‘Let’s solve the problems together’: How Bryce Young and Dave Canales helped Panthers end on a high note.

The 2024 season for the Carolina Panthers was a year filled with challenges, growth, and moments of promise. While the team faced the typical ups and downs that come with the development of a young quarterback and a revamped coaching staff, the end of the season showed significant signs of progress. A large part of this newfound success could be attributed to the evolving relationship between rookie quarterback Bryce Young and offensive coordinator Dave Canales, who both played instrumental roles in turning the team’s fortunes around toward the end of the year.

Despite a rocky start, as both young talent and coaching adjustments took time to take shape, the duo of Young and Canales helped the Panthers end the 2024 season on a positive note. Their partnership served as a beacon of hope for the future, illustrating how important it is for a quarterback and offensive coordinator to work in tandem to solve problems and create a high-functioning offense. In this article, we’ll dive into how Bryce Young and Dave Canales helped the Panthers finish strong, and how their collaboration was key to the team’s resurgence.

A Rocky Start to the Season: Struggles and Adjustments

When Bryce Young, the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, was handed the reins to the Carolina Panthers’ offense, expectations were high. However, his rookie season didn’t start off as smoothly as many had hoped. As with most young quarterbacks in the NFL, the transition from college to the professional game was filled with growing pains. Young struggled with consistency in the early parts of the 2024 season, making mistakes in key situations and showing signs of inexperience in his decision-making. The Panthers’ offense, as a result, was inconsistent, and they faced challenges moving the ball efficiently.

The team also went through changes at the coaching level. The Panthers had brought in Dave Canales as their new offensive coordinator, a fresh face tasked with revamping an offense that had stagnated under previous leadership. Canales, who had previously worked with the Seattle Seahawks and helped develop quarterback Geno Smith into a Pro Bowler, was brought in with the expectation that he could develop Young’s game and bring a new energy to the offense. However, even Canales’ experience in Seattle couldn’t fully negate the difficulty of implementing a new system with a rookie quarterback, new offensive linemen, and a receiving corps that was still finding its identity.

The result was a frustrating first half of the season for both Young and Canales. There were moments of brilliance, but also a fair share of mistakes and missed opportunities. However, neither Young nor Canales allowed these early struggles to deter them. Instead, they leaned on their mutual determination and shared philosophy that problems could be solved together—one step at a time.

Bryce Young’s Growth: Stepping Up Under Pressure

By the middle of the season, Bryce Young began to show signs of improvement. He had struggled with turnovers early on, but gradually became more confident in his decision-making. As his comfort in the pocket grew, so did his understanding of Canales’ system. He began to connect better with his receivers and improved his timing on throws, an area that had been inconsistent earlier in the season.

A critical turning point for Young came in Week 9, when the Panthers faced a tough division opponent in the New Orleans Saints. With the Panthers’ season hanging in the balance, Young put together one of his most complete performances of the season. He showcased a poise and maturity beyond his years, making key throws in critical moments and leading the offense with a calm demeanor. The Panthers came away with a much-needed victory, and Young’s confidence began to snowball from that point onward.

What stood out most in Young’s play during the latter half of the season was his ability to stay calm under pressure and make quick decisions. He had started to internalize the lessons learned from Canales, particularly when it came to reading defenses, recognizing blitzes, and spreading the ball around to various playmakers. This newfound maturity allowed Young to grow into the leader that the Panthers needed, showing that he was more than capable of leading the offense through difficult situations.

The Panthers also adjusted their approach to better suit Young’s strengths. Canales leaned into a quicker, more up-tempo passing attack that allowed Young to get the ball out faster and limit the impact of the opposing pass rush. They began to use more short-to-intermediate throws, which played to Young’s accuracy and helped him build rhythm and confidence. By the end of the season, it was clear that Young had grown into a much more efficient quarterback, and his strong finish to the season was a testament to his development under Canales’ tutelage.

