What A Difference A Week Makes On The Corner

From Charlotte, North Carolina

The last eight days are perfect bookends to what life is like for a cornerback, particularly a rookie cornerback in the National Football League.

It was against the Denver Broncos on the final Sunday in September that Brandon Carr had what amounted to his coming out party in the NFL. He contributed a fumble recovery and an interception in the defense’s top-notch effort in controlling and beating the Denver Broncos.

On the first Sunday of October, it was Carr being treated for third-degree burns after going head-to-head against veteran Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith all afternoon at Bank of America Stadium.

Smith finished the afternoon with six catches for 96 yards in helping the Panthers offense overwhelm the Chiefs defense in Carolinas 33-0 victory.

“Not as much fun as last week,” Carr said in the quiet Chiefs locker room. “It was a struggle for the whole team today.”

It will be quite an education for Carr once he gets a chance to sit down and look at the tape.

But immediately afterwards, Carr could only surmise what the tape will show, based on what happened in front of him.

“I’m sure he was excited to have a rookie across the field,” Carr said. “But I was excited when the coaches told me they were going to put me on him. I want to go against veteran receivers. I want to see all their tricks and the things they do. I looked forward to the assignment.”

Carr had Smith probably 75 percent of the game. There were times when the Panthers lined up with three wide receivers and Smith lined up in the slot where he was covered by Brandon Flowers.

Five of Smith’s six catches came in the first half. On more than one of those plays, Smith turned Carr around in circles. They all came in the second quarter and it started with a 38-yard completion where Smith ran a crossing pattern from right to left, QB Jake Delhomme had time and found his receiver running away from Carr.

On the very next play, Delhomme threw a quick three-step drop wide screen to Smith that Carr eventually stopped for an eight-yard gain. Two plays later, Delhomme and Smith connected again for nine yards. Sensing a trend, Delhomme went right back to Smith with another wide receiver screen, but he dropped the ball.

The next offensive possession, Smith caught a pair of 15-yard passes in both cases with Carr covering him.

His final catch of the game came on the first play of the fourth quarter, when backup quarterback Josh McCown combined with Smith on an 11-yard completion, where he embarrassed Carr with a straight arm that broke him for five more yards.