Panthers head coach Dave Canales expressed both optimism and frustration after his team’s 20-3 preseason loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday. The starting offense and defense played two series each, with the offense failing to gain a first down and the defense giving up a touchdown.
“I just wanted them to go out and earn another series,” Canales said. “And I just really felt like, with giving them two shots to do it and it not coming up, I wasn’t going to just put them back out there to kind of say, ‘Hey, let’s just play some more football.’
“That, paired with the great work we got two days ago, and you know I just kind of looked at it that way. I felt like the work we got against the Texans in the practice was good enough for me to kind of look at that and wanted them to get the prep and get ready for the game.”
Despite solid preparation earlier in the week, Canales acknowledged his team did not meet expectations during the game. The Panthers converted only one of ten third downs, committed seven penalties totaling 58 yards—including some that negated positive plays—and averaged 3.4 yards per rush on 23 attempts. There were also dropped passes, missed connections between quarterback Bryce Young and receiver Tetairoa McMillan, two interceptions thrown by Jack Plummer, a missed field goal attempt, and an unblocked hit on backup quarterback Andy Dalton that led to him leaving for medical tests.
“A lot of good work out there, but to me, I think to kind of sum it up, it was a day of almosts,” Canales said. “So I just challenged the group. I was like, are we going to be almost good? Are we going to make the plays when they’re there to be made?
“One for 10 on third down, JT Sanders misses a ball, Bryce hit him right in stride. We got a double move, TMac’s probably going to score a touchdown. We didn’t block Danielle Hunter on the right, he hit Andy in the elbow. And then, Jack Plummer, two interceptions. That makes it a really difficult day.”
Canales emphasized his belief in his players but called for improvement.
“I’m excited about our group,” he said. “I’m excited about the talent that we have out there, but can we play together, and can we make it come alive? And we didn’t do that to our standard, and to my standard today.”
Looking ahead at practice sessions early next week before their final preseason game against Pittsburgh—a match where starters are unlikely to play—Canales sees value in using these practices as key evaluation opportunities.
“So those practices really become so valuable,” he said. “Because it’s the last time we have this whole group together, and we’re able to get the intensity that we want going into the season. I feel great about our conditioning level. I feel great about the physicality of the play. I don’t feel great about our execution of the basics because it’s not showing up consistently for us, and there are flashes.
“I’m excited about our guys. I’m excited about our people, but that’s where leadership comes in, and when are we going to take those steps to count on each other, and to be able to make those plays when they’re available?”
