New Carolina Panthers head coach and offensive shot-caller Dave Canales has a reputation for turning offenses and quarterbacks around. He did with the Seattle Seahawks and Geno Smith, and he did it with Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, in his new role, Canales has to build the NFL’s most broken offense in 2023 into something presentable for 2024.
Free agency brought guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis into the fold, along with offensive tackle Yosh Nijman. The draft added first-round South Carolina receiver Xavier Legette and Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders to a group that was less than underwhelming in 2023.
But when you talk to Canales about the pieces on his offense, it’s easy to see that the addition he might be most excited about is second-round rookie running back Jonathon Brooks from Texas.
“Our system calls for a back that can be used, of course, just in a traditional way, hand it to him,” Canales said after Brooks was selected. “Then, how can we get this player in space? Being able to get him in perimeter screens and checkdowns. We got a really cool empty package where we use the backs, flex them out to get matchups, things like that.”
“He’s a bigger back, he’s got range. There’s so much that he brings from a versatility standpoint, that’s probably the biggest thing that stood out and then just vision, patience, contact balance, acceleration, like he’s got it all, he’s the best back in this class.”
Tape don't lie. https://t.co/9n2ndguPU3 pic.twitter.com/3yo1X7yclR
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) May 6, 2024
Last season, Buccaneers running back Rachaad White had the NFL’s second-most running back snaps (337) and carries (299), behind only Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers in both cases. So, Canales has already made it clear that he has no issue riding one back in an old-school sense if that back has all the attributes he needs to run his offense.
And make no mistake — as Canales said in a recent appearance on The Season with Peter Schrager, the ground game will lead the way.
“It all starts with the run game and having Robert [Hunt] and Damien [Lewis] in there because I love our backfield. Adding Jonathan, an opportunity came to us with a really talented guy. And again, depth, talent, just keep adding key pieces. Challenge your roster. That’s what this draft and this offseason was all about. I feel confident that we’ll be able to have a successful run game, which, for me, opens everything else up.”
Well, if Canales already is to the point where he’s imagining Brooks in his empty packages, we should not be surprised to see the rookie on the field to a meaningful — and impactful — degree.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas
PLUSES
— Can win in gap and inside zone concepts, but Brooks is an expert outside zone runner with quick vision and reaction to gaps, and the speed and acceleration to pick up extra yards outside.
— Vision and acceleration extends to the second… pic.twitter.com/kPfvtnxvzY
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) April 10, 2024
