Dave Canales on Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets | Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales on Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets | Carolina Panthers

a beautiful day. Uh great opportunity to get back on the grass. Um guys are excited about the opportunity uh to go on the road together, play good four quarters of football. Um put that together. You know, that’s a that’s a piece of what we’re trying to build here. We have to be able to go on the road uh and function the way we’ve been at home, uh playing together, playing clean football, and uh finding a way to finish. So, um great opportunity for us this week. What’s the biggest difference for you as the head coach when you are on the road? um you sleep in a hotel. You know, we try to keep all of our rhythms and uh you know, timing of things, the what it feels like on a Saturday. Now, obviously, we’re getting on a plane. Um but our meetings, we approach the same way and get the guys, you know, physically and mentally ready, you know, to wake up on Sunday. We get to go, you know, here we go. It’s 1:00. This is where we’re at. We’re at the stadium with plenty of time getting prepped. Um you know, for me, I always look at the road games as an opportunity for us to grow together. we spend a lot more time together whether it’s on the plane, going to coming from uh just you know hanging out at the hotel and uh talking to each other. A lot of great conversations there. Great opportunity to build that chemistry you know and so um and again you have to be able to win on the road. You have to be able to do that um at a high level and uh to block out the external factors to understand the energy. Um the excitement comes from us. It always has to start with us with the coaching staff and with the players and we have to be able to do that together. Tannon Chuba was limited, but how did he look out there for the first time, I guess, in a couple of weeks. He looked great. He looked great. Last week he started to ramp up. Um, today he looked awesome, you know, out there running around. He’s got a real focused look in his eyes. Um, he’s hungry and he can’t wait to get back out there. Corin’s first go. I don’t know if you got to watch bunch of him, but obviously he’s still got three weeks. How did he look? He looked really good. uh he he’s been working hard in RTP return to play uh with the trainers and and they did a great job of getting his strength back, mobility, all those things and ran him around last week and this was our chance to get him out there on the field. He looked awesome. So, we’re going to take that day today um and see what it looks like going into the weekend. Do you agree with kind of the outside perception or consensus that each of those running backs are guys that gets better as as they get more carries? And and if you do agree with that, What kind of challenge does that present? I think it’s a fair statement for all running backs. They like to get a lather. They like to have rhythm. Set runs up um on the front side. See what they’re doing. You get to the sideline in between series, you get to look at the pictures and see where the voids are at. Are they overplaying to the front side? Are they hanging back too much? You know, and there’s this cat-and- mouse game that happens with with backs. Um that being said, every single carried like it’s your last. every single one with the intensity, the violence that we’re looking for, it affects the whole group. So regardless of when those guys go in there, we expect Chuba and Rico and Trevor when he gets his chances to go out there and empty the tank on every single run. Dave, uh Gardner has were some of the tightest windows in the NFL through the first six weeks. What’s the the best way to combat that from your Yeah, you got to be able to catch contested, you know, contested passes and he’s going to be there. He’s sticky. He’s sticky in man coverage when he’s in zone. who’s playing off the quarterback’s drop. He’s a fantastic player and uh you have to come off the rock with speed. You got to be able to use your hands. Um he’s not afraid of a penalty here and there, you know. Um he’s a really confident guy and uh you know that’s exactly the type of of opportunities and challenge that brings the brings out the best in our guys and so got to meet the challenge. You’re going to have to catch the ball when he’s near you. Generally, generally Oh, Dave, generally speaking, when you have an injured starter who’s been part of your program for a while and you have somebody replace him and he does well, how much management of of the person do you have to do? I know you have to worry about what’s best for the team, but what is that like behind the scenes with a player who is injured and seeing somebody perform in his plays? I believe in full transparency. I believe in having these conversations early on uh to to talk about what it may look like and uh give the guys the benefit of the doubt to say, “Okay, let’s look at let’s look at the the situation that we are currently at. Let’s deal with the facts and uh let’s move forward from there.” And again, my job is to make the best decision for the Panthers. I don’t like to paint myself in a box to say a guy can’t lose his job to injury. Um I think that that’s a dangerous spot to put yourself in um when a person shows what they can do. Um, but sometimes that’s the case and sometimes it’s not, you know, and I think you just have to take each case um, independently and do the best thing for the team. With that being said, with Corbett now a full return to practice, have you made any decisions about what may happen at that center