Dave Canales, head coach of the Carolina Panthers, described Friday’s training camp session as a “dominant” day for the defense. Despite his offensive background, Canales praised the defensive unit for its performance.
“Defense, great response today, a dominant practice for the defense,” he said. “Some turnovers, some beautiful hits, guys squaring the offensive guys up, showing each other the type of physical play that they’re expecting from each other, which I love.
“I could go on and on, but it was just a lot of physical play. That’s what we need, and the offense needs to be able to be prepared for that kind of physical nature of the game. So, I love the finish of the practice.”
The practice featured several notable plays including Jaycee Horn intercepting Bryce Young and Chau Smith-Wade ending practice with an interception in the end zone. Other defensive highlights came from Trevin Wallace, Tre’von Moehrig, Patrick Jones II, rookie Lathan Ransom, Jacoby Windmon, and Thomas Incoom.
Canales acknowledged that while this is positive for defenders trying to earn roster spots or more playing time, it also indicates areas where the offense needs improvement. He discussed how practices are scored and emphasized attention to detail as a key goal.
“I’m just looking for the response, and it’s the consistency, right?” Canales said. “What happens is in games, you could be having a dominant day, but you give up one go-ball for a touchdown and it’s a big swing in momentum, a big shift. So it’s that consistency of play that we’re looking for, but I thought they upheld that. I thought they continued to play the run game. And challenge the run game and then challenged the pass game, came up with some turnovers.
“Then what I’ve been noticing the guys are doing is the defense is getting together before every team drill. They’re kind of coming together, talking, challenging each other, then they go out there and call it up again, you know, and so it’s just—I love that refocus. That’s what it’s going to take during games. I expect them to kind of have that chemistry to come together in between drives. Let’s go out and do it again. How many times can we just do right longer? Can we finish halves? Can we finish games that way? So I love the mentality of it right now.”
On offense, quarterback Bryce Young called his group together after what Canales called a slow start to practice; running back Chuba Hubbard also challenged teammates at day’s end.
“It hasn’t been necessary really up until today,” Canales said about Young’s leadership move. “I think as we started we accumulated three great days of practice had a reset had a player day off and you kind of come out and the guys are kind of easing their way into practice. And so the challenge from Chuba at the end of practice was guys we can’t afford to come out and feel our way through this thing—we have to be ready to go when that first horn blows for two hours we’re working and to have those habits.
And Bryce I think just sensed it—he hadn’t had to up until this point but I think he could sense just not enough urgency so we went through that first rack came back out and took 10 or 15 seconds to kind of tell the guys let’s go it’s time to go—so I love that.”
Canales also announced plans regarding preseason participation: most starters will play in both of their first two preseason games before decisions are made ahead of their third contest. The Panthers will conduct joint practices with upcoming opponents—the Cleveland Browns next week followed by sessions with Houston before facing them in preseason action.
“We have a mix of veteran players but it’s predominantly a pretty young team,” he said. “And I just can’t pass up the opportunities. The reps in game are valuable but I think that it goes to the night before when guys know they’re going to go out there they’ve got to make a decision to play football—and so it starts the night before with prep—you start thinking about your plan taking care of your body making sure you get your rest—you get up it’s your nutrition plan in morning body readiness your full game day routines—those are so valuable.
“We have three opportunities to do that in this preseason and I just really want to take advantage of that plus it’s a bunch of new guys playing together on defense and a couple new guys on offensive side—we have little more continuity there—but I just love thought them going through plan having first-15 type thought process taking advantage preparation.”
He referred back to last year’s approach as experimental but has decided instead on following patterns he observed under Pete Carroll in Seattle—giving regulars work early in preseason contests.
Injury updates included Nic Scourton missing time due to what Canales called “a mild hamstring,” while DJ Johnson left practice with “a hip thing” set for further evaluation later Friday afternoon. Thomas Incoom saw increased snaps due these absences; after starting last year on Carolina’s practice squad before joining special teams midseason he has continued developing under outside linebackers coach AC Carter.
“I think Thomas has just taken coaching points becoming rusher,” Canales said.”He’s very physical by nature…with his speed he could help us…he could be really dynamic presence…and then I just love how physical he’s playing run game as well.”
Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow (hamstring) remained sidelined; cornerback Mike Jackson returned after recovering from toe injury.
Pro Bowl guard Robert Hunt drew praise from Canales for ongoing self-improvement despite already being considered among top players at his position.”Robert is amazing—the size talent quickness flexibility,” said Canales.”He’s really intelligent guy he’ll be first one come up here tell you there technique things wants work on…if you play with technique…that’s when you really take next steps…
“And I just love thought regardless where our players are at there’s always more out there for you there’s always learning curve we’re constantly growing as coaches as players we’re constantly looking for that so I love fact he’s challenging himself.”
Tight end James Mitchell stood out during Friday’s session catching multiple passes—including one across field splitting defenders—that prompted questions among observers about his previous NFL experience (Detroit Lions). Mitchell appeared in 30 games over three seasons with Detroit recording 13 catches; last year he spent most time on their practice squad before joining Carolina amid injuries at tight end position such as Tommy Tremble’s recovery from back surgery.
“(It’s) trust factor,” continued Canales.”So level trust continues increase when he’s there with Andy or Bryce whoever it is if you’re doing right coverage says ball goes there he’s making plays…
“He had couple opps early camp couldn’t quite come up with them but he’s been doing solid job run game pass game.”
Canales also commented positively on new digital down-and-distance technology recently introduced by NFL noting its potential benefit: “I think it could be really valuable for me as head coach…getting information quickly does help flow game.”
