Smith continues to feel left out

By Darin Gantt - daringantt@carolina.rr.com

CHARLOTTE -- Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith didn't back away from his “no longer an asset,” statements from Sunday. When quarterback Jake Delhomme was asked, he essentially agreed with Smith.

Smith left Tampa Bay frustrated, even though the Panthers won their second straight game, 28-21. Mostly, he was cranky because he caught one pass for 4 yards and was an afterthought on a day when the Buccaneers dared the Panthers to run — and Carolina took them up on it. With the Bucs playing seven in the box to keep Smith from beating them deep, the Panthers ran 48 times for 267 yards, while passing just 17 times.

So Smith had a burr under his saddle, something Delhomme understood.

“Steve and I talked,” Delhomme said Wednesday. “You've got to understand, we all know him. This is a competitive guy, who has a drive and a fire like no other. I'm sure he was frustrated. I get frustrated, too. Because I'm trying to get him the ball, too, because I know what he can do with it in his hands. I can understand that, and he knows that. It was a little frustrating for him.

“But today, you guys were out at practice, this guy practiced at a different level today. It was something out there today. He's channeling that energy, that fire, whatever it is to getting better. Because we all need to get better in the passing game.”

That's been the issue for the Panthers, as it has been the last aspect to display competence this year. Aside from a decent showing in a loss at Atlanta, the Panthers have been bad when it's time to throw, ranked 29th in the league in passing yards per game (158.8).

Delhomme's tied for the league lead in interceptions with 10, and he's the 33rd-rated passer in a 32-team league. That's driven Smith's stats south as well. After he was the only player in the league to average more than 100 yards per game in 2008, he's reeling in 51.8 yards per game this year. His 21 catches are tied for 49th in the league, his 259 yards 51st.

“That wasn't heat of the moment — I felt what I felt,” Smith said of Sunday's remarks. “Am I going to apologize or go back on what I said? No, that's at the moment, and that's how I felt. I don't think I was disrespectful. I don't think I disrespected anybody. I actually don't believe that I singled out any one particular person.

“That's how I was received by the individuals that I had conversations with, an open dialogue. Monday is Monday, Tuesday was Tuesday, and here we are on Wednesday. ... Today's Wednesday, get over it. We can go word for word and ask me how I feel. Today is Wednesday, and we're preparing for Buffalo.”

Smith said he wasn't sure why things were so stagnant right now. The Panthers have gone through such stretches in other phases, but the defense and the running game have shown evidence of progress. Not so the passing game, as Delhomme hasn't hit a wide receiver for a touchdown all year.

Asked if he knew of ways to get himself more involved, he deferred: “I'm not sure if it's fair for me to sit here and play offensive coordinator because I'm not an offensive coordinator.”

Asked if he saw a difference in Delhomme, Smith admitted there's no easy answer to this situation.

“I haven't either I don't think,” Smith said. “It's new territory, unforeseen territory, so it's an opportunity to grow and find some things out about yourself and things that you aren't used to dealing with.”

Delhomme shrugged through his version of the same answer. If there's a player in the league with a confidence problem, it's not him. After spending six years waiting for a chance to play, Delhomme's not wavered lately because he's throwing a lot of picks.

“It's difficult for me, because I see us on the practice field executing some things at a high level, feeling very good going into games,” Delhomme said, before reading the litany of ups and downs.

While most of the blame has fallen Delhomme's way, coaches, teammates and officials have rushed to his defense to talk about the collective nature of their problems this year.

“I don't think the passing game rests on one guy's shoulders,” coach John Fox said.

When asked if he was bothered by his team's 55 net passing yards against the Bucs, Fox's back arched as it has so many times when one player falls into the crosshairs.

“Not when you run it for 260,” Fox replied. “If you only had 55 yards total offense, that would be a concern, yes. But to score 28 points is enough to win in this league on a consistent basis. Had we done that consistently, our record would be different.

“I tend to try to find the positives rather than the negatives. I don't have my head in the sand. We've got work to do. They (players) don't have their head in the sand. We understand that.”

No one knows that more than Delhomme, who's been a lightning rod since the playoff loss to Arizona and hasn't enjoyed much positive feedback since then.

“It's a work in progress,” Delhomme said. “We're all trying to get better. I'll raise my hand, I'm the first one trying to work to get us better, get everybody on the same page.”