QB with no 1st round draft pick this season? I doubt it. So if Bowles can find the right guy this could be a win-win for Bucs. You know new GM Dan Morgan and now DC will be on a short leash as recent history has shown there in Carolina.
January 25th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Looks like Panther GM Dan Morgan and Canales spent 8 seasons together in Seattle so there is the connection
January 25th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Damn. My previous comment didn’t age well.
January 25th, 2024 at 1:00 pm
WillieG Says:
January 25th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Damn. My previous comment didn’t age well.
……………………………………………………………..
No it didn’t and a big difference between a HC in the NFL and a paramedic. Your job is actually important. This NFL crap is all theatre and entertainment. When the chips are down I am sure I will need a paramedic in my life before a HC in football.
January 25th, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Haha… Congrats to Canales. This a league of players and coaches continually going on to the next best thing – higher titles, more money, more stats.
For those who think the market is not hot right now for this offensive scheme and players who can run it – you will miss Baker too when he is gone. The offensie is currently utilized by Cincy, Miami, Green Bay, Seattle, Minnesota, Chicago… and on and on… and now Carolina and probably Atlanta if they go with Wycheck. The market could get interesting for QBs and coaches this offseason. The full-back known as Justin Fields also got some time on this offensive though had mix results. And he may be available too.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:24 pm
All you Bucsfans that are congratulating Canales can go with him. You’re supposed to support the Buccaneers. I don’t wish him the best I hope we kick his Ace 2 times every year and he losses every game. I do not support him. I cannot stand the stinking Panthers just like I hate all the other teams in our division.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
Well good for him but I think it’s bad for us. I sure hope we beat him twice next year. Go BUCS
January 25th, 2024 at 9:47 pm
Yep. I think he’s making a big mistake and I hope he is. It’s his ego and he is not loyal.