How Todd Bowles Is Accelerating Dave Canales’ Learning Curve

Organized team activities (OTA as it’s popularly known in the NFL) are little more than off-season flag football practices. With no pads or real contact allowed, the Bucks’ offseason practices typically focus on working only on passing games and introducing new plays at a slower pace than training camp or the regular season.

Off-season rules limit contact, making it difficult to tackle a running game without pads in the trenches, let alone a live pass rush or pass protection.

But Tampa Bay’s offseason has been quite different this year. Bucks head coach Todd Bowles used OTAs and minicamps to help new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Despite spending 13 years in Seattle in various roles as passing game coordinator, receiver coach, and most recently quarterback coach, Canales has never called a play in the NFL and never played in college. never called.

To prepare for the real-time pressure of Canales calling plays and making mid-match adjustments, Bowles decided to spend more time “Call It” period Between 11 to 11.

“Yeah, it definitely was driven by a coach.” [Bowles]’” Canales said on the show. I recently appeared on the Pewter Report podcast. “I think it was him just saying, ‘I know what this guy needs.’ That’s fine.” All you need to know is what hash it is. where am i on the field ’ So he knew that, and he approached me. “

Bucks Head Coach Todd Bowles – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR

Canales, who was hired to replace Byron Leftwich this offseason, was definitely on board with the idea from the start.

“Oh, I needed it, I really needed it,” Canales said. “And what was cool was he mixed up the situation. First down and second down. He mixed up when and where the third down happened and how much time was left. We did a lot of work this spring at the end of the half and the end of the game and it was just what I needed.

“And the coach [Bowles] It was amazing. He said, “Do you need this again?” “Definitely need another ‘Call It’ period.” becomes difficult to write to.I’m selfish, so it works [for me]. And for the players, they just had to be patient and watch the film to see where they were in the formation and what we were going to do. “

Dave Canales already understands how hard playcalling can be

The hardest part of a live play call is understanding all the data: downs and distances, hash marks, position on the field, half time remaining, expected defensive formation and coverage in that situation, and then right to do dial-up. play.

“I mean, it’s hard,” Canales said. “It’s like I’ve been the coordinator’s empty voice for so long, and you’ve been giving the coordinator coverage. You give them ideas. ’45 seconds, thinking timeout.’ [after the] next. ‘ But to actually come up with “what hash is that? What formations and plays do I like? You know, it’s hard. “

Bucks OC Dave Canales and QB Baker Mayfield – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR

Canales spent a lot of time in Seattle watching games from the press box and assisting the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator with aerial photography. Now, Canales will be calling plays on the sidelines for the first time, and Brad Izik, the trusty receivers coach who came with Canales from Seattle, will be in the coach’s box to keep him informed.

“Yeah, definitely on the sidelines,” Canales said. “Especially in the first year, you’re going to be very involved with the quarterback. [Quarterbacks coach] sade [Lewis] doing a great job. There is no such thing as knocking on him. I just know what I want and what I need to get from the quarterback. So being there and being able to watch the series with them from the bench and make those adjustments.

“And it’s also about knowing who they are in raw stress, because the personality comes out. Men respond to stress in different ways. It just allowed me to get back on track and figure out what it needed from me to help me work on the next series, and everything is going to be really important for me to be there.”

Todd Bowles says ‘call it period’ will continue at training camp

The Bucks’ three preseason games will be a great rehearsal for Canales as a playcaller. But first, training camp and joint practices with the Jets. Bowles told the Pewter Report that the “call it” period will continue throughout training camp, continuing to support Canales and interspersed with several scripted sessions.

“What probably happens is that the circumstances of the day and then the coach [Bowles] We’re going to be in a race between first and second down [period], or the Third Down Blitz competitive period, or the Red Zone,” said Canales. “And you know that with practice, it’s actually going to be a natural move-the-ball period where he needs 20 to 30 plays to simulate his quarter of the ball, he’s one, etc. .

Bucks OC Dave Canales – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR

“But yeah, there will be a good combination of those.” [call-it and scripted periods]. REALLY IMPORTANT – Scripted Duration – VERY IMPORTANT FOR RUN GAMES. “Yes, I want you to keep this. We need this against this front, so Tristan [Wirfs] You can see the front side, the back side, etc. “

The “call it” period is more uptempo as it simulates a real game situation with a 25 second clock. While this can help players from an offseason conditioning standpoint, Canales and Bowles know they need to keep a close eye on their reps when the pads come in during training camp.

“You have to be very conscious of the men’s rep count, like you’re making a phone call,” Canales said. “That was one of the conversations Coach Bowles and I had: ‘Let’s be really intentional and smart about the load we put on our players.'” We let them go full steam ahead. , trust us. Think smart about how to do that.

So, we work together on things like that and say, ‘I think you guys did a good job for two days. Let’s write the script tomorrow, slow down, take turns, and be really willing to work with the people in charge.’ “

There is no substitute for experience in any profession, and Canales’ first year as a playcaller for the Bucks will come with some growing pains. But from now until week 1 of the 2023 season, when Tampa Bay moves to Minnesota, the credit goes to Bowles for doing everything in his power to accelerate Canales’ learning curve.