Williams quickly setting records with Panthers

By MIKE CRANSTON,

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.

Updated November 5, 2009