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Hackett content with low profile
Panthers' new receiver adjusting to offense, excited about future
STAN OLSON
solson@charlotteobserver.com
While all the new linemen and the new running back and the return of Muhsin Muhammad were being chronicled, receiver D.J. Hackett spent last weekend's Carolina Panthers minicamp almost as a media afterthought, as in, "Oh yeah, Hackett looks pretty good, too."
And he did.
Although hordes of microphones and tape recorders swarmed the others, Hackett often left the field by himself. Don't expect it to be that way for long.
While fellow receiver Muhammad understandably drew considerable attention in his return to the city where he once starred, don't be surprised if Hackett, the younger and faster of the two, winds up grabbing the most playing time opposite Steve Smith.
Both will play in three-receiver sets, and neither seems to care if he takes the No. 2 or No. 3 role, at least publicly.
Which is the way the Panthers like it.
Because the bottom line is that double-teams on the talented Smith are likely to become fewer now, and that was the primary reason the two free agents were signed.
Hackett said the Panthers never promised him a starting role, and that he's fine with that. He's just happy to be part of what he sees as a talented group.
"I don't know much about what was here before, but from the looks of it now, it looks to be pretty good to me," he said. "We've got a lot of talent and some age out there as well, but not too old, so it looks good to me."
Hackett was standing by the practice field as he spoke. He's listed as 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, and looked every bit of it. It was apparent that he -- as well as the 6-2, 215-pound Muhammad -- could be the big receiver Carolina wants opposite the 5-9 Smith.
Hackett, 26, who was slowed by injuries with Seattle last season when he had 32 catches in six games, must learn the Panthers' way of doing things.
"It's just the same as when you go anywhere; it's a lot of hard work and a lot of thinking and getting in the books," he said. "Trying to get your plays down. It's a whole different system; different terminology, so that's always tough."
Making it tougher was the fact Hackett was coming from Seattle's West Coast offense to Carolina's more traditional approach.
"It's a big adjustment. Things are a little different. The timing of the routes and things like that are a lot more downfield as opposed to short passes. It's just a lot to get used to."
For Hackett, that's where guys like Smith and Muhammad come in.
"They know little things," Hackett said. "You can't go to the coach every time because he's worried about a lot of other things. The guys that are already here; you can learn a lot from them.
"I think their record speaks for itself. They're obviously good receivers, and teams are going to pay attention to all of us. So that will open it up for everybody."
That mirrors backup quarterback Matt Moore's take on things.
"D.J. and Moose have a lot of experience between them," Moore said. "They're just going to make this a better football team. They're going to come in, both of them with great attitudes, hard-working guys that really know how to play the game."
For Hackett, the social adjustment should be easy, because he's not really a West Coast guy.
"My family's from Mississippi, both sides, so I come back this way a lot," he said.
For now, most Panthers fans are probably talking about the return of the Moose. Before long, they'll know about D.J. Hackett as well.
