Panthers coach Dave Canales on plan for Bryce Younger’s rebound

INDIANAPOLIS — New Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales prepped for his first podium appearances on the NFL mix with a strenuous exercise that included cardio on the bike, a weight circuit and an incline stroll at Stage 12.

His preparation for Bryce Younger’s second NFL season, after a traditionally dangerous rookie marketing campaign for a quarterback drafted No. 1 total, sounded easy in comparison with that.

“No massive plan to repair him,” stated Canales, who final month was given a six-year deal to change into the Panthers’ third head coach in three years. “For me, it is about constructing an offense that we could be pleased with, one thing that’s powerful, one thing that’s good, that takes care of the soccer.

“It is actually elevating the entire group, and simply asking Bryce to do his a part of it.”

The underside line is Canales would not wish to overcomplicate the offense, as typically appeared the case final season. Younger completed tied for the fewest landing passes (11) for any quarterback in NFL historical past with greater than 500 cross makes an attempt, and the Panthers’ offense completed within the backside 5 of the league in most main classes, together with scoring (T-31, 13.9 PPG) and whole offense (thirty second, 265.3 YPG).

Canales did not assume Younger was the issue, as a lot because the rookie was being put in conditions that did not enable him to showcase the strengths that satisfied Carolina to commerce two first-round picks (2023, 2024) and high vast receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears final March to maneuver from ninth to first within the draft.

“He is acquired the instruments that we noticed a yr in the past,” stated Canales, who was a first-year offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a yr in the past.

Canales stated the very first thing he’ll do is train Younger a brand new offense that is not based mostly on four- and five-receiver units, which was the case final season underneath coach Frank Reich, who was fired after Week 12. He’ll base his offense across the run sport with a variety of play-action passes and bootlegs that may showcase the skills of Younger and assist their much-maligned offensive line.

“I simply see a extremely correct participant, an actual decisive participant,” Canales stated of Younger. “For him, a few of the basic items, that for any quarterback enchancment is footwork. Let’s proceed to develop extra particular to the cross idea, extra particular to who is that this individual operating this route?

“Three totally different receivers run the identical route, it may very well be three various things. That is a training factor. Maximizing a few of his skills are going to assist that.”

Canales has talked to Younger by telephone at the very least twice every week throughout this era when in-person conferences aren’t allowed. He needs to do for the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner what he did for Baker Mayfield final season in Tampa Bay and Geno Smith in 2022 at Seattle — each quarterbacks had career-best seasons in passing yards and landing passes.

One of many focuses will probably be getting Younger to launch passes in 2.7 seconds or much less. Younger ranked twenty fourth within the NFL final season with a mean launch time of two.9 seconds.

Canales stated that not solely will assist the quarterback and receivers but additionally an offensive line that allowed 65 sacks in 2023, which was tied with the Washington Commanders for the second-most within the NFL behind the New York Giants at 85.

“I believe the common cross comes out in 2.2 seconds,” Canales stated. “For our ideas, for those who type of get extra particular to what we’re making an attempt to do, the ball will get to the check-down in about 2.7, undoubtedly underneath 3.

“Bryce higher be actually be shifting in direction of the road of scrimmage, able to take off, checking it right down to the again in three seconds or much less.”

Understanding that and having the muse of his offense based mostly across the run sport, Canales and normal supervisor Dan Morgan plan to depart 2022 first-round decide (No. 6 total) Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu at left deal with as an alternative of shifting him to protect, as some NFL sources with information of the scenario steered can be the higher transfer.

“He is only a mauler within the run sport,” Canales stated of Ekwonu, whose 11 sacks surrendered ranked among the many worst for left tackles in 2023. “Simply having the ability to pile on that from a power standpoint, after which simply the character of what our ideas are for our cross sport.

“We’re actually dedicated to getting the ball out. That is going to be an enormous emphasis for Bryce. We will be on a clock each single time within the spring, each single time in camp. I am promoting to Ickey, I am promoting to those tackles, be aggressive and we’ll get the ball out.”

Canales is also relying on a robust protection led by coordinator Ejiro Evero, who was retained alongside along with his whole workers by Canales.

“That was the entire a part of my grasp plan,” Canales stated with a smile. “I am like … I am going to repair the offense. You type of have [things] in place right here [on defense].”

Preserving a lot of the core expertise in place defensively is the subsequent problem. Morgan stated negotiations on a long-term take care of outdoors linebacker Brian Burns are ongoing and if a deal cannot be carried out, then he’ll use the franchise tag.

Morgan additionally stated he needs an extension for inside linebacker Frankie Luvu, who is about to change into a free agent, and defensive deal with Derrick Brown, who is about to play this season on his fifth-year choice.

The objective of Morgan and Canales isn’t merely to deal with constructing an offense round Younger, however on constructing a whole crew.

“It is about bettering the Carolina Panthers,” Morgan stated. “Bryce is only one piece of the puzzle.”