CHARLOTTE — Dave Canales issued a challenge on Monday to himself and to his entire offense: push the ball downfield more.

It's something they've wanted to do all season. On Sunday against the Saints, the lack of explosive plays (two for the Panthers, compared to eight for New Orleans) was the difference in the 17-7 loss.

"There were some really important drives our defense got us opportunities back," recapped Canales on Monday. "And we appreciate that; now it's time for the offense, let's go. Let's make sure that we can have this balanced offense that we visualize together."

The challenge and responsibility starts with Canales himself, the coach said. He is the offensive play caller in game.

"I take on everything that I can, as the head coach," Canales shared. "It's my responsibility, certainly, with the offensive side of the ball and making sure that we have a cohesive offense that makes sense, that has balance, that attacks the defense the right way.

"So when we have a game like yesterday, I take it personal first and foremost."

But the responsibility also lies with those executing the deep shots when they are called.

"We just got to win our matchups," said rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan. "That's really what it comes down to, like I said, we just got to be better."

McMillan has been a considerable factor in the times Carolina has pushed the ball this season. He has received 12 deep targets and has 20 receptions that were explosives, either through the air or with yards after the catch.

While defenses are tilting their coverage towards the second-highest productive rookie this season thus far, the blueprint of how he and Bryce Young have created those explosives can be applied to the rest of the unit. It can start with possibly getting the ball rolling by looking for routes conducive to YAC (yards after catch).

"That could be a strategy as well," Canales conceded to the idea. "There were some good throwing and catching on some of the short intermediate stuff.

"But I do know you want to stretch the field at times, and we get these vertical shots called, that we try to make sure that we're attacking the right coverages, and then from there it's just confidence and me to you factor and working on that chemistry that happens in practice."

And as McMillan added, that means understanding it's also not all on the quarterback.

"We can't point the finger and put it on Bryce; it's a collective effort," preached McMillan. "It comes down to, as well as the receivers, we got to be able to make Bryce's job easier. We can't just be possession catchers, you know; we got to be able to get some yards after catch, create explosives for ourselves.

"So, no, it's not on Bryce at all."

In nine games this season, Young is averaging 5.6 yards per pass attempt, lower than his 6.6 yards per attempt in the second half of last year when he returned to the lineup.

The danger can arise from trying to do too much at times, searching for a play that isn't there, or being determined to create an explosive play when another play is the better option. It's the disciplined part that comes with everyone doing their "one-eleventh."

"You got to do your job," said McMillan. "You can't try to do other people's jobs.

"It all comes down to the defense that, you know, a shot called doesn't always mean a shot taken. So, we got to read the defense and depending on what they give us, and then we take the best opportunity that we get."

David Moore has been playing in this offense for a long time and was brought to Carolina with Dave Canales to serve as a knowledgeable veteran in the room and a reliable option for a young quarterback. He's been sidelined since Week 4 with an elbow injury, but has remained a fixture in practice and on the sideline for home games.

He knows what it takes to make Canales' playbook come alive, and he knows what pieces the Panthers have on hand.

"I think the only thing missing is consistent passing, which we have the guys, we have the QB to do it. We got the (offensive) line to sustain the blocks. We got everything," promised Moore. "We just got to connect all the pieces, to take time, which we have little time, but we'll get there with the time we have.

"It's going to take everybody on the offense. We got everything we need. We got the run game we need, so it'll happen. Just be patient."

The run game, as Moore mentioned, is crucial to making the pass game come alive. But during games like Sunday's, when a defense is determined to shut down the league's third-leading rusher, Rico Dowdle, the pass game has to be able to pick up the slack, stretch defenses, and keep them honest.

"Our run game is really good and a lot of teams that we're going to face from here on out are going to play that, you know, they're obviously going to play to our strengths," noted McMillan. "And, it just comes up to us on the outside, just winning our matchups when the play comes, you just got to make it. That's all it is."

So how does that happen? Especially considering with Moore sidelined, the entire receiving corps on game days is currently comprised of rookies and second-year guys?

"Chemistry, timing, it's everybody," said Canales. "It's protection-wise, it's finding the right opportunities coverage-wise, and then it's just, you know, the timing and rhythm, me-to-you factor, getting those guys down there and giving them opportunities to make those plays.

"We'll have to just keep growing as a group and make sure that we're the time on task, the trust factor, the me-to-you factor, all those things grow…all the things and it happens in practice and we've had these things come alive in practice and we got to make sure that they make it to the game."

The Panthers have seven games left in the regular season. Of their remaining opponents, four have passing defenses that currently rank from 18th to 24th in the league. The Saints are currently 10th overall. But the challenge only gets tougher next Sunday. Carolina's next opponent, the Falcons, have the No. 1 passing defense in the NFL.

Moore is still confident in what's to come.

"It'll happen for us," Moore promised. "We'll have a big receiver game coming up. I know it. I feel it."