Ex-Ute is Panthers' big threat

PHILADELPHIA -- On a day that ended in a way that usually only happens in a dream, Steve Smith oozed humility, giving credit to "the guys" after the Carolina Panthers had shocked the Rams last Saturday in St. Louis, sending Mike Martz and his troops home.

"It was one of those things that just happened," Smith said after snagging a pass from Jake Delhomme and dashing 69 yards for the winning touchdown in Carolina's 29-23 double-overtime victory. "I don't know how it has happened. I am just happy it has. I am not the only one on this team. DeShaun (Foster), Stephen (Davis), Muhsin (Muhammad) and Ricky (Proehl), we all contribute. It's been a different guy each week."

Yeah, right!

The Panthers can talk all they want about Stephen Davis' 1,444 yards rushing. They can hype the emergence of Delhomme and tell the tale of how he has gone from once backing up Kurt Warner in arena football to his ascension in the NFL. They can give props to Julius Peppers and the rest of Carolina's defense.

But the Eagles know whom to pay attention to.

The Eagles' rushing defense may not be capable of stopping Joe Banner, their vice president of football operations, from running out the backfield. But they know they'll have no chance if Smith continues his trend of turning dreams into nightmares.

The 69-yard TD reception came one week after Smith's acrobatic catch in the end zone against Dallas. And because of it, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells and Martz are both watching the playoffs on TV like the rest of us.

Smith, despite his beautiful name, didn't enter this league in 2001 as the second coming of Jerry Rice, Torry Holt or Terrell Owens. Coming out of Utah via Santa Monica Junior College as the 74th overall pick, he was more a prospect for the future.

But Panthers wideout Rae Carruth was convicted of conspiracy in the shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend.

Carruth's conviction was supposed to leave a gaping hole in Carolina's wideout position. Combined with their issues at quarterback, no wonder the Panthers didn't make the playoffs last season.

Meanwhile, though, Smith, in his third season, has been around, excelling in special teams, looking -- waiting -- for his chance to shine.

Evidently, it has arrived. And he has prospered.

After leading the Panthers with 88 receptions for 1,110 yards this season, averaging 12.6 yards a catch, Smith has carried his excellent play into the postseason.

He has 298 receiving yards in the playoffs. That's more than Marvin Harrison in Indianapolis, or Brandon Stokley. More than teammate Muhammad. Despite Peyton Manning using his receivers like skeet targets during hunting season.

"I just try to do whatever benefits Jake," Smith said. "We always converse, even on run plays. I'm doing stuff to test out the water and see how the corner is playing me. We know what to do now in the playoff games because we've talked about it so much that it is just natural."

The Eagles will need to disrupt such things this weekend.

If they don't, suddenly, Davis will heal. Foster, who is quicker and more a replica of Green Bay's Ahman Green, may see daylight. The Eagles won't be able to stack the line or blitz the way they like to do. Something will have to give.

Unless they're negating Carolina's passing game.

For them to do so, Smith must be held in check. He can't be Delhomme's fantasy-football imitation of Montana-to-Rice.

Ronde Barber left an indelible mark by shifting from cornerback to receiver to end Philadelphia's season.

If that happens again, there's no doubt who'll be seen scampering into the end zone this time around.

"They're tough," Eagles cornerback Bobby Taylor said of the Panthers, whom the Eagles defeated, 25-16, during the season. "They'll be tough to stop, so we're just taking things one game at a time."

Well, in this one game, stop Smith!

Or end up like Dallas and Green Bay.

Or worse: Philadelphia for the last 23 years. And counting.

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