role? We are. We’re talking through all that stuff right now. And I honestly don’t want to really share, you know, what our approach is going into Sunday. But yeah, those are those are discussions are hard discussions that we have to have. um you know and really great opportunities for us uh to look at because when you have you know great options on both sides you know whether you’re talking about the center position, you’re talking about the running back position, you know, you look at it and it’s like we’re blessed to have these opportunities now let’s go and see how we can put our best foot forward um and take advantage of of you know players across the board. To follow up on that, could you say the same thing about at the right guard position? You could. You could. Brady’s been playing uh you know really at a high level and uh he’s it’s the reason why we had to have him back here is is his versatility but you know look at him just as a peer guard. He’s doing an excellent job. You expect is the plan for Coker to play this week and how much you have to monitor his reps if he does. That’s the plan. I never want to put a player out there. We’d only get 48 helmets on game day. They got to be able to play football and uh games there’s different ways that different modes that you have to play in. Um, and you know, whether you’re playing with a lead or you’re playing from behind, sometimes you got to throw the ball and the guy’s got to be out there. You have to be able to count on the guy physically to be able to do that. And, uh, Coker looked great today. Um, had a fantastic practice and, uh, you know, we’re going to just, you know, look at him again tomorrow. Um, it’ll be a little bit more high mileage, high-speed mileage tomorrow. It’s our big third down day. So, that’ll be the real test to see where we’re going, what we’re looking at, uh, going in the weekend. Jones hurt himself on Sunday. Where did that come? Pat finished the game. Um and you know he was he had a little bit of tightness but um it really was something that we had to re-evaluate on Monday and the whole staff got all hands on deck and got some imaging and you know Pat’s Pat’s going to need surgery and he’s going to be out for the season and it’s a big one for us. Um, I know it may come to a shock of because he was playing such awesome football throughout that game and um, and uh, was able to get through it, but you know, was something that as we continued to evaluate it and go through our process, you know, popped up on us and thought the best thing for him um, at this time was to make sure that we, you know, address that. What’s the official injury? It’s a low back. Okay. Like a strain. Uh, I don’t want to get into specific. You said it popped up after the game day. It was something that it was something he woke up with Monday and he was in he was in a really bad spot and so we just did the full evaluation and um the imaging and all the things that go into that. Um and it was you know he was really upset and uh you know clearly because of just like when he’s in there he’s such an impactful player for us but um you know I wanted to make sure that we did the right thing for Pat and and of course you know everyone in his camp his family and and his agent and people involved there u making the right decision for Pat. We’ll review that on Sunday. You said lower back. I’m sorry. Yes. Um and uh speaking to that group specifically, what does this mean for Nick Court and Princeley? And what does it mean for those guys? Yeah, great opportunity for all those guys to step in and guys that we’ve been counting on who’ve been growing in their roles first second down, rush packages, all those things. um so fortunate to be able to have those guys um have to play early, you know, and uh DJ missed a couple of games, so they stepped in and had their roles and each week they keep improving. Um every practice is a milestone, you know, you can only imagine, you know, at this point in their careers, adjusting to a system, adjusting to the NFL, you know, each practice is a milestone and every individual period’s important and every game certainly. So, another great opportunity for those guys to come out and help the team. Is there anyone else, Dave, that you might consider I don’t know, shifting to that that outside spot or getting a longer look at somebody that you haven’t really gotten a lot of reps at this point. Not right now. Um it’s basically the group that’s been working in there and and you know in different levels with substitution and of course the guys that are out there playing get the line share the reps but a lot of guys been working and so um this is an opportunity also for Boogie Basham you know who’s been on our team and who’s been up for one game but um it’s a great opportunity for him to show us what he can do this uh this week as well. So, I don’t know if you want to say this or not, but is is the plan for Den Rico to start? I mean, I guess you go with guy who’s run for, you know, the way he has. I mean, it would make seem to make sense, but we’ll see on Sunday. Would it be hard to sit him down? Who’s that? Re given what he’s done. Um, I think he’s earned everything that that he’s done in the last two weeks. He’s earned the right to help this team and he will and we’ll find a way to do that. how we do that specifically, I don’t want to really share those details of it, but um I mean certainly the world knows, you know, the recognition he’s getting and and just for all of us who who’ve been here, you know, you know, right at the forefront to watch, you know, the violence and the attitude that he’s that he’s brought to the offense and um again, it’s great