First day of school, but a new vibe for Panthers offseason program

Apr 21, 2025 at 05:02 PM

Darin Gantt

Carolina Panthers Volunteer Workouts are held on Monday, Apr. 21, 2025 at Bank Of America Stadium, in Charlotte, NC.

CHARLOTTE — Things are a little different this year. Fewer introductions and more familiar faces.

But the first day of the voluntary offseason program always has some common threads.

When the Panthers opened their offseason program Monday morning with a quick team meeting and some conditioning work, it was a recognizable vibe for the veterans around here.

Head coach Dave Canales is doing this for the second year in a row is obviously the biggest difference.

"Every year kind of presents its own goals, challenges, relationships," said veteran long snapper JJ Jansen, who is entering his 17th season here. "So every first day of school feels both exciting and new and also very repetitive like we've done it every single year. So it's a little bit like the day you get the rubric and the curriculum, and you're just sort of setting the tone, and getting all the materials lined up, and meeting all your friends, the new kids in town, the whole bit.

"And so I think for guys that have been here, it will probably feel like we've done it before. So you're trying to set a baseline where everyone's comfortable and ready to roll.
You get guys sort of comfortable because by tomorrow, it'll be real, and the meetings, the training, and all that stuff kind of pick up."

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Some of that instruction is as simple as pointing the new guys to their locker, showing them the training room, the kind of stuff that you have to do after a busy free agency, and introducing a bunch of guys who are walking into Bank of America Stadium for the first or second time.

But this is also the beginning of a new year, and Canales is gearing up. Last year, he came in like a politician, shaking lots of hands and introducing himself to an entirely new roster. This year, he knows most of them, so there's a little more depth. The first meeting went a little longer than it did last year, as he covered a little more ground.

But mostly, this is the time for guys to come in, get a workout in, and work their way into a long season. The way the Panthers finished last year, making some real strides on offense, helps. And so does adding so much help on defense in free agency. But this is not quite the time to see that on the field, not for a few weeks.

During the first phase of the voluntary program, the hours are limited, and they're not really doing football stuff. Running and conditioning, getting a lift in. Position coaches aren't even on the field with players, just the strength and conditioning and wellness staff. Coupled with an offensive or defensive meeting, and that's the day, as players can be out the door around 1 p.m.

Jansen said that other than noticing the first meeting went a little longer, it felt familiar and it felt comfortable.

"We know his style. He's more comfortable in the role. So you can go a little bit deeper, knock a few more things out because I'm sure like any ball coach, he wants to get to the Xs and Os and the scheme and all that stuff," Jansen said of Canales. "I don't think any teacher loves rubric day. I don't think they love the curriculum day. I think last year, he spent a little bit more time slowly laying everything out just so he didn't overwhelm the guys. This year, he's able to fly through some stuff.

"It'll probably feel like a lot to the new guys, but to the guys that were here last year or know him from Tampa or Seattle, they know what he's going to say, and we can kind of hit the ground running a little faster."