Panthers Coach Dave Canales Does Not Hold Back in Evaluating 2024 Defense
Dave Canales was candid in his assessment of the Carolina Panthers’ defense, which struggled severely last season.
The Panthers’ defense in 2024 was one of the worst in NFL history. They set a league record for most points allowed, gave up over 180 rushing yards per game, and simply couldn’t stop opposing offenses. The lack of talent was clear, especially after key players like Shaq Thompson and Derrick Brown went down, leaving the defense even more vulnerable.
However, Coach Dave Canales believes that talent wasn’t the only issue. He emphasized that effort was the much larger problem. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, Canales didn’t hold back in criticizing the defense’s performance. “Chasing the ball — that needs to go way up. The effort and the style of play. I was not satisfied with the style of our defensive football, first and foremost,” he said. “That’s all about effort, strain, and attempts on the ball. We have to step that up. I’ll always be pushing for more.”
To improve their run defense, the Panthers made significant moves, including bringing in safety Trevon Moehrig, a proven tackler, and adding interior players like Bobby Brown III and Tershawn Wharton. Even with these new additions, Canales stressed that better effort is crucial in improving the defense’s ability to stop ball carriers.
While Canales acknowledges that fixing the defense won’t happen overnight with just a few signings and draft picks, he believes that an infusion of talent combined with increased effort will lead to improvement, giving the team a fighting chance.
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