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Defending Panthers' Smith A Frightening Prospect For Bucs

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2008

TAMPA - Jon Gruden has been watching horror films this week.

Every time Tampa Bay's coach slides in a tape of a Carolina Panthers game, he sees No. 89, big-play receiver Steve Smith, making a highlight-reel catch.

Gruden loves great players, but he's seen quite enough of Smith at this point, three days before the Bucs face the Panthers in a Monday night showdown to determine first place in the NFC South.

"That guy, Steve Smith, he's a nightmare, man,'' Gruden told Panthers reporters on a conference call. "He's like Freddy Krueger to me. He scares the heck out of me.''

Gruden has ample reason to be concerned.

Of Smith's 30 career 100-yard games, five have come against the Bucs. Gruden has repeatedly had a front-row seat as Smith made key receptions to beat Tampa Bay in close games.

"Steve, to me, is the best,'' Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber said in a conference call with Panthers media. "He really knows how to outwork guys for the football. I have as much respect for Steve as anybody in the league.''

Despite Smith's 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame, quarterback Jake Delhomme has the confidence to throw to his go-to receiver in heavy traffic, arching high passes that Smith latches on to with his rare athleticism and toughness.

In Tampa Bay's 27-3 rout of Carolina on Oct. 12, Smith almost made it a game on a critical pass play late in the opening quarter after the Bucs had grabbed a 14-0 advantage. On the next snap from scrimmage, Smith broke 10 yards free of the closest Buc defender, but he had to adjust to Delhomme's errant throw and was tackled after a 48-yard gain.

The Panthers ended up settling for a deflating field goal and never threatened again.

Smith's average of 18.4 yards per catch ranks No. 1 in the league for players with at least 45 receptions. Fifteen of his 52 catches this season have gained at least 20 yards. He has five receptions of at least 40 yards, compared with only one for the Bucs as a team.

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