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+--- Thread: Idzik will call plays (/showthread.php?tid=2308)
Idzik will call plays - Ladypanther - 02-24-2026
Canales changed his job description and removed the play-caller title. As he announced earlier on Tuesday, that role will now be handled by offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.
"Can I affect our whole team in a more positive way?" Canales said as to the impetus. "And this is an opportunity for me to do that."
Giving up the play-calling himself was admittedly a hard decision for Canales. There's a bit of ego to it, the coach concurred, and accepting that he could better serve his team in a way different from how he'd first believed.
"It was extremely difficult for me because I do enjoy calling plays," Canales said. "It's a part of the game that really thrills me. I get a lot of gratification out of watching the plan unfold on Sundays, and just the high-stakes moments like those are incredible moments to be able to make critical calls and to put guys in positions to give ourselves a chance to win, and so I certainly didn't want to give that part up."
There have been plenty of coaches who took on both responsibilities, handling play-calling and head-coaching duties in-game. But as both Canales and the Panthers continue to grow and improve, the coach knows he needs to be more available.
https://www.panthers.com/news/inside-dave-canales-decision-to-turn-over-play-calling
The recent hiring of former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was an indicator that changes were likely coming. Canales and Bevell were together seven seasons on Pete Carroll’s staff in Seattle, where Bevell was the offensive coordinator for the Seahawks’ back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2013 and 2014.
Bevell is expected to have a major role in Carolina’s offense and can serve as a sounding board for Idzik.
Idzik has served as the primary designer of the Panthers’ offense since following Canales from Seattle to Tampa to Charlotte. However, the 34-year-old has never called plays in a regular-season game, although Canales allowed him to handle those duties in preseason games the past two years.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7068047/2026/02/24/panthers-dave-canales-play-calling-brad-idzik/
RE: Idzik will call plays - OceanPanther - 02-25-2026
Other than the fact that Brad Idzik has not called plays ( except in 2 preseason games ) I think many fans wanted for Canales to give up the play calling.
Since we don't know what Idzik is capable of ,,That's not saying we'll see improvement in scoring points . In 10 games last season we scored less that 15 points. In two more games we scored 17 or less . That's 12 out of 18 games ,
So, I'm hoping for improvement on the offensive scoring and not putting the defensive in bad situations with short fields to defend.
RE: Idzik will call plays - Ladypanther - 02-25-2026
(02-25-2026, 11:34 AM)OceanPanther Wrote: Other than the fact that Brad Idzik has not called plays ( except in 2 preseason games ) I think many fans wanted for Canales to give up the play calling.
Since we don't know what Idzik is capable of ,,That's not saying we'll see improvement in scoring points . In 10 games last season we scored less that 15 points. In two more games we scored 17 or less . That's 12 out of 18 games ,
So, I'm hoping for improvement on the offensive scoring and not putting the defensive in bad situations with short fields to defend.
Bevell is there to help him....makes me feel better about that.
RE: Idzik will call plays - Firstchance - 02-25-2026
I don’t want to try and make “calling plays” to not be important, it most certainly is. But a couple points, overall pre game planning is so very important. That not one person, that is a team of persons… then à head coach is wearing a head set and has the opportunity to spend as much time as he wants or needs with both coordinators…plus… Bevel is there to help him….makes me feel better about that…100% LP.
RE: Idzik will call plays - PantherFan007 - 02-28-2026
I'm thankful, at least, that Dave Canales isn't calling plays as the Head Coach. He has other things, bigger pictures, to oversee than to have his focus on basically one thing. As for Idzik, I have zero idea and zero expectations as to what his playcalling will be like, but I can say this, if he doesn't perform, they will have a new OC the following year.