By MIKE CRANSTON
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C.(AP) -- It was third-and-8 and Carolina 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, sneaked through a tiny
hole and was 13 yards downfield.
While Williams' 77-yard run on Sunday was the most talked about,
this shorter run is what has defined Williams, who in the
victory over the Cardinals became the Panthers' all-time leading
rusher with 3,352 yards.
"It's crazy. I tell him it's because he's so short," Panthers
fullback Brad Hoover said Thursday, smiling. "No, he's just a
good back. He's a tough, hard, physical runner. Real shifty, has
unbelievable balance and just vision to hit holes and make
things happen."
The 5-foot-9 Williams surpassed 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, the 2006 first-round pick had his best game this
season in a surprising win over the Cardinals, recording 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 the 2007 season in 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?
"I'm a big fan of guys who work their tail off, practice hard
and try to do it the right way. He does that. He practices
hard."
Sunday in Arizona was the second-best rushing performance in
team history, behind only a game last season against Tampa Bay.
But Williams still caught some grief for getting tackled by
Antrel Rolle short of the end zone on his 77-yard first-quarter
run.
"Was that you that asked me if Vinny called me? Did Vinny leave
me a voicemail? Wow," Williams said to a reporter before
laughing. "The guy had an angle. I couldn't do much other than
run where I had to run to because (Dominique) Rodgers-Cromartie
was streaking up the other side, so I couldn't stop and cut it
back."
For the two-touchdown underdog Panthers 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 Hoover, whose
right leg was in a cast Thursday as he 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 and making his teammate laugh as he makes
his mark in Carolina's record book.
"His natural character is to be joking, but when it comes to
working you won't see any guy who works any harder," Hoover
said. "He prepares in the offseason. He prepares during the week
very hard. There are times when he's laid back and joking
around, but when it's business you won't see a more serious
guy."
NOTES: K John Kasay missed practice Thursday with what Fox
called a "tight groin." Kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd would
likely handle the placekicking if Kasay, who hasn't missed a
game since 2004, can't go. ... Fox said they decided against
signing a fullback this week. "At the end of the day, we'll see
if it was the right decision or not," Fox said. ... Stewart
(Achilles' tendon) and LB Landon Johnson (shoulder) returned to
practice, while WR Muhsin Muhammad (knee), S Charles Godfrey
(ankle) and TE Dante Rosario (knee) remained sidelined.
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