Chargers 26, Panthers 3
DAVE CANALES: Saw some improvements in terms of taking care of the ball. We'd like to not have that interception. We would like to be clean with the football. Good step right there.
The run game, I was excited about seeing where we were going to go with the run game. It really came down to third down. Again offensively, defensively, just not acceptable from a coaching standpoint, from a player standpoint. We all have to take our responsibility on the third down so we can get more opportunities to run the ball, to throw our actions, to do those things we really want to do, that we see ourselves heading towards. We really didn't give ourselves a chance there.
I couldn't ask this group to play harder than they did. There was great effort on the field. Everybody was laying out all the way through the whole time, trying to make the most of this game right there.
We come out of the half, get the ball back, just really hoping to start to get some rhythm. We really never found it.
Again, just another frustrating day for the whole group. But my message to the team was just really valuing the way that they attacked the work, the way they gave great effort and did all those things.
We just have a lot to clean up. The focus this week is going to be third down as a group.
Q. On a lot of those third downs, they were throws short of the sticks. Were those the play calls or...
DAVE CANALES: They're built in. But the whole thing, again, we have to evaluate. Just trying to be able to make sure we're challenging the sticks, to put ourselves in situations right there.
Some of it was by design. The plays come off how they will. But in general, we had opportunities on both sides of third downs to make plays. It comes down to making plays.
For sure, as the head coach, responsible for the offense, I have to make sure that I continue to work with our staff to really figure out what those things are that are going to give us a chance to be successful.
Q. How would you describe Bryce's confidence?
DAVE CANALES: Well, I got to look at the film. I got to talk to him some more.
I think as a group, offensively, defensively, this is a group that's working their tails off trying to get things going to try to find our style of football.
I can't make any specific comments about any one player particularly. As you can understand, we're all frustrated and would like to play better football.
Q. Did you ever consider subbing in Andy Dalton for Bryce, given the offensive inefficiency?
DAVE CANALES: Bryce is our quarterback. I'd love to see this thing continue to take the next steps offensively right now.
Q. Will he start next week?
DAVE CANALES: Bryce is our quarterback. We're going to just continue to shore up and fix the things we need to fundamentally, from a scheme standpoint, all those things. These are all valuable reps, all valuable games. We'll learn a lot from this game and hopefully take another step next week.
Q. Besides the turnovers, all the stats are down from last week. What is not working?
DAVE CANALES: Yeah, that's the challenge, right? That's the challenge for us as a staff, is to continue to figure out our guys and put them in the best situation to make plays.
Q. You mentioned the message to the locker room. How long can that message work until they see it kind of translate to the field?
DAVE CANALES: Regardless of the outcome, it's trusting the process. It's going right back to the work. It's watching the film, improving the fundamental things we can control. Again, honing in on things we feel we can execute.
Really the process won't change. It's got to be that type of focus, intentionality. It requires a lot of discipline to continue to stay with the process that we have in place and how to work and go about it.
Until I call a perfect game, until anybody plays a perfect game, we have things to work on as a group. This is a very accountable group from a staff and player standpoint. We'll keep just staying together and working on the issues that we need to address.
Q. Were you surprised the fans booed your team?
DAVE CANALES: Honestly, my focus right now is to try to put our players in the best position to execute. So I just have to keep my focus there. I have to keep my energy with our group, with our guys, to commend them for the things we did well and to correct the things we'd like to see improvement on.
Q. One point on the field there appeared to be some frustration between Bryce and Andy. What did you see there? Did you say anything to that group?
DAVE CANALES: We're all frustrated. It comes down to execution, every phase. We're all frustrated, so...
I think that we're all in the same boat there. We all feel the same way about going back to our work, about controlling the controllables.
Definitely is a frustrating time. The guys are staying together, they're talking through stuff. Emotions and passion runs hard, especially in this league. We got to continue to work to improve.
Q. Talk about Bryce's confidence. How do you keep it up for him after a couple tough games in a row?
DAVE CANALES: It's about the process. Just go back to work regardless of the outcomes. We have to continue to have that discipline, to go back to our fundamentals, to fix our basics, to continue to become us, figure out the things we have to do to be successful.
Q. Interception looked like a similar play to last week. Was it? How did the two receivers end up in the same area?
DAVE CANALES: I got to watch the film to see exactly what happened. A lot happens fast. The result wasn't what we wanted. We'll have more information as we go.
Q. The play call, was it similar, the same play as New Orleans?
DAVE CANALES: No, it wasn't. Same result, so something we have to look at and evaluate.
Q. Did you see any improvements from last week?
DAVE CANALES: I thought the effort was great last week. I thought it was great this week. We challenged the guys. They took the challenge, had a great week of practice. Saw that. Again, talked about the improvement with the ball.
We'd love a zero, a doughnut in terms of the turnovers there. Saw improvement in special teams. Johnny had a fantastic punt inside the five. Put him at the one yard line. Coverage units were solid. Return units were solid. Love that we took a step there. Saw improvement in the run game.
Again, I can't say the run game was great. Didn't give enough opportunities to get back to it. Saw the defense play the run better. A couple plays got out on us. For the most part guys were more disciplined about where they're supposed to be, techniques, running and hitting. Really appreciate the response from the guys that way.
Q. Did you expect growing pains with a new offense? How are things compared to where you thought they were coming out of training camp?
DAVE CANALES: Yeah, I expected us to take time to become us, to figure out the things that we do well. We're still in that process.
I don't like to set really expectations. What I need to do is continue to gather information, gather this game, gather the next one, look at the film, really just continue to fine-tune and to hone into the things we feel like we can execute.
Q. A'Shawn Robinson limped off the field. What is the latest on him?
DAVE CANALES: We don't have anything specific right now. We'll have more in the next couple days.
Q. What about the rest of the injuries?
DAVE CANALES: I think we came out pretty clean. Anybody else to note? Came out pretty clean.
The guys played hard. I'm sure there's going to be some normal soreness from playing a physical game. Have to tip my hat to the Chargers playing the style of football that I would love to get our guys to match that. They had a great day on third down, which gave them the opportunity to continue to get those runs and actions called, the different things.
Tip of the cap to those guys.
Q. You talk about wanting to up your attempts on the ball this week. Is this more of what you're looking for?
DAVE CANALES: Absolutely. It was a great response from the group. It all starts off with them being in position. They did a great job of playing their leverage which gives us a chance to make plays, make punches on the ball, to be in face for interceptions and those things by just doing our job.
Q. 22 yards passing in the first half. Career low for Bryce. Was that his decision on where he was going or the play calling, design of the plays?
DAVE CANALES: It's all of us. It's all of us we have to look at and continue to improve.
Q. Do you think the protection is holding up well enough to take better shots downfield?
DAVE CANALES: I have to watch the film, see how it all came up. I'll have more information for you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports