by David Scott, The Charlotte Observer, N.C. , The Charlotte Observer

Whisenhunt, whose Cardinals play the Carolina Panthers in an NFC Divisional playoff game Saturday at Bank of America Stadium, could laugh Tuesday when he was asked about a 65-yard touchdown reception by Steve Smith in the Panthers' 27-23 victory against the Cardinals on Oct. 26.

It was an important play. After catching the pass from Jake Delhomme near midfield in front of the Arizona bench, Smith barely stayed in bounds, broke a few Cardinals tackles and sprinted to the end zone. Cardinals special teams coach Kevin Spencer, standing immediately next to the play when Smith caught the ball, thought he had stepped out of bounds.

So did Whisenhunt, who was about 10 yards away. Whisenhunt threw his red flag, asking for an officials' review, but the play was upheld. Smith's third-quarter touchdown gave the Panthers a 24-23 lead, the go-ahead points after Arizona had taken a 17-3 advantage at one point.

"I think maybe we can put a little more white on the sideline," Whisenhunt said Tuesday of how the Cardinals might defend Smith this time. "So that when he steps out like he did that last game, they'll actually call that."

"I'm just kidding."

Whisenhunt had no problem with the officials' call.

"I'm not trying to do anything to diminish that play, it was a great play," he said. "But we were jaded. It was one of those things that we saw something that we wanted to see, because it was so devastating when he made that play.

"I just hope he had a rag to wipe that white paint off his shoes."

Notes

The Panthers have eight starters who started the team's most recent playoff game -- a 34-14 loss against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2005 NFC Championship game. That kind of experience will help, coach John Fox said.

"It's always good, it's like taking that trip," he said. "The trip there seems a lot longer than the ride home. Hopefully we use that experience to help us and this game's about preparation and playing really well on that day."

Some of the veteran leadership came through Tuesday when Fox asked the players if they wanted to remain in pads for the entire practice. Vets like receiver Muhsin Muhammad and Julius Peppers told Fox they did.

"At halftime (of practice), coach was like, 'You guys can take off your pads and put on the blue (light-weight) vests," said running back DeAngelo Williams. "And Moose and Peppers were like 'No, we're going to keep em on.' And I was like, 'Yeah, let's go!' "

Last season, safety Chris Harris set a team record with eight forced fumbles in his first season with Carolina. Then he opened 2008 by forcing fumbles in his first two games, and it appeared he might break his own mark. He hasn't forced a fumble since.

"It goes in cycles," he said. "I haven't had as many tackles this season, either; I had a lot more opportunities last year to get strips and get the ball out."

That's because of an improved front seven, Harris said. Opposing runners and receivers simply aren't getting through to his last line of defense as often. During the regular season, he was in on 80 tackles, after making 102 in 2007.

"I can't do it every time I tackle or I'll miss some tackles," he said. "I can only do it when the opportunity presents itself."

His grin grew wider.

"I've had opportunities. Balls have come loose, and they've kind of caught them as they've come out. The opportunities have been there; they just haven't come out this year."

So does he just go, "dang!" when the ball doesn't come free?

"I do, I do. When I feel it come out, I feel it loose and I punch it and it kind of comes out and they kind of secure it back in, you only get one chance at it. If you don't get it first chance, you're probably not going to get it."

Stan Olson

Although the Panthers-Cardinals game is Saturday, the Panthers aren't required to release an injury report until today (Wednesday is the usual day for NFL teams to announce their injuries). So, there's no word yet on the status of players.

David Scott

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