Hard Truths From Dave Canales
February 16th, 2023
Father Dungy interviewed the new Buccaneers offensive coordinator.
Joe really enjoyed a revealing sitdown Father Dungy had with new Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales.
It can be found here on YouTube. The interview was filmed in 2021. Dungy and Canales have mutual friends.
Canales, 41, talked about how he got into NFL coaching at 28 years old, not far removed from coaching junior varsity high school ball. He also dived into his calling to football after growing up as the son of a preacher and heading home to church every weekend while in college.
He also revealed how alcohol played a big role in hurting his marriage and family life, and how he quit drinking about seven years ago. Canales said he was moved by a coach during his Seattle days who was unafraid to deliver Canales the hard truth about how his partying was putting him at risk.
As for getting promoted to being Russell Wilson’s quarterbacks coach after being Seahawks receivers coach, Canales said it was driven by Wilson wanting Canales around him. Canales wasn’t being cocky. He said he learned a lot more from Wilson than Wilson did from him.
Canales said he connected well with Wilson, in part, because of their religious bond and daily they began practice and stretching with a prayer.
February 16th, 2023 at 9:38 am
I think its a good hire especially give the uncertainty of the Bucs. Russel really looked like crap away from Canals and Geno went from bust to great so I am hopeful.
February 16th, 2023 at 9:42 am
The only major problem is the actually not calling plays in an actual game. Sounds like a great story and it seems like he has had a successful path. The trend in the NFL seems as though it is to have coaches like Canales though, if you look around the league in places like Miami, Philly, the OC in Seattle, the new HC in Indy……tough spot for this dude with Bowels and uncertainty this yearc. Just do not do that bs that Byron did and you will be good buddy
February 16th, 2023 at 9:43 am
After watching Wilson in Denver , away from Canales, and what Geno did this year, with Canales, it appears you CAN make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
February 16th, 2023 at 9:44 am
I read that he met his wife at Bible study in college….they have 4 kids and are originally from Calif……big move from the West Coast to Tampa for the whole family….
I’m quite sure he hopes to be here for a while.
February 16th, 2023 at 9:45 am
The coaches name was Sherman Smith, and he asked Canales “Did you ever go out looking to throw interceptions” in refrence to Canales being married, but still going out to drink and party while likening it to willfully going out to throw interceptions. Smith basically gave Canales the heads up to grow up, and be the guy he’s supposed to be instead of indulging in what he wants. Watched that interview last night and thought it was pretty interesting
February 16th, 2023 at 9:48 am
@Dusthty Rhothdes yeah because Leftwich didn’t have a top 5 offense 3 years straight.
February 16th, 2023 at 9:50 am
@ Joe
“Canales said he connected well with Wilson, in part, because of their religious bond and daily they began practice and stretching with a prayer.”
Right now I’m looking at the Bucs roster, salary cap and QB and I am saying a prayer right now…
February 16th, 2023 at 9:56 am
Joez… lol
What did you do to that photo
Lol
February 16th, 2023 at 9:59 am
Give me a break.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:06 am
I believe geno maybe in Tampa next year
February 16th, 2023 at 10:06 am
Are you serious with this sht? Nothing mentioned informs how he is going to be able to run an NFL offense for the first time ever and without a damn playbook.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:08 am
Sad, he will prolly start drinking again after a year of Boles prevent game plans.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:09 am
Oh wow. Wonder if his Christian background is a precursor to us going after Derek carr? He begins each practice with a prayer? Big on religion?
February 16th, 2023 at 10:10 am
Glad the guy got his life straightened out. Hope there isn’t too much pressure on him. This can’t be an easy job to step into. And I really hope he and coach Dungy connect here…and maybe DB… to make sure he has a good support system.
From a football perspective, seems like a big jump from where he was to this job. And for his sake, and the sake of the organization, I hope it is a home run.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:20 am
I didnt like this before. I like it even less now.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:23 am
Seems like lately the stars have been lining up for Kyle Trask.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:30 am
Agreed with Tony, give me a break. The guy is light in the play calling department and it will definitely show when we lose 15 straight games next year. Having an inexperienced OC will be an even a bigger problem if we don’t have an experienced veteran QB. Bowles will indeed cause him to start drinking again.
