If anything has been clear since the Bucs hired Dave Canales as offensive coordinator, it is that he has energy.

An abundance of energy, actually.

From being a “working manager” in helping move equipment between periods and keeping up with the team’s quarterbacks in drills, there has been a noted atmospheric shift during practice this offseason. Plenty of Bucs players have already commented on his presence being “night and day” from the structure of last season.

How that carries over to game days is another question, but with a new offensive coordinator directing the cannons, it should make for more lively battles in Tampa Bay.

Based on Canales’ comments during his appearance last week on the Pewter Report Podcast, pushing the tempo will be a main focus as the offense looks to improve upon their lackluster 18.4 points-per-game regular season average from 2022.

Bucs’ Offense Will Look Different This Season Under Dave Canales

One of the main subtractions from the Bucs’ offense this offseason was not a player. Rather, it was offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich – Dave Canales’ predecessor.

Bucs OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It was evident last season that Leftwich’s pro-style of offense was dated and predictable. The first-down runs followed by screen passes and short throws made for a frustrating watch on Sundays, especially with the level of talent on the roster.

A changing of the guard from Leftwich to Canales will drastically change how the offense is run. Instead of running the ball just to cross it off the playsheet, the switch to a zone scheme reminiscent of the Seahawks and Rams will be implemented. This should allow for bigger gains and more creative play design, which will open up play-action and create more favorable passing outcomes.

What does this mean for the tempo of the offense?

Instead of a slower-pace offense lacking the ability to create big plays, the Bucs should be able to drive the ball more downfield and push the tempo. Canales has already alluded to the quarterback of the offense being the “point guard,” and the team would do well to have a John Stockton or Steve Nash-esque distributor find Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and company on a variety of routes.

“Tempo will always be a big part of it, and the reason is it just it reduces the defense to what they can do,” Canales said. “They just can’t get to really specific calls.

“When you’re right back on the ball in 12 personnel or 11, whether it’s first to second [down] or second to third [down], especially second to third where a lot of times they’ll do a full hockey sub line, you know? And bring the big boys out there or the fast guys out there, plus two more DBs. So all you’ve got to do is catch them once, and they’re in their basic package. You’re running a simple play versus a simple coverage.”

Having Dave Canales Lead The Offense Is “A Breath Of Fresh Air”

Always one for a thorough answer, Dave Canales revealed that having tempo means that the defense lacks the ability to get comfortable and is always on its toes. When this happens, that means that the offense does not necessarily need to win solely on talent every time but can also beat their opponent through situational football and being strategic with in-game adjustments.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen and LG Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

This is refreshing to hear, as the offense last season relied on simply overpowering their matchups and a 45-year-old Tom Brady setting not only a career-high for passing attempts but an NFL record of 733.

Don’t just take our word for it, either. This is also something that Bucs right tackle Luke Goedeke has also seen too.

“I’m extremely excited,” Goedeke said recently on the Pewter Report podcast. “It’s like a kid on Christmas morning getting an offense like this. We’ll be running the ball a lot more, being able to showcase athleticism, getting guys in space, getting guys moving and everything. It’s definitely a breath of fresh air because this new offense is definitely more offensive line-friendly than drop-back passing 50-60 times a game. It kind of puts a lot of strain on an offensive line when the defensive line just has to pin their ears back every game. It’s definitely night and day already. 

“You can already see in different – wide receiver groups, tight end groups, running back groups – how relieved they are that there’s a change-up in the offensive scheme.”

Dave Canales On Having Tempo: “It Makes Football Easier”

With the offense being more player-friendly and especially quarterback-friendly, it should make life easier for everyone involved.

Bucs WRs Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, QB Baker Mayfield and OC Dave Canales – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“It makes football easier for your quarterback, makes it easier for the skill players,” Dave Canales added. “And then if you catch them off guard one time and they’re trying to sub, you can take advantage of free plays. Snap it while they’re trying to get off or on the field. It happens every once in a while. It doesn’t happen a lot because they’ll usually hold the subs if they see us going fast. But you know, it just keeps them from being really tailor-made to what you’re trying to do.”

His last sentence is a seismic shift from what often occurred last season. Defenses seemingly became more prepared for the Bucs as the season went on, as the offense often became mundane after the first series.

Defenses did not have to rush to get into position. In fact, there were times opposing secondaries were at the line of scrimmage disrupting screen passes. That should all change under Canales.

All signs point to the offense hitting the refresh button and updating to a program that has found success around the league. Connecting it back to the NBA once more, a more up-tempo style of offense should create more opportunities to put points up on the board. It will also catch defenses off guard week-by-week when they study the team’s offense.

“So it gets them out of … and their players when they’re studying these reports, and it says when this formation comes and the guy is six inches outside the numbers, and the tight end is off, and the back’s looking to the left it’s this play … they can’t do that if you go fast,” Canales said. “If you go fast, they’re just like, “Hold on – what did you say? What was the call again?’ Set, hut. It just takes the players out of their mind.”

As he looks to lay the foundation, one should expect Canales to design a system that is not only favorable to play in, but something more enjoyable to watch.

Watch Dave Canales On The Pewter Report Podcast

Check out the latest Pewter Report Podcast with Special Guest: Bucs OC Dave Canales by clicking the link below.