PHILADELPHIA -- When the Carolina Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart with their first-round pick in the 2008 draft, the writing was on the wall: The power run game that led the team to Super Bowl XXXVIII was coming back.
Good news for Stewart, bad news for sleek speedy rusher DeAngelo Williams.
But two preseason games in, Williams has looked far and away like the best running back for Carolina while Stewart has struggled. Suddenly, Fantasy owners hoping to bank on a Panthers running back this season might need to reach a paw for the one they didn't think they wanted.
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In his third year, DeAngelo Williams may finally produce like a big-time back.
(US Presswire)
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Williams has not only started both preseason contests, but he never left the field on any series with the first-team offense. He handled running and passing downs, picking up blitzes and catching
Jake Delhomme dump-off passes. He has seen work in the red zone and at the goal line. And he has succeeded across the board, totaling two touchdowns (including a goal-line plunge) and 87 yards on 17 carries (5.1 avg.) with 13 yards on two grabs.
Stewart missed the first preseason game and only played three series at Philadelphia in Week 2 of the preseason. He ran tenatively and had four carries for 3 yards. Not exactly a smashing debut.
"I just took what the defense gave me and made the best out of my opportunities," Stewart softly said of his first taste of NFL action. "I haven't played since December. It definitely was a great experience."
Perhaps the stats were the result of Stewart running on a hurt toe, something that has plagued the rookie since he had surgery on it before the 2008 draft. The Panthers were confident they could fix his toe, but Stewart thinks it's going to linger.
"It's sore, but it's something I'll have to deal with probably for the rest of the season," Stewart said, adding that his toe wasn't any more sore after the game than after a typical practice. "I'm getting over it, but I'm pretty sure it's going to linger around for a little bit."
Williams, meanwhile, takes his stats in stride and isn't taking any role on the team for granted.
"They haven't told me anything about my role, but I'm prepared whether I'm the first guy or the second guy," Williams said. "The point is, (Stewart and I) are both going to be in there, so having an opportunity to play is something I like."
The key to Williams' game is that he has taken a serious approach to his duties this offseason, and it looks like it's paying off. The coaches have shown full confidence in him, and Williams knows he's making strides.
"I have (matured). I understand the concepts of the offense, not necessarily understanding the basic offense," Williams said. "Learning how to read the rotation of the safeties and understanding why people blitz when they blitz and understanding habits of that nature. It makes it pretty easy to play football from that standpoint."
Meanwhile, the Panthers are scratching their heads with what to do with their running backs.
"We've (rotated running backs) before and there are a lot of teams that do that," Panthers head coach John Fox said. "I can't tell you exactly how it's going to unfold and who's going to be healthy and who's going to have a hot hand and where that's going, but I feel good about both of them."
Fox insisted that the Panthers aren't trying to "hide" Stewart this preseason in an effort to save him for the season (or keep him off of opposing team's game film). Fox was also pleased with the limited play of his prized rookie.
"I think it was good for him, good for his confidence and there will be some things we can coach off of," Fox said. "It was good to get him in there."
It's plain to see that Stewart, and his toe, will need to greatly improve over the next couple of weeks if he is to begin the year with a prominent role with the Panthers. Otherwise, Williams will have the potential to be the game-breaking back the Panthers envisioned when they drafted him in the 2006 draft out of Memphis.
"Stew got in there and did a great job. He took what the defense gave him, ran hard and broke tackles," Williams said of his teammate. "I like that about him. I've said since before training camp, whether he's the starter or I'm the starter, it's still going to be a dual-back system, and I'm definitely excited about the role I get either way."
Fantasy owners need to follow the Panthers and see how the team uses its runners with the first-team offense, especially in the club's third preseason game. If Williams continues to get the bulk of the work, it's a sign that Stewart won't be ready to contribute much at the start of the year. Subsequently, if Stewart gets in there and works as much as Williams, then it's a safe bet that he'll be developed as part of the Panthers' rotation.
Williams seems like a no-brainer to start, but in today's NFL, that means nothing. If he's getting more than 60 percent of the touches and working at the goal line, that means something different altogether. And remember, it's not about what your role is at the beginning of the year, but if you can keep your role throughout the season with consistent play. Stewart knows he has much to learn in his first year as a pro before he can develop that consistency.
"I've just got to be patient, and I am, and just wait for things to start clicking and rolling," the former Oregon Duck said. "And that's how it was when I was in college, things weren't clicking until my sophomore year."
Which might translate into Williams having the chance to make his third NFL season his most productive.
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