Panthers coaches set the tone at voluntary minicamp

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Panthers quarterbacks Andy Dalton and Bryce Young talk with head coach Dave Canales during voluntary minicamp April 24 at Bank of America Stadium. Canales made his on-field debut at a pair of practice sessions.

Carolina Panthers outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu established the tone on the second session of voluntary minicamp.

During a water break on Wednesday, Lukabu prepared for an agility workout that ended with a padded collision. He grabbed two arm pads from the sideline and muttered: “Gonna cut the hell out of these guys. Water break over.”

With one field available as the practice park behind Bank of America Stadium undergoes offseason renovations, head coach Dave Canales enjoyed the proximity between the position groups.

“It's like submarine etiquette, man,” Canales joked during a video press conference.

During two days of on-field workouts, Canales bounded from group to group, studying how coaches interacted with players and how the players reacted to instruction. Not one to stand still too long, Canales acknowledged he intended to have the team feed off his energy.

Following his first practice as an NFL head coach, Canales walked into Tuesday’s press conference and blurted out: "Hey, what's happening? Did you enjoy today as much as I did?
“A really cool day."

Following the head coach’s lead, Lukabu aggressively coached his position group, often using his shoulder or body movements to demonstrate his points.  

Canales described the type of “infectious” emotions he wants the assistants to work with as the Panthers attempt to rebound from an NFL-worst 2-15 campaign. While the defensive staff mostly remained intact, nearly all the offensive lieutenants are new.  

“Let's be in the middle of the drills,” Canales said. “Let’s not be the coaches that have our arms crossed, standing back on the sideline reading a script. Let’s be interactive and developmental-minded, and I have to lead that way.”

Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson, cornerback Troy Hill and kicker Eddy Pineiro were among the notable absences for the start of the voluntary sessions. Canales said Tuesday the players’ reasons were “private.” Linebacker Amare Barno (knee) remains sidelined.  

Canales said he was pleased with the turnout.

“It’s been encouraging,” he said, “just for guys to show up and show excitement about what we’re doing. I think it’s a give-and-take with the coaching staff as far as making it a good time when they’re here.
“Trying to be respectful of their time and maximizing those windows, so it’s not this, ‘oh here we go again with this offseason program,’ we’re trying to give them something to be excited about.”

Practice on eve of the draft

NFL fans are about to get their annual fix of draft-day excitement. Times three.

On the eve of the draft in Detroit, Canales was asked about the Panthers’ first selection, which is slated for the first pick of the second round. They also possess pick No. 39.

Some NFL insiders have linked the Panthers to South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette. During a recent meet-and-greet with several Panthers coaches and the player’s representatives, Legette didn't realize Canales was the coach until after dinner.  

Canales laughed.

“I heard that yesterday,” he said. “I was asking so many questions. I think he thought I was the offensive coordinator.”

Even with the social faux pas, Legette posted on social media he was told by Panthers’ officials that if he was available at No. 33, he was going to be their pick.

Canales clarified the exchange: “Yeah, it was a great conversation. I definitely said that to him. ...”

There was a brief pause.

“And about 50 other guys. It’s actually a lead-in question. ‘If we draft you at 33, what happens next?’ It’s part of the process.”

During the two-day minicamp, quarterback Bryce Young said he’s looking forward and pointed to the acquisition of play-making wide receiver Diontae Johnson and the new-look interior of the offensive line.

“Last year was last year,” said Young, 2023’s No. 1 overall draft pick.

Added Johnson: “I’m here to make him better.”

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