This is how you make use of your best assets. Washington take note.

10-3. Damn those Redskins!!! I genuinely thought that new offensive co-ordinator/play caller/whatever, Sherman Lewis, would actually have a bit of common sense. Think about it. You're about to take over as the play caller for an offense that was built to run the ball. Everyone's been telling you and pointing out that the previous pass heavy offense didn't work. The stats and the scorelines back that up. You know that the last guy to call the plays lost the job because of his pass heavy approach. So what are you gonna do? Pass lots? No way, you're gonna run!!! Right? RIGHT? Erm, wrong. Instead it would appear that what you're gonna do is ask Jason Campbell to throw the ball 43 times. I wouldn't ask Favre to do that much work. I wouldn't ask Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Philip Rivers to do that much work. And I sure as hell wouldn't ask Jason Campbell to do that much. What I would ask for is Clinton Portis to carry the ball more than 14 times. But even that's not enough. I'd also be asking my QB to throw the ball more than twice to TE Chris Cooley, arguably the best passing asset that the Redskins have. It's just a joke. Their whole offense now is one big calamitous joke. The fans at FedEx field were booing their a$$es off. And good on 'em. If it carries on like this, the Redskins will be damn lucky to win another game this season. So, with that done and my weekly picks all spent, I think it's time to give out some extra credit to: -Alex Smith (49ers): For coming off the bench and stepping into the breach with 15/22 for 206 yds and 3 TD's. He's taken a lot of stick in San Francisco but he took a pay cut just so he could stay and prove the critics wrong. I like that. That's the kind of attitude that got Steve Young a Superbowl ring. And now he's been named the starter for next week so he has a chance to shine. -Michael Crabtree (49ers): Put all his contract woes aside and played a solid start. Very impressive hands and upper body strength. Proves you don't need top speed to be a good receiver. -Vernon Davis (49ers): Bagged himself 93 yds off 7 catches, with 3 TD's to boot. Starting to establish himself this season as the main hitman in San Fran. -Clinton Portis (Redskins): For throwing his helmet at a bench. Yes it's a childish thing to do, but it shows he cares, that he has some fight left in him despite the terrible play of the Redskins. Give this man the ball!!! -Josh Cribbs (Browns): For giving it everything he has, week in, week out, despite the appalling play of his team mates. -Matt Schaub (Texans): Took a lot of criticism last year. This season, every week he bags himself a stack of yards and TD's, and is quietly becoming one of the best QB's out there. -Peyton Manning (Colts): Almost effortlessly notched up another 235 yds and 3 TD's. MVP anyone? -Wes Welker (Patriots): 10 catches, 107 yds and a TD against the Bucs. Oh how the Patriots missed this guy early on. But now Brady's favourite safety valve has returned and is racking up the numbers. -Sidney Rice (Vikings): 11 catches, 136 yds, but no TD against the Steelers. Still, the guy is looking sharp and continues to be Bretts favourite target. It's easy to see why. -DeAngelo Williams (Panthers): For not losing his cool and punching his inept offensive co-ordinator in the head. -Jonathan Stewart (Panthers): Same as above. -Shonn Greene (Jets): Came in unexpectedly against the Raiders to replace injured running back Leon Washington. And promptly ran for 144 yds and 2 TDs off of just 19 carries. Leon who? -Carson Palmer (Bengals): How can you not like 20/24, 233 yds, 5 TD's? -Cedric Benson (Bengals): Faced his old team, the Bears. And then stung them for 189 yds and a TD off 37 carries. -Chad Ochocinco (Bengals): 10 catches, 118 yds, 2 TD's. Looks like those offseason workouts that everyone was bitching about have paid dividends. -Tony Romo (Cowboys): Never mind the 311 yds, 3 TD's. I'm giving him extra credit for his scramble near the end of the half that lead to a TD pass to Patrick Crayton. How did he escape that rush? -Miles Austin (Cowboys): 6 catches, 171 yds and 2 TDs. I smell a pro bowl appearance on the horizon. -Darren Sharper (Saints): For easily being the most over rated safety in the league. His pick 6 against the Dolphins was nothing more than a lucky bounce of the ball. His pick against the Jets was the result of a rookie mistake leading to a bad throw. If it had been a more experienced QB then the fact he completely blew his assignment and went ball hutning would have been harshly punished. -Beanie Wells (Cardinals): For his bad ass running style. He's got one hell of a stiff arm!!! -Ricky Williams (Dolphins): Not only did get 3 TDs on just 9 carries, but he showed he can be an explosive back out of the "I" formation as well. Almost seems to make the Wildcat seem not worth the hassle. -Ronnie Brown (Dolphins): Same as above, though add a few carries & minus 2 TD's. -Brian Schottenheimer (Jets OC): Out of 70 plays, he called 54 runs. This kept the ball out of the rookie QBs hands and firmly with the strength of the team. The result was 447 net yards of offense, a 60% 3rd down efficiency and 75% red zone efficiency. This is how you make use of your best assets. Washington take note. So there it is, done for my first week blogging on football. But luckily next week is only, well, a week away!!! Roll on number 8......