Todd Bowles Identifies Growth In His Playcaller
December 18th, 2023
Bucs playcaller Dave Canales.
With 14 real games under his belt as commander of the Bucs offense, Dave Canales isn’t a rookie at his job any longer.
Much like the many Bucs rookies on the field, Canales has been in enough fires that he’s now a veteran in many ways.
No, Canales isn’t a grizzled offensive genius in the mold of Bucco Bruce Arians, but he has seasoning, including in high-pressure December games.
Todd Bowles addressed the growth of Canales today during his weekly sitdown with WFLA-TV sports chief Dan Lucas.
“He has a full grasp of everybody that’s on the field at this time. He doesn’t have to think about calling something; he can call it and spit it right off the top of his head. He’s two or three plays ahead, where at the beginning of the season as a first-time caller he probably wouldn’t be. And the execution is there. He knows who he can trust with what he calls, and it’s a big group effort and Dave is leading the way with that.”
Baker Mayfield’s chemistry with receivers is improved. Canales is better in his role. Rachaad White is improved. The offensive line is a little nastier and playing more together. Chase Edmonds has come alive while Cade Otton looks like a decent starter that’s upped his game.
Canales is performing well. It may not be enough to get the Bucs into the playoffs, but Canales is showing he can lead and develop players.
December 18th, 2023 at 4:44 pm
He ran a couple of bubble screens to Godwin on the left side with success. Then Baker faked the same screen to Thompkins on the right just before he gashed them up the middle with a TD pass to Rachaad. This was an excellent sequence. Bucs and Canales are trending up.
December 18th, 2023 at 4:45 pm
Todd – unleash the hounds! Please. And fix your cover 3 bust. I didn’t think you could do it, prove me wrong!
December 18th, 2023 at 4:49 pm
He’s had 2 good games. Good for him. It’s start.
He still hasn’t beaten a +.500 team.
Let’s not go overboard.
December 18th, 2023 at 4:58 pm
Yeah, let’s make sure we do not get excited….pfffft
December 18th, 2023 at 5:00 pm
open a can of whoop azz on those jags at ray jay on sunday-funday and we can start to hoot and hollar…
#ThenWeveGotSomethingBrewing
December 18th, 2023 at 5:04 pm
You know what really impressed me about the Packers Game was the tackling, particularly of the linebackers. They looked organized and worked as a team….impressive!
December 18th, 2023 at 5:04 pm
I saw some creativity. Hope it continues. This last game showed quite a bit of growth.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:06 pm
To Canales credit, he has been calling better plays and to Mayfield’s credit, he spread the ball around yesterday . I think 6 players caught passes in that game Just want to see if the Bucs can keep it up with Jacksonville and New Orleans 2 teams .500 and above. Even if we lose to Jacksonville, I just want to see how well the Bucs play when playing a team above .500. This game will show how far the Bucs have come. Jacksonville just loss so they will be tough to beat this Sunday
December 18th, 2023 at 5:07 pm
I think this is a bad take. The Ravens and Chiefs have only beaten two +.500 teams. The 49ers have only beaten three +.500 teams. My point is that most winning teams don’t play against other winning teams week after week. Besides that, the Vikings were a +.500 team a week ago. The Saints were a winning team when the Bucs beat them in week 4.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:22 pm
28 points or more for each of the remaining games by our offense = 10-7!
LFG!!!
December 18th, 2023 at 5:41 pm
I’m glad he’s getting better at his job, would suck if he got worse. Hey we’re back to .500, 3 game win streak. Can we get it above .500 the next three games? If we can wouldn’t it be better to keep the band together another year to see if they can keep rising? Might be better then starting from scratch. Next three games will go a long way determining which course the Glazers take.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:42 pm
No one remembers what I have posted in the past. But I do.
December 18th, 2023 at 5:43 pm
First win that was a pleasure to watch most of the other games just looked like bad football, hope they keep it up go bucs.
December 18th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Citrus County no one remembers what you posted and don’t give a rat patuti. Try something positive it will carve it in stone
December 18th, 2023 at 6:13 pm
Yeah, I think the offensive play calls were all Canales and he damn sure got better. Keep it up! Jax looked horrible to me yesterday.
December 18th, 2023 at 6:18 pm
It’s now a one game season. Bear Seattle, cancel Re/Max, Coach!
December 18th, 2023 at 6:20 pm
“He still hasn’t beaten a +.500 team.”
Excellent post D-Rome
December 18th, 2023 at 6:21 pm
BUCS SQUAT Says:
December 18th, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Citrus County no one remembers what you posted and don’t give a rat patuti. Try something positive it will carve it in stone
In the Christmas spirit I wish you the best (moron).
December 18th, 2023 at 6:58 pm
“If Lawrence can’t go on Sunday against the Buccaneers, C.J. Beathard would start in his place.”
If Lawrence doesn’t play…
December 18th, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Hey CC, I remember what you post cos you’re a Bucs FAN (like me) and a biker. I’ve been on Canales’ case all season until the last 2 games. Figures I would miss most of yesterday’s game (the fireworks). KMDA! 10-7, Bucs. Canales, keep up the good calls!
December 18th, 2023 at 7:28 pm
Buc Bonzai wins the “Captain Obvious” award. I got another one for you BB: if it rains outside and I do not have an umbrella…I will get wet
December 18th, 2023 at 8:32 pm
Yesterday at GB was exactly what we needed to see from Canales (finally!) Yes, it was still a “balanced atrack” but the key word is “attack”.
Not only were plays designed to get the ball to our playmakers but to ALL of them so the Packers D couldn’t just take out ME for example. Godwin back to doing what he does best, using White to do what he does best (more runs outside and receiving).
This was probably the first time I saw Mayfield throw the ball with confidence. That tells me he had faith in his line and faith in the play calls.
Bowles seemed to really enjoy what he was seeing yesterday and I feel it may budge him from his stubbornness and tell Canales “Let’s keep doing THAT!!”.
Mayfield led the league in passing yards and TDs, Godwin led all WRs in yards, ME got a tuddie, and everyone contributed.
This is what our Bucs can look like with a sold game plan. I hoped for a 10-win season early on and who’d a thunk it was still possible?
Go Bucs! Keep attacking!
December 19th, 2023 at 5:14 am
One of the reasons you say Baker Mayfield hasn’t beaten a winning team is the Bucs and Mayfield caused these teams to have losing records like the Vikings. The funniest thing is most of you predicted the Bucs wouldn’t win more than 4 games & you are not grateful the Bucs with Mayfield has surpassed that.
December 19th, 2023 at 6:58 am
“Baker Mayfield’s chemistry with receivers is improved. Canales is better in his role. Rachaad White is improved. The offensive line is a little nastier and playing more together. Chase Edmonds has come alive while Cade Otton looks like a decent starter that’s upped his game.”
Nuts on Joe! Everyone is getting things squared away and the offense is looking alot less …high school…and out of sync. Everybody Even Kieft! Who I hear cant catch. LOL
Go Bucs!
December 19th, 2023 at 6:59 am
@smashsquash
That drive you commented on stood out to me too. The play calling and execution was on point. As soon as Baker faked the screen I knew something good was about to happen.
December 19th, 2023 at 11:09 am
How can this not be good enough for the playoff what a stupid comment