Glad I no longer have season tickets, as every game is going to look like preseason next year. UGH.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:35 am
Brisket,
You really think a guy would interview for an OC position and be hired for said position without having some type of playbook to present during the interview process??
You people really do remove all doubt of being complete idiots when you jump on the keyboard lol.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:39 am
Once again a section of the Bucs fanbase proves how they know little to no football…most OC never called plays before becoming an OC there typically is a path that these guys take, same with DCs….you all whine and complain about everything, you sound like quite the miserable bunch. Well, that’s all for now, I for one hopes he crushes it!
Also does a Buc board exist where intelligent fans can gather and talk football?
February 16th, 2023 at 10:51 am
Thank God for men of faith!
February 16th, 2023 at 10:51 am
Brisket,
Not having a playbook is not necessarily a bad thing, nor is the inexperience. He can just use Bruce Arians’playbook and be tutored by Bruce as well.
February 16th, 2023 at 10:53 am
We weren’t going to get an A-lister OC with Tommy gone, this guy has been around Pete Carroll long enough to know what’s up
February 16th, 2023 at 11:02 am
Every first time OC is calling plays for the first time……everyone has to start somewhere……we have had some serious failures (Leftwich) who had experience calling plays..
This guy is grounded…..solid character….let’s see what he can do!!!
February 16th, 2023 at 11:03 am
@Ramblin_Man
Mark Dominik and Rah Morris did. Look up Jeff Jagodzinski.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:13 am
Too early to form an opinion on Canales the OC; we’ll have to wait and see on that.
However, I think it takes a big man to admit he has a problem, tackle it, and overcome it. It takes a person with self-evaluation and self-discipline to overcome such a hurdle. I’ve met quite a few people with drinking problems, and most never overcome it and have seen quite a few lives ruined, sadly.
It speaks to his character and integrity, and that’s a good thing.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:13 am
One thing I think all Bucs fans can agree on, is that we hope this guy is successful. Whether he will be or not is certainly subject to debate. But he is ours now, and all I can say it, hope he is the answer.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:16 am
I don’t know anything but what I’ve read about this guy , he seems to be a man of moral and ethical integrity that connects with the quarterbacks he coaches which is a great start , I wish him luck and God speed.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:17 am
This guy must really believe in his abilities. To give up a tenured career in Seattle and uproot his family to come to a team that is in disarray with a head coach that probably only has one more year in his welcome. Not many assistants survive when the next coach is hired.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:19 am
@Dusthty Rhodes
Every offensive coordinator that ever existed had not called plays before becoming an offensive coordinator. Not sure that’s a major problem
February 16th, 2023 at 11:25 am
This guy is the real deal! Seahawks nation will miss him
February 16th, 2023 at 11:36 am
If you have any respect at all for Pete Carroll, you’ve got to be encouraged by this hire…..Carroll brought him from USC to Seattle and promoted him several times….
I wouldn’t be so fast to predict a ground and pound team……it’s hard to go from last to good…..we’ve got the makings for a passing game and Canales was a QB coach, WR coach and Passing Game Coordinator…….
The other thing that speaks very highly for him is the apparent lack of connection to Licht, Bowles or Arians….yet they still jumped on hiring him.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:50 am
Never called a play at any level.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Dungy is an awful human being.
Didn’t Wilson hire his own coaches?
February 16th, 2023 at 11:58 am
Religion is interesting. He sees an osprey in a tree in a place that would not be unusual, and considers it a sign of divine intervention leading him from USC to Seattle. Hey man, whatever it takes, but I always find these metaphors interesting. And being interviewed by Dungy, this is like manna from heaven. Would have liked a bit more X’s and O’s as opposed to church talk, but still an interesting conversation. Seems like a stand-up guy and obviously has a wealth of experience. As many others have already said, a first time OC will not have much experience calling place. Hoping for his success.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:59 am
Well, I can think that this move could be called a gamble…´
But if we go deeper, this season will be a bigger gamble, so why not have faith on this project and suport it….