Dave Canales’ Influence: A Fresh Approach to Offense

As offensive coordinator, Dave Canales’ primary task was to mold Bryce Young into a franchise quarterback capable of leading the Panthers for years to come. But Canales wasn’t just concerned with individual development—he had a clear vision for the offense as a whole. His goal was to create a fast-paced, balanced offensive attack that could exploit mismatches, put pressure on defenses, and keep opponents off balance.

In the beginning, Canales faced the challenge of integrating his system with Young’s development. He knew that the key to unlocking the offense would be helping Young become more comfortable with the principles of his scheme. Canales relied on his prior experience working with Geno Smith in Seattle, where he helped the quarterback thrive by simplifying the offense early on and gradually building to more complex plays as Smith became more comfortable.

With the Panthers, Canales began by introducing a system that emphasized quick reads and efficient ball distribution. He also focused on creating a diverse offensive playbook that would keep defenses guessing. By midseason, Canales had implemented a mix of run-pass options (RPOs), play-action concepts, and quick-hitting passes that allowed Young to play fast and without hesitation.

One of the biggest changes Canales made was introducing a more up-tempo offense, particularly on third downs and in the red zone. This strategy not only helped keep opposing defenses on their heels but also gave Young more opportunities to dictate the pace of the game. Canales encouraged him to read defenses quickly and make fast decisions, a philosophy that worked wonders as Young became more attuned to the speed of the NFL game.

Perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of Canales’ work was his ability to tailor his offensive philosophy to the players he had at his disposal. While he worked to develop Young, he also found ways to get the most out of the team’s playmakers. Canales orchestrated a run-heavy attack that utilized the talents of running back Miles Sanders, while also finding ways to get wide receivers like DJ Moore and Adam Thielen involved in the passing game. By doing so, Canales maximized the Panthers’ talent pool while also staying true to his vision of a balanced offense.

Collaboration: Solving Problems Together

What truly set Bryce Young and Dave Canales apart as a pair was their ability to solve problems together. From the outset, both men embraced a collaborative approach. Rather than focusing on individual accolades or assignments, they maintained a shared commitment to the team’s success.

In many ways, their partnership mirrored the relationship between a coach and quarterback in any successful system: communication, understanding, and adaptability. Canales provided the structure and guidance that Young needed, but it was Young’s willingness to trust the process and take ownership of his growth that allowed the offense to click.

One of the most notable aspects of their collaboration was the open dialogue between Young and Canales. As Young began to grasp the concepts of Canales’ offense, he became more vocal, suggesting adjustments and offering his insights. Canales, for his part, was open to feedback and allowed Young the freedom to express himself on the field. This created a dynamic of mutual respect that allowed the Panthers’ offense to flourish as the season went on.

There were moments when the offense sputtered, and Canales and Young had to adapt on the fly, but their chemistry allowed them to fix problems in real time. They recognized the value of building on small successes and tackling problems together, understanding that every misstep was simply a learning opportunity to improve for the future.

In the final stretch of the season, their hard work paid off. The Panthers finished strong, winning several crucial games down the stretch, and showed signs of being a well-rounded, competitive unit. Young’s improved performance, coupled with Canales’ strategic play-calling, turned the offense into one of the more unpredictable and effective groups in the league. This wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan run; it was the culmination of weeks of hard work, mutual trust, and problem-solving.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the Panthers

As the Panthers look ahead to the 2025 season, the relationship between Bryce Young and Dave Canales will be one of the key pillars of the team’s success. Both men have proven that they can solve problems together and adapt to new challenges, and that collaborative mindset will continue to be crucial as the team looks to build on their positive momentum.

With Young continuing to develop and Canales’ offensive system taking root, the Panthers are poised to take the next step toward becoming a legitimate contender in the NFC South. The lessons learned in 2024—how to trust each other, how to solve problems together, and how to adapt to adversity—will serve as the foundation for future success.

In the end, the partnership between Bryce Young and Dave Canales was crucial to the Panthers’ strong finish to the 2024 season. Together, they showed that when a quarterback and offensive coordinator work in tandem, they can overcome challenges, solve problems, and create a winning formula. As the Panthers enter 2025 with renewed optimism, their ability to continue this collaboration will be the key to their future success.