CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Steve Smith split wide right Thursday while his old buddy, Muhsin Muhammad, and fellow newcomer, D.J. Hackett, lined up as receivers on the other side.

Smith looked over and saw Jake Delhomme, back from elbow surgery, under center. Delhomme was behind a mammoth, new-look offensive line that included jumbo rookie Jeff Otah.

After two years of carrying Carolina's bumbling offense, the Panthers' star receiver liked the view.

''I think we finally made an upgrade compared to the years prior,'' Smith said after the offseason workout. ''As those guys had left we really hadn't replenished. We have finally, and I can honestly see a big difference.''

The Panthers hope the tweaking will eliminate the constant double teams Smith faced the last two years, and jump-start an anemic, unbalanced offense that ranked 29th in the NFLlast season.

''It's very exciting,'' said Smith, who led the NFLin catches, yards receiving and touchdowns in 2005, only to see his numbers decline the past two years. ''It'll add a little extra to it as obviously Jake is coming in, feeling good and looking great. It seems like he has a stronger arm and he's not showing any weakness as far as with that major surgery. With those two acquisitions (at receiver) and obviously some of the big guys on the offensive line...''

As Smith went on to praise Otah, calling his performance at Thursday's optional workout ''outstanding,'' one of the symbols of Carolina's offensive ineptitude in 2007 began speaking to reporters just a few yards away.

Dwayne Jarrett, who was supposed to replace the released Keyshawn Johnson last year as the No. 2 receiver, was explaining his dismal rookie season when he struggled to learn the playbook and get separation off the line of scrimmage.

''I think I've improved so much in the last year and now I'm taking it one step at a time,'' Jarrett said. ''I'm paying more attention to detail. ... It's so much easier than last year.''

Jarrett, a second-round pick, spent last season mostly on the inactive list on game days, unable to beat out the unheralded Drew Carter and Keary Colbert. Both were released in the offseason after their minuscule production left opposing teams able to focus all their efforts on stopping Smith.

The revolving door at quarterback made things even worse.