Todd Bowles thinks Dave Canales will "maximize" Tampa Bay's offense

Bowles is excited about his new offensive coordinator - one that he handpicked rather than inheriting.

There's hope that Tampa Bay's offense can make a couple of moves this offseason to put the team in a position to bounce back in 2023. After all, the unit held the worst rushing attack in the entire league by averaging just 76.9 yards per contest. Plus, the Buccaneers dropped all the way to No. 15 overall in total offense, averaging 59.2 fewer yards per game than the previous season (405.9 yards per game) where the team ranked No. 2 in the NFL.

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The change all begins with new offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who was officially announced as a member of head coach Todd Bowles's staff on Thursday. Canales replaces former offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, who spent four years with the franchise after being brought in by Bruce Arians in 2019.

Bowles feels like he and Canales have a similar approach and that the veteran assistant can maximize Tampa Bay's offense.

“We are excited to announce Dave Canales as our new offensive coordinator,” Bowles said. “I want to thank the various candidates that we interviewed throughout this very thorough process. Dave has done a great job in a variety of roles with Seattle the past 13 years and 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 over the past decade, and I look forward to seeing what he will do with our players on offense. The more we talked, the more it became apparent that we are very similar in how we approach the game, and I am confident that he will find a way to maximize our strengths on offense.”

Ready to get started, @DcoachCanales 🤝#GoBucs pic.twitter.com/3DqB9MV13O

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) February 16, 2023

This will be the first stop for Canales as an offensive coordinator. With that being said, he gained 13 years of experience under head coach Pete Carroll as wide receivers coach (2010-17), quarterbacks coach (2018-19, 2022), and passing game coordinator (2020-21).

The California native was on Seattle's staff for the victory in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos. He has ties to free agent quarterbacks, Geno Smith and Drew Lock, from their time with the Seahawks. Canales helped guide Smith to a career year in 2022.

The former West Virginia star led the NFL in completion percentage and ended up earning the first Pro Bowl nod of his career along with being named Comeback Player of the Year. The Seahawks finished 9-8 and qualified for the postseason as Smith completed 69.8% of his passes for 4,282 yards with 30 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He also added 366 yards and a score on the ground.

At this time, the Buccaneers only have former second-round pick Kyle Trask under contract. It's expected that the team will be active in acquiring another quarterback, whether that's in the draft, free agency, or through a trade.

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