Canales Brings the Energy in His Introductory Press Conference

The new head coach's energy and desire were on full display.

Dave Canales bet on himself. The Carolina Panthers’ job is his one shot, his one opportunity to seize everything he’s ever wanted in the coaching world. Will he capture it, or just let it slip?

At today’s introductory press conference, Canales looked calm and ready on the surface, exhibiting a hunger to bring an energy to the Mint Street that has lacked in recent years. Canales admitted that some nerves were creeping in.

“Can I say I’m nervous? Is that all right?” said Canales on Thursday morning, but the 42-year-old first-time head coach exuded confidence, a plan, and a desire to bring winning football back to the Carolinas.

“I have a lot of excitement. This is a test, this is an opportunity for me. I'm fired up about it."

After watching Canales’ press conference, it’s easy to see why David Tepper and Dan Morgan hired a man who only interviewed for one single job this offseason. It starts with his attention to detail.

Canales quoted multiple specific numbers in his press conference that reveal his plan for building a winner in Carolina. The first number is in regard to valuing possession of the football.

“+1 = 82% win." Team's that win the turnover battle win 82% of the time.

"It’s all about the ball. We've got to be crazy about getting the ball on defense...Offensively, everything we do is about taking care of the ball.” For a Carolina team that has finished with a negative turnover differential for three straight seasons, protecting the ball would be a breath of fresh air.

The other number revolves around protecting Bryce Young. The team’s most valuable asset. Canales believes that getting the ball out in “2.7 (seconds) or less” is a key for quarterbacks in his system. And his system, which has revived both Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, may look a little different come 2024.

“We are going to become what Bryce is great at,” was Canales’ quote when asked about what his offense is going to look like. He raved about Young and how excited he is to work with the second year signal caller.

“It starts with relationship (between coach and quarterback) I want him to know that I have his best interest at heart. I want him to be the best version of himself.”

The Canales offense will be the second Young learns in two years, but if Canales’ bite matches his bark, it’s going to be extremely friendly to the quarterback Carolina has invested their future in.

It’s a new era on Mint Street. Canales and Dan Morgan preached alignment from top to bottom in the organization. For a franchise that has been in turmoil since the dawn of the 2020s, congruency is welcomed.

"We all speak the same langauge and we're all heading in the same direction with the alignment that we're talking about. I'm so excited to create that culture. Culture is what you celebrate. Culture is also what you condemn." 

I'm not a culture expert, but from the outside looking in, culture in the Panthers' building has been missing for a few years.

2020 was marred by the Coronavirus and a college coach finding his footing in the NFL.

2021 was marred by a free-fall following a 3-0 started that included a failed reunion with a franchise legend.

2022 was marred by the firing of a flailing head coach and the much maligned cutting of ties with a well-respected coach that turned around a lost season.

2023 was marred by distrust and a head coached fired shockingly early.

2024 is beginning with a thought that for the first time in a few years, things may be different. 

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