Diedra Laird - dlaird@charlotteobserver.com
Steve Smith emerges on field at the start of Saturday's Panthers Fan Fest.
Steve Smith spent most of 2010 with a scowl on his face, and talked to Panthers owner Jerry Richardson late in the season about a possible trade.
But Smith is a happy receiver these days.
Smith, in his 11th season with the Panthers, said the offensive philosophy of the new coaching staff has been a refreshing change following the worst season of his career. Smith said offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is using him in innovative ways that John Fox's staff would talk about, but never implement.
"I respect coach Fox and I respect the offensive coordinators that have been here. But at the same time I'm a wide receiver. Run blocking is not my forte," Smith said Saturday following the two-hour Fan Fest at Bank of America Stadium.
"It is nice to have layers, have multiple sets, not to just be stacking to one spot for 70 plays. I get to line up in different spots. It's just refreshing. It's not saying, 'Well, we're going to move you around,' and then never do it. Here they're actually saying it and it's happening. It's not just me. It's other guys as well."
The Panthers had the NFL's worst offense and set franchise lows in several offensive categories during their 2-14 season in 2010.
Smith caught 46 passes for 554 yards and two touchdowns - career lows for him in a season not shortened by injury. Smith would express his frustrations at least once every game, and his displeasure was often directed at rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen.
Smith, 32, says he heard talk that he had lost a step. But he suggested Saturday his lack of production was related to the unimaginative scheme employed by Fox and former offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson.
"When you're sitting on the outside for 70 plays, standing on the left trying to run around the linebackers pressing and a corner over the top, and a safety over the top, and the other linebacker buzzing. And sitting there and I'm told I'm losing a step and he's not catching as much and all that stuff," Smith said. "It's real refreshing now because in the offense now I can move around."
Smith predicted Fox's staff would respond by saying Smith's inability to retain information limited the ways they could use him.
Smith also likes the moves the Panthers' front office made, bringing in a pair of pass-catching tight ends in Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen, and signing former San Diego wideout Legedu Naanee last week.
But he said the most welcome change has been replacing a run-first offense with a West Coast scheme that gives everyone more freedom.
"The quarterbacks are doing what has not been done around here in a long time. The philosophy in years past has been not to screw it up," Smith said. "And here it's put your foot down on the gas pedal and go hard. So I like that."
