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Questions Remain: Stewart brought along slowly
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Published: November 23, 2008
Updated: 11/23/2008 12:05 am
ATLANTA - Jonathan Stewart's rookie season with the Carolina Panthers has been filled with highs, lows, progress, setbacks, bumps, bruises and, well...
Imagine that. That's the way it is for most rookie running backs in the NFL.
So as the Panthers head into the toughest part of their schedule, starting with today's game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome, the questions are clear.
Is Stewart completely healthy and getting better by the week, ready to emerge at a time of the season when it becomes even more imperative to be able to run the ball? Is Stewart finally feeling comfortable in the offense after playing catch-up throughout training camp and early in the season? Has Stewart found his niche as the complement to starter DeAngelo Williams, who is also getting better by the week?
Or were Stewart's career-high 130 yards on 15 carries last week against Detroit really a true indication of what's ahead in the final six games? Will Stewart be able to build on last week and string together two solid games in a row? And can he stay healthy down the stretch?
It'll be one of the most interesting story lines to follow the rest of the season.
The Panthers clearly think that the answers will be positive.
"With Stewie, the surface hasn't even been scratched yet, in my opinion," quarterback Jake Delhomme said.
Stewart, taken by the Panthers with the 13th pick last April after a standout career at Oregon, ranks 21st in the NFL in rushing with 513 yards on 118 carries. That's second-best among rookies, behind Chicago's Matt Forte, who has gained 777 yards but has had 87 more carries. Stewart's six touchdowns lead all rookies.
The other three first-round picks -- Oakland's Darren McFadden, Dallas' Felix Jones and Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall -- have all missed significant time with injuries.
Stewart's performance against the Lions was particularly encouraging because it came after two weeks of little productivity when he, too, was hobbling. He was limited to 10 yards on eight carries against Arizona. Then he missed practice the entire week after the Panthers' open date because of a heel injury and was limited to 21 yards on seven carries at Oakland.
Stewart said that the heel injury could be traced all the way to the off-season when he underwent toe surgery on his right foot.
"It's been bothering me since I've been working out on my toe and getting it back," Stewart said. "It's just one of those things that's been lingering around. (Last week) was the first time I've been able to hop around a bit. It's been frustrating, but when you've got an injury or anything like that you've just got to take its time and deal with it and just overcome it. It's an obstacle that I had to overcome."
Stewart also had to overcome a series of obstacles in the off-season, and Delhomme said that is even more reason to think that Stewart will close strong.
Stewart was still recovering from toe surgery when he was drafted, and attended but couldn't participate in the team's three-day mini-camp the next week. Then, he didn't attend the team's optional off-season workouts (OTAs) because of an NFL rule concerning players from colleges on the quarter system, which Oregon is. He couldn't have run at that point, anyway, but he could have soaked up more of the system.
Then, he was brought along slowly during training camp and the preseason.
That was part of the reason for his inconsistency early. The best example came when he ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns in the second game against Chicago, when he sparked a second-half rally, and then came back with 15 yards on seven carries the next week at Minnesota.
"You know, he didn't practice once in minicamp," Delhomme said. "He didn't practice once in OTAs. He went every other day in camp It's hard just to get out there -- I mean, when we were putting in the running game, he wasn't even here. That's three weeks of learning, and it's different than minicamp because you get to learn a little bit daily. You go a week and get a weekend to absorb and learn some more. But he wasn't here."
Stewart has also had a significant adjustment to make it to the NFL. He was drafted as a power back, at 5-10, 235, but he played in a spread offense at Oregon that is much different than the pounding he is asked to do now.
"Everything is slowing down," Stewart said. "For a running back, being in the zone is everything just slowing down."
It'll helps that he is splitting time with Williams, who has taken Stewart under his wing from early on and who has embraced the notion of a two-back system. Williams, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the past three games, is the one who came up with the nickname "Smash and Dash" for the two. The two rank fourth in the league as a one-two combination.
"Whether he's out there or I'm out there, you don't get a different look," Williams said. "You pretty much get the same guy out there. He can bash you up and if you let him he can take it 60 or 70 yards. I feel that I can be that same back, too. I think we are doing a great job of running the football."
■ John Delong can be reached at jdelong@wsjournal.com.
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