opportunity for us, you know, to look at both guys and and to find a way for them to help the team. Not taking away anything from that performance you brought, but the offensive line is blocked really well. How much does that have to go into your evaluation of who gets I mean how the rotation works? Absolutely. Let’s let’s give credit where credit is due, right? It starts right up front with that group communicating together, staying connected on blocks. I can’t say enough about the tight end group and the way that they’ve been blocking physically, the growth of Mitchell Evans, um being a reliable catcher, but also the physicality he’s bringing. Tommy has been unbelievable. James has stepped in for J in JT’s absence, you know, and we hopefully get JT back as soon as possible. Um, and we’re looking at that again right now this week. Um, but give a shout out to Pat McFerson and having his guys ready to play violently and and I see the wide receivers taking strides, you know, and taking steps on finishing plays with their hands on guys. And, you know, when you watch the highlights, it’s not it’s not without seeing T-Mac or Xavier down the field getting their hands on DBs when Rico has been at the second level. So, it takes a full group. It takes Bryce getting us to the right plays against the right fronts depending on what the defense is doing and finishing his fakes on those to be able to hold the backside and um to complement the whole thing, you know. Um so it’s a group effort. Um Rico did it uh at the time, you know, and I would have loved to seen Chuba playing behind the the production that this line is has been doing as well, you know. Um but yeah, I I love just I love the fact that it’s a group effort and it’s a collective thing with the staff putting great run plans together and the players going out there and executing it. that offensive line. This is the last good performance run and pass out of a really mixed group of people. It’s been a different group almost every week. How are you guys able to sustain that level with so many different people? It’s the work. It’s that group that’s committed to each other. I’m talking about the offensive line group. These guys spend a lot of time together. They have a lot of camaraderie. Um they’re always working. You know, it starts off with with Goodie and Joe and uh they’re always working on stunts. They’re always working on different front looks, possibilities that may come up on the side when there’s special teams period or when the defense is out there um in the in the uh scout team periods. They just are constantly working, constantly talking and they’re just committed to that process of work and that’s what it takes because you never know when your number’s going to get called and when it does, you don’t want to miss your shot. You don’t want to miss that shot. And um I just love what Brady’s been able to do. I love with Yash coming in and playing what I believe is his best game as a Panther. um really balancing it out from a run game and a pass protection standpoint. So, we’re really fortunate to have those guys. Um and it’s one thing to have the talent in the room, it’s another thing for those guys to work together for the whole room to grow, the whole room to continue to develop. Last one. Luke Keequley via Jake Delhomme praised your play calling on the fan this week. He said he didn’t even know what was coming and that seems to be high praise coming from him. similar to a running back or a quarterback sort of getting in a groove. Do you find do you get in a groove as a play caller and and sort of feel when things are clicking? Absolutely. And it’s about efficiency and that’s what this group has been. We’ve been an efficient team. We’ve been efficient in the run game. We’ve been efficient when we’re throwing the ball. But when we’re getting first downs and we’re getting explosive, it opens up the whole call sheet and it allows just the more chances we get, the more that we can protect our core. You can protect the core of your run game with the play passes and the boots. you can protect your pass game. So, you have your core concepts and then you have adjustments to routes based on those things. The more plays we’re able to have, the more times we’re converting those first downs, then it just grows and then the attack becomes really balanced. So, for me, it gets a lot easier, but it really starts with our players. It starts with those guys being efficient, blocking the run the way it’s supposed to be blocked. It It starts with Bryce in the pass game. The ball’s got to come out in a certain time and make sure that the guys are catching it, coming up with those catches. group that’s really come together to make plays. We miss some ops early on in the season. That shortens your call sheet. It just shortens the number of plays. So, the way that the guys are playing and executing, it really allows me allows Brad because Brad’s in my ear the whole time about setting things up. I can’t see the whole call sheet. So, I’m I’m calling for Brad. I’m calling for Goodie. Okay, we’ve run this one already. What’s the backside looking like? Somebody look at this one when we run this play, you know, and it’s a full group effort. Um and trusting the guys, the eye in the sky. Mike Burkovichi’s up there calling out the coverages and making sure that we’re balanced with our runs and passes. So, a full group effort and uh it just gets a lot more fun for me the more opportunities we have out there. Thank you, coach. All right. Thank you.

Canales spoke about the offense being able to protect in both the pass and run game when on the road.

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