It seems that Steve Smith, the wide receiver of Carolina Panthers, is getting encouraged by the club’s new look.

Smith was asked about the Panther’s new fleet of QBs competing to replace Jake Delhomme, then he said, “I think change could be good… Time will tell.”

He added further, “Change can be good” when he was asked about the new receivers coach Tyke Tolbert.

Smith’s 31st birthday is nearby and he represents the last of old guard of Panthers. He along with left tackle Jordan Gross and kicker John Kasay are the only left over players from the Super Bowl XXXVIII appearance of Carolina Panthers after the 2003 season.

Occasionally he had chafed under Richard Williamson, the former assistant, old-school teaching style, but he said that he had liked what he’s seen so far from Tolbert. Smith said that he is encouraged by what he had heard about Tolbert.

He said, “I have a great amount of respect for coach Williamson, he’s been my coach for a very long time,” Smith said. “But at the same time, I’m learning quite a bit from Tyke. He’s doing things a little bit differently. Not to take anything away from Rich, but it’s different, and some things I’ve got to get used to. I feel like it will be a good fit.”

Tags: carolina panthers, delhomme, oz, steve smith, Tyke Tolbert