Great Expectations

Steve Smith showed up for the start of the Carolina Panthers' training camp last weekend with a camcorder, and it was rolling. The footage is part of a training-camp diary that Smith is taping for the NFL Network.

In the time since, Smith has promoted his new line of T-shirts, available on stevesmithauthentic.com, for "people who can't afford to buy maybe a $150 or $225 authentic shirt." Proceeds go to his foundation.

Smith has talked about his general dislike for training camp, which makes him a typical established veteran. He has bemoaned some of his plummeting stocks, which makes him a typical investor. He has philosophized to the media about bouncing back from adversity, not judging a book by its cover and other life issues. That makes him typical Smitty.

It's all fascinating to die-hard Panthers fans.

But it's all secondary to the most pertinent question surrounding Smith as he enters his eighth NFL season.

Will Smith turn back into a Pro Bowl receiver, as he was in 2005 and 2006, before what must be considered a disappointing season -- by his standards -- last year?

All indications are that the answer will be yes, for several reasons.

At age 29, he is still in the prime of his career. After a 2007 season of frustrations left the Panthers with a 7-9 record and out of the playoffs for the second straight year, Smith seems hungrier and more determined than ever. He has quarterback Jake Delhomme to pass to him and keep him focused on the positives again. He has a better supporting cast at the other wide-receiver spots than he has had since perhaps 2003, when the Panthers went to the Super Bowl. And the Panthers could have a better running game to create opportunities, too.

Smith is enthusiastic from a personal standpoint and a team standpoint.

"There are a lot of expectations, a lot of high expectations, whether it be the surrounding people to us having high expectations, which is good," he said.

"For us as individuals who set standards for ourselves -- like I did last year and fell short. Other than that, our guys are looking to set high expectations. You've got rookies trying to win starting jobs. You've got older guys trying to maintain their jobs. So training camp is always interesting."

Getting back on track

Smith's numbers were not bad last season. In 15 games, he caught 87 passes for 1,002 yards, with seven touchdowns. He ranked 15th in the NFL in receptions and passed the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth time in his career.

But the numbers weren't close to his personal bests in 2005, when Smith caught 103 passes for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns and led the league in each category.

The drop-off was understandable. After Delhomme was shelved with an arm injury in the third game last season, the Panthers played musical chairs at quarterback. David Carr started four games, Vinny Testaverde six, and rookie Matt Moore the final three.

Smith never got in sync with Carr. The lasting memory is of Smith yelling in frustration, sometimes after not having a pass thrown his way when he felt he was open. The play that might have epitomized the season came in a home loss to New Orleans in November. On the first play, Carr threw a quick out pass to Smith -- a way to get Smith involved immediately -- yet the ball sailed high over Smith's head.

Smith got on the same wavelength with Testaverde, but injuries and age limited Testaverde's effectiveness outside of an occasional big play, like a 64-yard touchdown hookup in the fourth quarter for a comeback win. He did connect with Moore, and caught 22 passes in Moore's three games as a starter. The Panthers won two of those.

It didn't help that the Panthers' running game was good one week and terrible the next, or that no other wide receiver caught even half as many passes as Smith. Tight end Jeff King was the second-leading receiver. The two wide receivers who started at times opposite Smith, Drew Carter and Keary Colbert, combined to catch 70 passes. Rookie Dwayne Jarrett never developed as hoped and had just six catches all year.

Welcome back

The return of Delhomme will help Smith immensely. Smith has confidence in Delhomme. They have developed communication to the point that Delhomme says he knows what route adjustments Smith might make just through "body language."

"I'm excited having Jake back," Smith said. "As long as we get past the second or third game, I'll be better. Right now, it doesn't mean anything as far as whether he's healthy or not. As long as he's healthy at the start of the season and maintains his good health for the duration and into the playoffs, that's my main concern. Playoffs."

The return of Muhsin Muhammad should also be vital. Smith lobbied hard for the Panthers to re-sign Muhammad after he was released by Chicago last winter, and now he has a proven veteran on the other side who he knows and respects. And one he knows will be productive.

"Moose and Steve get along great," Delhomme said. "They respect each other the utmost. It's fun to watch. It's two professionals. I know I wasn't here for Steve's first couple of years, but I saw a transformation from when I got here to now. Guys have told me what a difference he's been since his rookie year. I just think he was around Moose so much, he's a pro."

More depth

Muhammad could also be a positive influence on Jarrett, a talented receiver who frustrated Smith last season by not working hard enough. Throw in D.J. Hackett, signed as a free agent, and the Panthers should have their best receiving corps in years.

That should definitely benefit Smith.

It leads to this assessment from Delhomme.

"I'm looking for an unbelievable year from him," Delhomme said. "Steve's Steve, and he's the guy."

■ John Delong can be reached at jdelong@wsjournal.com.