The Panthers Are Hiring Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales To Be Their Head Coach
Massive news for the NFC South. The Panthers finalized their GM position by promoting assistant GM and former Panthers player Dan Morgan for the role. I knew they had interviewed Canales but this is a surprise for sure. Canales was a first year playcaller and first time OC with the Buccaneers. He had glowing reviews internally. I know the players loved him but let's look at the facts.
- The Bucs were 18th in points scored this year on offense at 21.2 points per game
- Tampa Bay was 20th in total yards with 323.9 yards per game
So is this a big loss? I do think the answer is yes as Canales is a great communicator and is very bright. Is he the next Sean McVay? I'm not so sure about that, but I do think he is a good coach. Todd Bowles, who is 60 years old, recently said in a press conference he absolutely will not be coaching forever and won't be close to 70 when he's done. Whether that means one, two, three, six, eight more years or anything in between is unknown. But as a Bucs fan, my ideal would be Bowles at coach for the next couple years and hand it over to Canales when he feels like stepping away. But it appears the Panthers took that from us.
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I like Canales the person, so I wish him well, but I hate the Panthers and do not want to see them succeed. It's an interesting situation as the owner, David Tepper seems impatient and also recently threw a drink on a fan. Bryce Young at QB can be looked at as a young, promising asset, or a guy who may be a bust. It's obviously too early to tell but Canales work with Geno Smith last season as his QB Coach in Seattle and Baker Mayfield this year clearly has the Panthers thinking he can get Young up to speed.
Being a young Head Coach, you'll need to surround yourself with seasoned, smart Coordinators. I'd keep an eye on Buccaneers WR Coach Brad Idzik as the favorite for Offensive Coordinator. Brad is his guy and it would make sense for him to follow Canales to Carolina after he followed him to Tampa. But does Tampa squash that and promote him to OC first?
Other than Idzik, I'd think Canales will be poaching some of Seattle's staff that doesn't make it through their coaching transition. Would Pete Carroll be open to a Defensive Coordinator job in Carolina? Lots to unfold, but it's certainly a bold move by the Panthers.