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Monday, Aug. 25, 2008

Williams, Stewart made it look easy

CHARLOTTE -- Saturday night had nearly turned into Sunday morning by the time DeAngelo Williams came out of the training room, the last one to leave.

"Had to ice my legs," the Carolina Panthers' starting running back said with a shiver and a grin.

That begs the question why, as he and Jonathan Stewart combined to carry the load in their 47-3 win over Washington, both making it look exceptionally easy.

The twin first-rounders combined for 201 yards and two touchdowns in just over a half of work. Williams had 101 yards on nine carries, while Stewart had 100 on 10 attempts.

So while running backs coach Jim Skipper said during training camp the division of labor would be clear after the third preseason game, all that's apparent now is that both are capable.

"Yes, it is," Williams said when asked if it offered a glimpse of the future. "When I'm in or out, the only thing that changes is the jersey number, between 28 and 34. It just keeps the defense on the heels, not only in the run game but in the passing game."

As he's done throughout his time here, Stewart shrugged off questions about the division of labor, but admitted finally being able to run with the starters was something he enjoyed.

"It meant a lot," the rookie said. "Going with the starters, the line we have, they're young, they're good. We got a good line, and having (fullback Brad) Hoover back there brings wisdom to the whole running game. It just makes me comfortable back there to have him back there.

"It was a good experience."

• GETTING HIS FEET WET: Quarterback Jake Delhomme said the Panthers' sloppy start was actually a positive for him, since it gave him an opportunity to work through some things. He threw just one incomplete pass in the preseason opener, and wasn't able to do much in Philadelphia because of the sloppy conditions.

So starting by misfiring on a deep ball to Steve Smith and then offering up an interception was a positive in his mind.

"It was great. We started off a little slow," he began. "For me, I needed to play. I needed to get hit. Let's be honest, the first game I didn't do much, and last week, when it started pouring, the biggest thing was get the snap, get the ball and don't do anything stupid."

• THE BOTTOM LINE: There wasn't much disputing what happened, and you could tell it from the reactions in the Redskins locker room. Fullback Mike Sellers admitted the Skins were "flat-out embarrassed."

When asked what coach Jim Zorn said, veteran linebacker London Fletcher said it didn't take much deciphering.

"We got our butts whooped," Fletcher said. "He didn't really have to say it. We knew it."

"We just got dominated in all three phases of the game," said left tackle Chris Samuels. "It's humbling."

• EXTRA POINTS: Perhaps no player had a better night than kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd. All 10 of his kickoffs made it to the end zone, and even though the Redskins averaged 22.5 yards on eight returns, their average drive start was their own 20-yard line because Lloyd was belting the ball so deep. ...

Delhomme and Matt Moore took all the snaps Saturday, but Lester Ricard and Brett Basanez will get significant work Thursday in Pittsburgh. The starters may only play a series in the preseason finale, so it'll give them a chance to decide which quarterback they want to keep, if either. ...

Other than the third and fourth quarterbacks, the following players didn't see the field Saturday: Wide receiver Sean Bailey, cornerback Darren Toney and tackle Rueben Riley. That's not a good sign with first cuts due Tuesday, as they have to trim five guys from the roster.