FanHouse Hunter Smith

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around pointing skyward, while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

Studs

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville (24 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD): Coaches always talk about wanting players who have "football smarts." MJD certainly fits the bill, and he proved it Sunday against the Jets. With less than two minutes left in the game and the Jags down one, Jones-Drew broke clear for what looked like an easy score -- but, instead, he took a knee at the Jets 1-yard line, allowing his team to run out the clock and kick a game-winning field goal on the final play.

The Washington Redskins don't have much going well for them this season (see: the current state of stadium signage). But, they have at least had a few bright moments on the year -- including wins over Tampa Bay and St. Louis!

Or, if you want to be less sarcastic, the awesomeness that is Hunter Smith, punter, scoring touchdowns on fake kicks.

Sunday, as the 'Skins struggled against comprehending football and/or guarding Brandon Marshall, Smith was the bright spot again, taking a fake field goal and heaving it for a TD pass. I might add it was a pretty freaking awesome pass, too. Scope the vid, via Fansided, after the jump.

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Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. " We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Offense -- They stormed out of the gate last season, on the shoulders of Clinton Portis. In the second half of the season, though, the offensive line began to wear down and Jason Campbell wasn't productive enough downfield to take attention away from CP26. This season, there are reasons for optimism. The offensive line has been retooled. The growth of second-year wideouts Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly will give Campbell more reliable options in the passing attack in addition to the solid Chris Cooley and Santana Moss.

Scoreboardgate, originating in the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium, has taken another turn. Remember, the Cowboys debuted in their new digs this past weekend. Everything about the stadium is extravagant, and we'd expect nothing less in a Jerry Jones operation. The only problem thus far is that there are massive hi-def video boards over the center of the stadium that are able to be hit by punted balls.

The Redskins punter in 2008, Ryan Plackemeier, finished 27th in the NFL in gross average per punt. At 33.9 yards per punt, he ranked dead last in the NFL in net average (among full-season punters), so it was obvious the 'Skins needed to go in a different route with the punting game. Thus, they have inked Dirk Johnson -- one of the greatest names of all-time, by the way -- to take over punting duties.

Of course, Johnson didn't fare much better in Arizona last year. He was 26th in gross average and tied for 26th in net average. This will be Johnson's fourth team in the past five years, so he's obviously not been setting the world on fire.

When the Patriots started winning Super Bowls, analysts started trying to figure out how they were doing it. And after a while, they reached a consensus. The front office brought in guys who might not be all-around great football players, but were great for one specific role. They were all hard-working, dedicated guys who had no problem with their role as just another cog in the machine.

And now, the Colts have won a Super Bowl ... and I'm taking it upon myself to figure out how they did it. What kinds of players do they bring in? Here's what my independent research has found. The Colts front office specifically targets Bible-thumpers with a desire to be recording artists.

First, it was Peyton Manning and Kenny Chesney writing love songs together (you have to try really hard to see the connection to religion, but it's there). Then, it was Ben Utecht and his desire to be a Christian rocker. And now, punter Hunter (that rhymes) Smith actually already is a Christian recording artist. Smith's group, Connersvine, has signed a deal with INO Records.

"Winning the Super Bowl has been one of the highlights of my life and career. It is completely humbling that God has allowed me to not only be a part of an amazing football team, but also is giving me the chance to pursue His calling in music." shares Hunter Smith. "I feel just as strong of a call to worship leading and ministering through music as I do in football."

This is just getting ridiculous. Are there any Colts out there who aren't religious zealots with a desire to sing? Is it a prerequisite for being a Colt? At the NFL Combine, do the Colts send their scouts to get 40 times, medical histories, and ask about Christian music aspirations?

Gracias, again, With Leather.