How Panthers rookie camp showed Dave Canales’ trust in his offensive coordinator
It’s true that rookie minicamp last week offered the Carolina Panthers a first glimpse at Monroe Freeling and Lee Hunter and Chris Brazzell and so many others.
But it’s also true that the sessions were useful for the team’s coaches, too.
Particularly offensive coordinator Brad Idzik.
Panthers head coach Dave Canales gave Idzik a lot of responsibility over rookie minicamp, as local media observed Friday and Saturday. That was true everywhere you looked. Idzik spent a bulk of the on-field time working with quarterbacks Haynes King and Brendon Lewis and also a ton of time with the receiving corps. Idzik was screaming and jumping and teaching while Canales mostly observed from afar, taking in the entire practice as opposed to diving into one position group.
For Canales, there was a reason behind all that.
Reasons, in fact.
“He’s got a lot of familiarity with the wide receiver play,” Canales said of Idzik. “But getting into the quarterback room — especially now that he’s calling plays and really being in charge of the offense and the implementation of it — it’s just to make sure that the language is on the same page. And the intent of what we’re trying to do is there.”
Canales added: “It’s also a growth opportunity for Brad, to kind of press into the training of a quarterback. I had great mentors who taught me. It’s something that I’d love to continue to have conversations for Brad, (so he can) continue to look at the whole group.”
This all isn’t necessarily surprising. After all, the head coach entering his third season at the helm in Carolina said over the NFL Scouting Combine that he was relinquishing his play-calling duties to Idzik on game days. The two coaches have had a good relationship for a long time: Canales, a disciple of Pete Carroll, and Idzik worked together in Seattle and in Tampa Bay and now in Carolina. Their jobs and their league-wide stocks have elevated with each move. This is particularly true for Canales, who arrived in Charlotte with a reputation for rejuvenating quarterbacks (see: Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield).
And going into their third year in Carolina, the two have been deeply collaborative. Canales might have sequenced the plays on Sundays, but Idzik was the offense’s “architect,” Canales said.
So even if such added responsibility is expected, it’s notable nonetheless. It’s another step in the development of Idzik. It’s a shift in role for Canales. But it’s also more.
Rookie minicamp, in fact, presented opportunities for all the Panthers’ assistant coaches. Assistant quarterbacks coach Mike Bercovici presented on some of the Panthers’ offensive philosophies last week. Offensive assistant Keyshawn Colmon installed some pass plays. Offensive quality control coach Dean Petzing worked with the offensive line, putting in protections. Defensive quality control coach Ilir Emini was running the coverage unit on defense. Mayur Chaudhari was working with the outside linebackers.
The list goes on.
“You think you have it all figured out,” Canales said, smiling and reflecting on his time as an assistant coach when he presented in front of the team. “And you got this process, and you have your outline, and 20 minutes go by, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I forgot to say this or that.’ It’s just part of the process of our developmental approach — not just our players but also our coaches.”
The offense made important strides in the second year with Canales and Idzik. But there are still many questions. Quarterback Bryce Young saw less volatility in 2025 and more frequent flashes of brilliance, but can he put together a full season at the top of his game? Yes, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was Offensive Rookie of the Year and, yes, Jalen Coker emerged, but can the receiving room make another needed jump? The team invested a lot of young talent in the offensive line in the draft — but will that help come quickly enough as parts of the line are already battling injury and age?
If rookie camp is of any indication, Idzik will be charged with answering these questions. Canales will be, too, of course. Every buck stops with the head coach.
But it’s safe to say Idzik’s role is only rising.
“This is the third rookie minicamp in a row where Brad’s called (the plays),” Canales said. “And that goes with that developmental thought process. He’s done such a great job this spring of implementing our system, looking at our self-scout, trying to find wrinkles to bring value to what we’re doing and then just refining the things that are ‘core’ for us.”
