CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After posting a league-worst 13.9 points per game in 2023, the Carolina Panthers turned to former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales to turn the offense, and the team around as its new head coach.
The hope is that Canales, who helped resuscitate the NFL careers of Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith, can do the same for second-year signal caller Bryce Young in Carolina.
To do it, he'll ask Young to get the ball out quickly, use misdirection and motions, and run the ball.
Former NFL and Panthers safety Eugene Robinson joined WCNC Charlotte Sports Director Nick Carboni to break down some of those principles.
Creating misdirection with a jet sweep
Robinson: You bring a fast guy across in motion very fast and try to get the linebackers to bite. Then you bring another receiver on the backside who's going to get the ball on the other side. The beauty of this play is the linemen can free up to get to block on the second level. If you get a guy like WR Jonathan Mingo who's strong and fast, running free down into the secondary.
Getting the ball out quickly
Robinson: "Two-point-six seconds to 2.9 seconds is what you want to be around if you are Bryce Young. With three receivers to the left and one in the slot, the slot receiver runs a nine route up the field. The other two receivers run stick routes. Very quick routes. And on the other side there's a back-side slant. Bryce is going to have two options on the left side, or a back side option to throw the ball. The stick routes happen very, very fast. The receiver on the line of scrimmage runs the deeper route so the other routes can come free."
Running the ball with a zone stretch play
Robinson: "With Bryce underneath the center, they'll run a zone stretch play. There's big personnel in the game, including two tight ends. The running back from a three position and has his choice of where he can hit the hole. It's predicated on how the offensive line is blocking. Typically, they block to the side and that creates a gap. The running back is supposed to find the gap and be one-on-one with that linebacker. This is a really good play for someone like Chuba Hubbard. I like the stretch play because it gives the running back the option."