Dave Canales Discusses Bucs’ Legitimate QB Competition

Dave Canales has addressed this topic before in a press conference in May, but also spoke about the Bucs QB competition in depth on the No Off Days Podcast, which is hosted by Fox 13’s Scott Smith.

“I think it’s partly just respecting the team, respecting what’s best for everyone, and then also respecting Kyle’s process,” Canales told Smith. “You know comes in as a second-round pick with high hopes. Obviously, what a great thing – Tom Brady has been here, so he’s been able to learn from him. But at the same time he’s worked really hard to try to have an opportunity to show what he can do.

“On the flip side too, I think Baker – would he love to just be named the starter? I’m sure. But Baker also knows this his road back, too. From Cleveland to Carolina to L.A. you know he’s been told ‘no’ a couple of times. So for him to be able to come out here to win the team over in his own right, to perform, and to show them that he can be the caliber of quarterback that he believes he can be – I think I owe it to both of them and the team to put the best guy out there.”

Seeing Geno Smith Win Seattle’s QB Competition Inspires Dave Canales

Dave Canales saw first-hand how a drawn-out quarterback competition benefitted Geno Smith last year in Seattle, and helped the Seahawks become a surprise playoff team despite the departure of Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson, who was traded to Denver last offseason. Smith, who was coached by Canales last year, developed into a first-year Pro Bowler, throwing for over 4,000 yards, while also winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

“I shared this in a press conference [last month], going into a season with a true competition like this where both guys are repping, what will you end up having is whoever wins the job, you end up having a really strong quarterback room, which is what I saw happen in Seattle,” Canales said. “Where you have two guys who are in the mentality of ‘I’m prepping to be a starter’ the whole time.

“So there isn’t that let up of like, ‘Well, I’m just the backup.’ Or even though when you’re in a backup role you have to prepare yourself like you’re going to play every week. It’s not the same thing as if I’m going into this preseason game and I’m trying to win a job. I need to do things right. So there’s a heightened awareness and accountability to being able to do your job. And it brings a lot of value to the team.”

Canales detailed how a journeyman like Mayfield, who is on his fourth NFL team in the span of 12 months, can benefit from what a fellow journeyman QB like Smith went through in his journey to Seattle.

“Yeah, I think first of all, I am so grateful that I was in that situation because you really had a guy who had been through a lot and played behind some great players,” Canales said. “He’s had some hard some hard knocks early on. But he was with Eli Manning in New York and he was with Russell [Wilson] for those years … and Philip Rivers with the Chargers. Think about those guys that he played with.

“So he’s just collecting data collecting information about plays, how to get to things, how to plan his week. His personal belief in who he was never wavered through the process even though it had to be hard. We had those hard conversations. For me it was it was more about convincing him to trust the work that he put in, trust his instincts, and things he’s learned over the years to be able to cut it loose.”

As In Seattle Last Year, Tampa Bay’s QB Job Will Be Decided By Turnovers

Geno Smith did cut it loose last year and won the job in the preseason by not turning the ball over to the degree that Drew Lock did. That will be the template Dave Canales uses to determine the Bucs’ starting QB this year.

“What [Smith] showed us pretty quickly was he was going to make smart decisions with the ball,” Canales said. “I think he was going to be like 82% completion in the preseason minus a couple of drops. I mean it was it was a fantastic exhibit of playing within the confines of the scheme. Throwing it to the first open guy in the progression. Not getting bored and taking the completions. Where Drew had a really good camp as well, but he turned the ball over a little bit in the preseason and kind of made the decision for us.

“What people didn’t get to see was this fantastic physical talent in Drew Lock on a day-to-day basis in camp like I did and like Pete did and the offensive staff in Seattle. Where it made you think, ‘Holy smokes – what do we have here?’ So for Geno to be able to put it to bed going – I mean we’re talking about taking that competition into the last preseason game in Dallas. So it was such a great learning experience for me that I can’t help but just appreciate the situation we’re in now.”

Canales has indicated that the quarterback that turns the ball over the least in Tampa Bay will be in the best position to win the job. And that’s what keeps Trask – despite his lack of experience – on an even footing with Mayfield for now.

“Having two guys with real talent to be able to feel out and get them to show the team, show the coaches who it’s going to be,” Canales said. “And they’ll show us.”