Finding a new offensive coordinator this offseason has been a long process for the Bucks. In fact, he was interviewed by 10 different candidates for the position. But as the old saying goes, save the best for last, and think Tampa Bay has found the good in Dave Canales.
So far, the former has been nothing but rave reviews. Seattle quarterback coach. From the top down, Canales’ new-age offense in Sean McVay stylings has the entire Bucks organization buzzing. The change in energy is immediately apparent, and when asked about the new offensive system they’re introducing in the future, many players endorse it.
The forward-thinking approach brought by Canales has been a steady presence since the job interview. Before training camp began, Bucks general manager Jason Licht spoke about how Canales’ energy permeates the building.
“It hasn’t changed since Todd Bowles brought him here for an interview and I got the chance to sit with him for a few hours,” Licht said. “It hasn’t changed, it’s the same every day. He’s very stable in terms of energy and concentration. It’s fun to talk to him because he’s always looking for solutions.” If this doesn’t work, we’re going to do this, but believe me, we feel like this will work.” We’re going to put these players in these positions. ” He is a very positive person and I love the positive vibes around the building, but he definitely elevates it. ”
Bucks Head Coach Todd Bowles and OC Dave Canales – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
Bucks head coach Todd Bowles has high hopes for Canales. If the season is bad, he may lose his job. He’s counting on Canales’ new offensive scheme to play complementary football by moving the ball effectively and keeping the defense fresh in the fourth quarter, but that’s not the case with former offensive coordinator Byron. What the Leftwich failed to do last season. Throughout training camp, Bowles liked what he saw from the first-year coordinator.
“I think Dave has done a great job,” Bowles said. “He is an excellent teacher. I understand how to put the players in place, he learned all that in the spring, and when he installed it and got a feel for who could do what, it all came together pretty well. I like where he is.”
Bucks RB should grow in Dave Canales’ system
There’s nowhere else to go other than go to Tampa Bay ground games. He averaged a dismal 75 yards per game, ranking last a year ago. One of the reasons Todd Bowles chose him was Dave Canales The new offensive coordinator has a 13-year career in Seattle, where the Seahawks are known for moving the ball efficiently year after year.
Canales will make sure the Bucks run the ball this season and run it well. Backs, offensive lines and tight ends have no choice.
Bucks OC Dave Canales, RB Ronnie Brown, Sean Tucker, QB Kyle Trask – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
“The players are really excited to fully complement what we’re doing,” Canales said Thursday. “Especially since it all starts with the run game, the big guys up front are really, really committed.”
The same goes for running backs for the Bucks, who improve their contact balance, an essential skill needed to generate more yards after contact. Rachard White averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in his rookie season, but that was enough to lead his team.
Canales hopes to increase that number by more than one yard this season, to 4.7 yards per carry or more. Long-lasting running games are essential to success.
“I think it’s just a matter of quantity,” Canales said. “What happens is contact balance, contact adaptation. If I run 10 times in this direction and the tackler keeps coming from the inside to the left, how do I make him miss, the tackle. I have a plan on how to break it.” On the other hand, doing it twice won’t give you the same feel. Volume alone has taught Seattle’s running backs how to rack up extra yards on a variety of run types. We’ll do it, so they’ll be really good at it. We will grow from there. ”
Running backs’ success with this midzone system dates back decades to Mike Shanahan’s Terrell Davis-led Denver. This implementation scheme can be successful with a functional revival, and it also works with a committee approach. Running backs are charged with using their patience and vision to determine when to cut back and which holes to hit, with positive results in every derivative of this system. That’s something White is passionate about.
“The new plan is, honestly, really nice,” White said. “We’ve got things going with different formations. There’s a lot of eye candy. There’s a lot of movement and stuff like that. I really like it. We have good run plays, good run schemes, great offense. I think you’ve seen running backs that have shown offensive performance and have been successful in that.”
Bucks RB Chase Edmonds and OC Dave Canales – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
In stepping up to a bigger role, White hopes to be one of the next of these backs coming from a version of the Shanahan offense that makes a big contribution in the run and pass game. New Bucks running back Chase Edmonds has sought an opportunity to join the Bucks this offseason and likes Canales’ ability to allow mistakes and then reset.
“I love Dave,” said Edmonds. “Dave is very positive. I love positivity and just have good energy. I love Dave and I love what he brings to the team. Yeah, it’s always a big focus on resetting yourself after a bad play, everyone’s focus on resetting is different, but it’s just about being able to reset yourself as an offense, because in the NFL, it’s a slump. Because it’s all about ebbs and flows, and we can continue to hone our challenges and keep improving.”
Continuous improvement is one of the Bucks’ themes this year, and Canales is no exemption from it. One of the biggest things White was impressed with about the first-year offensive coordinator was his dedication to learning and continuing to improve.
“What I love most about Coach Canales is that he always wants to learn,” White said. “He always likes to hear everyone’s opinions and thoughts.
Dave Canales’ new system is easier on the offensive line
Bucks OC Dave Canales, Tom Moore and Harold Goodwin – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
The new system Dave Canales is putting into the offense will help the Bucks’ quarterbacks and skilled players as well as the offensive line. Everything Tom Brady has brought to the team over the last three years, but mobility wasn’t one of them. Lack of mobility combined with a lack of predictability, and an inability to be creative or effective in the running game, unfortunately left Tampa Bay’s offensive line dry for most of the play. The Bucks often conceded too quickly last season, so the opposing defense knew what was going to happen and listened to every play.
The scheme calls for more runs in the mid and wide zones, which allows the offensive line to utilize their athleticism and move horizontally to keep the defense on guard. Moving to left tackle, Tristan Wirfs likes what Canales brings and what the new system allows for as an offensive line.
“I love Coach Dave,” Wirfs said. “He’s an incredible guy. He always brings a lot of energy. This offense has been really good both offensively and offensively. You can sit there and back off and listen to the defensive line. We can throw things at them and keep them on their guard all the time.”
Bucks center Ryan Jensen echoed Wilfs’s enthusiasm, saying he’s excited about the creativity his offense can bring to the table.
Bucs RG Cody Mauch – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
“I love it,” said Jensen. “The creativity on this offense was great and had a different energy than we’ve had in the last few years when it comes to running games, passing games, etc. With a quarterback that’s a little more mobile, that’s what we can do. will be great too.”
For the Bucks’ new starting right tackle Luke Godeke, the new offensive system was a blast. The ability to execute a variety of plays from the same look while utilizing the athleticism of moving horizontally along the line instead of being asked to drop back every play was a big difference.
“It’s the difference between day and night,” Guedeke said. “Taking it into the offense and arsenal is a game changer. It exhausts the defensive line so much. At the end of the day, you can almost tee them off, but they run and the front. We have to defend the flank and the backside, if we run the bootleg, it’s really different day and night than last year.”
