TAMPA, Fla – The Buccaneers’ new offensive coordinator Dave Canales isn’t so much caught up in establishing a new offense or terminology, it’s about being on the same page and having an attitude.
“It’s all about the ball,” Canales said. “Everything we do, all 11 guys on offense, is gonna be about protecting the football. Whether it’s in the run game, the pass game or protection, we’re gonna be crazy about it. One thing that hits my brain really quick is Skip Peete, gonna be our running backs coach, they (Cowboys) had zero balls lost last year from the running back”
The Bucs don’t like to call this coming season a rebuild, but won’t have 7-time Super Bowl Champ Tom Brady at quarterback and will be without a number of starters on offense and defense simply because the Bucs are about $55 million dollars over the cap.
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Canales looks at it like a fresh start and head coach Todd Bowles is giving Canales the keys to the offense after interviewing 9 other potential OC candidates before settling on Canales.
“Dave has done a great job in a variety of roles with Seattle,” Bowles said. “He brings a passion for coaching and an energy level that players just seem to respond to.”He has played a significant part in the development and growth of many Seahawks players who have contributed to their offensive success the past decade.”
The Bucs were dead last in rushing last season, Canales promises to have a better mix of the pass and run. He just got the job so it’s too early for him to talk publicly about specific players although he feels like the Bucs can compete right away. Canales has never called plays before but believes he’s ready for the job.
“I respect how hard it is, Canales said. “I respect the skill of the guys that I’ve worked for, they had to have the mastery of the game plan and the call sheet. I know that I’m going to take some lumps and have to learn my lessons along the way, but I’ll learn quick.”
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Canales replaces the fired Byron Leftwich. Canales has been with the Seattle Seahawks for the past 13 seasons, most recently as the quarterback’s coach. and passing game coordinator. Canales hasn’t called plays in a regular season game since he was a JV high school coach. But Canales did call plays at times in Seattle but that was in practice.
“I’ve been chomping at the bit,” Canales said. “I’ve called mock games, so I’d be like the offensive coordinator for the 2’s and that’s been a lot of fun. Especially when I had Geno for the past couple of years and we’d go in and embarrass the 1’s a little bit.”
A lot of credit for Seahawks QB Geno Smith’s turnaround goes to Canales. Smith led the NFL in completion percentage at 69.8%, throwing for 4,282 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 int’s. Right now 3rd year Kyle Trask is the only QB on the Bucs roster.
“I really liked him coming out,” Canales said. “If you look at some of the skilled position players he had there (Florida), Kyle Pitts, Kadarious Toney, had a big return in the Super Bowl. He (Trask) was able to distribute. The thing we’re going to help Kyle continue to build on here is just to be a point guard. Point guards don’t have to be the ones to score all the points.”
Canales’ first public appearance as the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator will be at the NFL Combine in Indy next week. Right now he’s working everyday at the Bucs facility and trying to find places in Tampa Bay to explore with his family.
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