No doubt on my mind we like it or nor (I do Like it) this will be a rebuild year…Pay the bills of the biggest party Bucsnation ever had, support trask, let some guys go, trade others (Not ME13 please) and juste be patience…..
Is there any other way?
February 16th, 2023 at 11:59 am
*calling plays
February 16th, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Hope he isn’t here to drive Bucs fans to drink with another awful offensive game.
February 16th, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Great, we hired a chaplain.
February 16th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Buc 56 no worries he can flash it on the scorboard for Trask….UP THE GUT
February 16th, 2023 at 12:04 pm
Ramblin man (blithering idiot) – yes, I fully believe they just hired an OC with no playbook. He can’t just walk out the door with Pete Carroll’s and even if he did it would not mean sht because the guy has never called a single down of football as OC at any level.
You want to be rah rah fanboy go right ahead. Some of us choose to take things as they are, not as we wish them in our childish minds to be.
February 16th, 2023 at 12:06 pm
Brandon Jeff- that sort of wing it approach does not sound like a winning strategy but is certainly on brand for this team. See the lost decade
February 16th, 2023 at 12:12 pm
Guy has been around NFL offenses for a decade, you don’t think a QB coach has input into the game plan? He will be fine calling plays, bigger issue is coaching up a QB who has been in bubble wrap. Jonathan Gannon was getting trashed on Philly radio a year ago and is now a HC. Bucs didn’t exactly have a lot to sell with a potential lame duck HC and no QB. Anything is better than Leftwich, the amount of negativity in this fan base is amazing to me. We just had one of the best 3 years of our franchise’ history. Sometimes you gotta take a step back before you move forward.
February 16th, 2023 at 12:13 pm
Does it seem strange to anyone else that there is no indication whatsoever on the Bucs website of a new hire?
February 16th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
@ragingbrisket
you’re looking for substantive X & O talk from an interview series directed around football and religious faith, thus the name “Beyond the Game”. That’s like going to your local chinese takeout spot to order cannoli & chicken parm
February 16th, 2023 at 12:21 pm
The trainwreck begins in September. I really can’t wait. I love horror stories.
February 16th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
Drop the gun…grab the cannolis
February 16th, 2023 at 12:46 pm
@ HC Grover
Too funny!
LOL!
February 16th, 2023 at 12:55 pm
Anomaly.. Godfather quotes are always relevant to almost every situation.
February 16th, 2023 at 12:59 pm
gp…hadn’t look at the official site. But since it was announced in so many places last night? Yeah, that is strange. Bucs insider video, the newest article, says alot of reports, but no official announcement yet.
February 16th, 2023 at 1:01 pm
Further… as it has been this long, really makes you wonder. The organization couldn’t be so dysfunctional as to have this fall apart, could it?
February 16th, 2023 at 1:02 pm
Dooley- I am not looking for an Xs and Os conversation. Where did you get that from? I referred to this fluff piece on Canales having nothing to do with his ability to succeed in as an OC for this football team. Your analogy is nonsensical.
February 16th, 2023 at 1:06 pm
Dooley
I haven’t seen the interview. Just curious, did he butcher the English language?
That alone is all I care about at this point.
February 16th, 2023 at 1:06 pm
23 unrestricted FA’s on our team. What could go wrong?
February 16th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
mark2001…yikes…and 55 million over cap.
It’ll be alright.
Yikes.
February 16th, 2023 at 1:22 pm
You can bet this move was endorsed by Bowles. The disciple of the man who made the worst call in the history of the NFL. Kindred spirits. Like when Bowles decided to blitz all freaking game against the Rams. Not to mention the last play.
