Buccaneers OC Dave Canales Set To Interview For Panthers Head Coaching Position
The NFL regular season has come to a close, letting the start of the coaching cycle ensue. While there are some head coaching vacancies around the league, coordinators and support staffs will also see some changes over the course of the offseason.
One coordinator who might just be on the move is Dave Canales, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator. The Carolina Panthers have requested an interview with Canales as they've got a head coaching opening, according to
Canales just wrapped up his first regular season as the Buccaneers' head coach in a season that saw the team make the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Canales was equipped with a changing roster as Baker Mayfield is also in his first season with the franchise.
Under Canales' offense, Mayfield threw for 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns to his ten interceptions. The team's lead running back was Rachaad White, who rushed for 990 yards on 272 carries while scoring six touchdowns on the ground.
Given what Canales had to work with, his offense averaged 20.5 points per game and showed his ability to take over an offense in a short time.
In the current era of the NFL, offensive head coaches are finding success around the league, and this could favor Canales as he could jump to a head coaching role soon. The Panthers are in need of some offensive help, too.
The Buccaneers saw the Panthers two times during the regular season, winning both battles. Each time, it was a lack of offensive prowess that was detrimental to the Panthers.
With a young quarterback in Bryce Young, the Panthers have an opportunity early in his career to establish him with an offensive head coach to help him develop and construct an offense around him.
The 42-year-old offensive coordinator is coaching against the Philadelphia Eagles in a Wild Card playoff battle next Monday as he'll get another chance at the solid defense to continue building his coaching resume.
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