Posted on 8/15/2007 8:06:50 PM

NFL Lines - For Panthers, Is Williams Ready To Carry The Load

By Charles Jay

Coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers wants to run the football. Even with the presence of superstar wide receiver Steve Smith in the lineup, and the selection of Dwayne Jarrett of USC in the NFL Draft, Fox's game plan for the Panthers is to run the ball first to set up the pass. When Carolina has not had an effective running game, or when it was ravaged by injury in the recent past, QB Jake Delhomme has found himself vulnerable. The same would hold true for new backup quarterback David Carr, who saw too, too many opposing jerseys in his backfield as the besieged signal-caller with the Houston Texans.

When evaluating the Panthers' rushing attack, one can view it either as an embarrassment of riches or as something that deserves the label "potential" and rates not much more yet. Deshaun Foster has made his share of big plays for Carolina since arriving from UCLA, and it was his absence from the lineup that might have cost the Panthers a trip to the Super Bowl two years ago. But though Foster has shown flashes of brilliance, he is not a durable back, and has yet to crack the 1000-yard mark. In his four-year career, he has only crossed the goal line ten times (not counting two TD's in post-season play, which included a 33-yard TD run in the Super Bowl).

Last year the Panthers drafted DeAngelo Williams, the University of Memphis All-American who set the all-time NCAA record for all-purpose yards and finished fourth on the all-time rushing list. Williams played in Conference USA, a weaker conference than most in Division 1-A, and does not possess such ideal size for an every-down back (5'10", 217 lbs.), but he had been impressive against higher levels of competition and is generally regarded to have a very big upside. Williams gained 501 yards and caught 33 passes in his rookie season, though he only started two games. Jeff Davidson has joined the Carolina staff as offensive coordinator and he is looking to utilize the screen pass a lot more, which would seem to favor Williams.

A selection in the first round of the '06 draft would suggest that Fox and the Panthers are looking toward him to be their running back of the future. I would imagine they will give him the opportunity to prove sturdier than Foster and demonstrate in the pros what he did in college - that he can handle a heavy load on his shoulders.

THE CHARLES JAY LINE

Who will start at running back for the Panthers in Game 1?

* DeAngelo Williams -140

* Deshaun Foster Even

Who will gain more rushing yards for the Panthers in 2007?

* DeAngelo Williams -79.5 yds -135

* Deshaun Foster +79.5 yds +105

Who will gain more rushing + receiving yards for the Panthers in 2007?

* DeAngelo Williams -185.5 yds -110

* Deshaun Foster +185.5 yds -110

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Charles Jay of TotalAction.com is a freelance writer and oddsmaker who contributes with gusto to the BetUS.com Locker Room