February 16th, 2023 at 1:24 pm
Of course, Tom Brady excluded only makes it 22. They are…
OLB Genard Avery
RB Giovani Bernard
ILB Lavonte David
CB Jamel Dean
S Mike Edwards
QB Blaine Gabbert
DL Will Gholston
DL Akiem Hicks
WR Julio Jones
WR Scotty Miller
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
OLB Carl Nassib
S Keanu Neal
OLB Anthony Nelson
DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
DL Patrick O’Connor
WR Breshad Perriman
TE Kyle Rudolph
S Logan Ryan
DL Deadrin Senat
G Aaron Stinnie
T Josh Wells
February 16th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
We have a toilet bowl and a canal. what can go wrong ?
February 16th, 2023 at 1:26 pm
It would be nice if JL and Dungy had a conversation, followed by Jason letting his headless coich know that Dungy will be JL’s new defensive special assistant, specifically hired to scrutinize the methods the coich uses to run practice, teach assignments, and stress and measure fundamentals
The coich runs a defense that is often shockingly undisciplined and clueless about what to do, who to cover, and how to tackle. Maybe Tony could get to the root cause(s) during training camp.
February 16th, 2023 at 1:36 pm
@Crackwise
Very well spoken, and having gone down the youtube rabbit hole just trying to find out what type of mind Canales is, I ran into a few of videos he’s done speaking at a QB camp in N.Middle Tennesse for FCA(fellowship of Christian athletes). Right now, watching a video of Canales explaining his viewpoints on how to create a culture within a team and right off the bat the focal point of his speech/lecture goes straight into the importance of winning the division being the regular season goal and not looking beyond that. Can’t wait to hear from him officially, but he’s probably working the phone trying to find a QB & WR coach for his staff. Wishing him a really smooth transition so he can get the ground running and if Trask is as smart as he’s reported to be, he’s reached out or will reach out to Canales really soon.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:38 pm
Well I’m glad he’s a devout Christian. That’s the most important thing in his life. I’d have liked to hear more on his coaching philosophy though. We’ll find out soon enough.
February 16th, 2023 at 3:58 pm
What 1st time OC called plays prior to earning the position?
February 16th, 2023 at 4:34 pm
Dooley
AWESOME report friend. Much appreciated, I already liked the guy based on your first report of him and his interview. Now I am excited to have him.
Well done Dooley, WELL FREAKING DONE!!!
February 16th, 2023 at 4:48 pm
Here’s a scenario: the Bucs know Brady will return to play for Peyton. They will sign Wilson once he is released. It is a back room deal with all parties aware of what’s going on.
February 16th, 2023 at 6:13 pm
Hope is not a strategy. We hope Canales will rise to the occasion and out perform expectations. Reality is he never played QB, never developed a young QB, never been an OC, never called plays, and apparently was not one of the Bucs top 3-5 choices. It’s kind of like hoping Bowles’s time as HC of the Jets was an aberration.
I’m starting to feel like we should tear the roster down and start over, trade all of our aging veterans for draft picks, get as young and as fast as we can, and see where we land n 2025.
February 16th, 2023 at 6:18 pm
Well now we know why Dungy was interviewing him lol
February 16th, 2023 at 6:32 pm
Willie G, conspire much?? Hope this one comes true, but it can’t because of the salary cap situation.
February 16th, 2023 at 8:59 pm
Bowles just hired his potential successor.
February 16th, 2023 at 11:42 pm
I think Rod Marinelli is a devout Christian.
He went 0-16 with the Lions in 2008, the first to ever do it.
Clearly one’s devoutness and monotheistic savior choice has a lot to,do with coiching success.
February 17th, 2023 at 3:42 am
Dungy looks more and more like Yoda every time I see his picture.
Love Yoda. Tony — please, help the current Bucs coich to,learn from your mistakes as well as your successes. You got fired for doing what Coich is doing. Tell him about how you went to Indy and accepted what they were good at and worked on what the weren’t good at.
Oh, wait. Too late.
February 17th, 2023 at 12:14 pm
Same belief’s as Carr…. This good religion can grow a great bond.