John Fox Has His Stephen Davis Clone - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

I'd like to say the Carolina Panthers just took the best player available. I'd like to say this pick is a result of Derrick Harvey and Ryan Clady going off the board early. But no, Jonathan Stewart was on their radar all along for one reason -- John Fox never got over losing Stephen Davis. He needs that kind of power rusher back in his lineup.

He also doesn't know what to do with DeAngelo Williams, obviously, or simply considers Williams too small to be a primary rusher. It appears Stewart and Williams will become what Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster were in 2003. That model worked for Fox then, so why not now?

Well, Williams better practice his weak side pass blocking, because he'll be doing a lot of it on 3rd down next season. The pre-draft talk that Travelle Wharton would remain at left tackle could prove very true after this pick. Perhaps it will work with bigger guards on the line, but I still can't get past how easily John Abraham got past Wharton in Week 3 last season, which led to Jake Delhomme's season-ending elbow injury. Carolina seems eager to risk that again.

Then again, maybe Stewart's running will reduce the risk to Delhomme. That's surely what this team and its fans are hoping. You'll forgive me if I remain skeptical.