Hard to Grasp: Williams makes his mark for Panthers

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 06, 2009

CHARLOTTE --

It was third-and-8, and running back DeAngelo Williams appeared bottled up at the line of scrimmage. The television camera was fixed on the scrum -- before jerking to the right while Arizona players looked on in bewilderment.

Williams had bounced off three defenders, snuck through a tiny hole and was 13 yards downfield in the Carolina Panthers' 34-21 victory.

Though Williams' 77-yard run Sunday was the most talked about, this shorter run is what has defined Williams, who in the game became the Panthers' all-time leading rusher with 3,352 yards.

Williams, 5-9, passed DeShaun Foster's team rushing record in 185 fewer carries. A year after bursting onto the scene with a single-season record of 1,515 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns, Williams, a 2006 first-round draft pick, had his best game this season, gaining 158 of Carolina's 270 yards rushing.

Yet while Williams is often the loudest guy in the locker room when breaking down horror films or making fun of teammates and reporters, he's soft spoken when asked about himself.

"I mean, it's one of those things that in a couple years or five or six years it'll be Jonathan Stewart sitting here talking about breaking the record or some other tailback," Williams said, referring to his backfield mate.

Still, Williams' success has coincided with what teammates say is a relentless work ethic dating to when then-teammate Vinny Testaverde jumped on him for getting caught from behind on a long run in 2007 at Arizona.

Teammates said they soon saw a change in Williams, who became Carolina's starter last year after Foster was released. He also stayed ahead of Stewart, taken in the first round of last year's draft.

"After his first couple years, we draft a running back in the first round. I think there were questions," quarterback Jake Delhomme said. "We always thought he was talented, it was just how much of a true opportunity did he really have?"

For the Panthers (3-4) to have a shot Sunday at unbeaten New Orleans, they'll likely need another big game from Williams. But Williams won't have his lead blocker, fullback Brad Hoover, whose right leg was in a cast yesterday. Hoover confirmed he has a high ankle sprain. Backup fullback Tony Fiammetta (concussion) hasn't practiced this week, either.

But Williams has a knack for finding his own room to run, frustrating opponents as he makes his mark in Carolina's record book.