http://www.yardbarker.com/rss/player/3474 Recent articles about Hunter Smith en-us The 33-30 loss to the Saints yesterday was depressing, almost debilitatingly so. All day, I've found myself in conversations with people in the building -- coaches, players, media, staff -- who each have an incredibly specific play that they've fixated on. If only this one play had gone just a little differently; if only the one guy had broken his route off just a little quicker; if only (of course) Shaun Suisham's field goal had gone through.So it was somewhat unusual to find hea... Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:03:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Jim_Zorns_Press_Conference_Is_Surprisingly_Un_Depressing/1699922 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Jim_Zorns_Press_Conference_Is_Surprisingly_Un_Depressing/1699922 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Jim_Zorns_Press_Conference_Is_Surprisingly_Un_Depressing/1699922 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/7/47caa843f2c66cd0e6fddc683e3d69123f755c5c/small/Washington_Redskins_2008_e47e.jpg In this final installment, we'll compare the 2008 Colts to the 2009 edition by looking at special teams and coaching. SPECIAL TEAMS: Place Kicking:  If there is one area the 2009 Colts are dramatically weaker in this year, it's in the area of place kicking.  Vinatieri has battled the effects of off season hip surgery since training camp, and is still not active.  Matt Stover has taken over and performed adequately.  The numbers seem to show some improvement, but they are a bit misle... Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:31:19 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Getting_Better_Part_3/1691457 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Getting_Better_Part_3/1691457 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Getting_Better_Part_3/1691457 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/e/7ef4c56ce09eea4196c562c63e43ccaf70d7e362/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f89768424.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0D077EEE9B52F2BE15B3D25818FD5CEF3C49A41DCAD368596.jpg Hunter Smith has run for a touchdown pass. He has thrown a touchdown pass. And he's a punter. Running back Clinton Portis has thrown a pass this season. Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El was sacked on his one attempt this season but is 20-of-25 for 281 yards and four touchdowns in his career. Randle El's 153.1 passer rating is the highest in NFL history among players who have attempted at least 12 passes. When the Cowboys play Washington Sunday, they have to be ready for everything - ... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:00:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Cowboys_ready_for_Washington_aposs_trick_plays/1607483 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Cowboys_ready_for_Washington_aposs_trick_plays/1607483 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Cowboys_ready_for_Washington_aposs_trick_plays/1607483 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/4/c45c45cd3ddb04ec1922a4fa9fc5d6decead6c67/small/Washington_Redskins_2009_4998.jpg We'll get to the part where kicker Shaun Suisham WAS happy in a bit, but this story starts elsewhere: Suisham had read on some obscure blog somewhere that Hunter Smith had no intention of throwing him the ball on the touchdown play that ultimately went to Mike Sellers, and he was not pleased."I talked to Hunter about that, because I wasn't happy," Suisham told me today, trying very hard to look stern and serious. "I left him a voicemail. My wife told me it was on the w... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:30:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Shaun_Suisham_Was_Happy_For_Mike_Sellers_And_Hunter_Smith_Too/1589977 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Shaun_Suisham_Was_Happy_For_Mike_Sellers_And_Hunter_Smith_Too/1589977 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Shaun_Suisham_Was_Happy_For_Mike_Sellers_And_Hunter_Smith_Too/1589977 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/4/24319e3039aa609b2adc11a602adb05fd8e1f23e/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f78566774.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1934EC4B103841BD2051EA744EF7A56C16C.jpg Obviously, punter Hunter Smith doesn't play one of the league's glamour positions, but he's becoming quite the special-teams star in his 11th NFL season. Smith was selected the NFC special teams player of the week after throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to fullback Mike Sellers off a faked field goal in a 27-17 victory over the Denver Broncos. Guess who's pumped up? "It's absolutely an honor," said Smith, who was encircled by reporters and television cameras whil... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:35:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hunter_the_punter_is_man_of_the_moment/1589148 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hunter_the_punter_is_man_of_the_moment/1589148 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hunter_the_punter_is_man_of_the_moment/1589148 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/b/bba319aa3b7dfaaaea1303a7bd4e6f0b280c3476/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90766885.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0478170A608C95461986BC589CA3109035F9B8ACB3C6C1443.jpg Washington Redskins punter Hunter Smith and Cincinnati Bengals kickoff returner Bernard Scott have been named the NFC and AFC special teams players of the week, the league announced today. Smith punted four times with a 38.0-yard average, but that's not... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:43:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Smith_Scott_named_special_teams_players_of_the_week/1587854 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Smith_Scott_named_special_teams_players_of_the_week/1587854 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Smith_Scott_named_special_teams_players_of_the_week/1587854 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/b/bba319aa3b7dfaaaea1303a7bd4e6f0b280c3476/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90766885.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0478170A608C95461986BC589CA3109035F9B8ACB3C6C1443.jpg Redskins punter/touchdown passer and scorer Hunter Smith has been named NFC special teams player of the week, the NFL has announced. Smith, in case you've forgotten, threw the first pass of his career and hit Mike Sellers for a 35-yard TD on a fake field-goal attempt (he is the holder for Shaun Suisham) in the Redskins' 27-17 victory over Denver on Sunday. He also scored on an 8-yard TD run against the Giants in the season opener and is the first special-teams player in NFL history to... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:39:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Smith_is_NFC_special_teams_player_of_week/1587481 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Smith_is_NFC_special_teams_player_of_week/1587481 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Smith_is_NFC_special_teams_player_of_week/1587481 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/4/c45c45cd3ddb04ec1922a4fa9fc5d6decead6c67/small/Washington_Redskins_2009_4998.jpg Via Fanhouse, the Redskins' second-quarter, fourth-and-20 Hunter Smith touchdown pass, because it is awesome.Unfortunately, nothing quite so awesome happened in the third quarter. In fact, there was only one play that I thought was worth of particular note, and it wasn't a positive one.With 4:37 left in the third quarter and the Redskins facing fourth-and-a-VERY-short-1 on Denver's 28 yard line, the team lined up to go for it. Everyone I could hear in the press box was calling for... Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:18:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_vs_Broncos_Third_Quarter_Thoughts/1569251 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_vs_Broncos_Third_Quarter_Thoughts/1569251 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_vs_Broncos_Third_Quarter_Thoughts/1569251 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/3/832f16f94032de9ebc4980e2648b637025cdc535/small/Indianapolis_Colts_2008_b85d.jpg This photo of Hunter Smith doesn't actually show what was so interesting about his return, of course. By throwing a touchdown pass to Mike Sellers on fourth-and-20, he becomes the first non-QB to throw a touchdown for the 2009 Redskins, the first member of the 2009 Redskins to both throw AND run for touchdowns -- AND he records his first NFL pass. Not too bad.There were, despite the fact that the Redskins trail by 3, even more positives in the second quarter: The revamped offensive lin... Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:37:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_vs_Broncos_Second_Quarter_Thoughts/1569004 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_vs_Broncos_Second_Quarter_Thoughts/1569004 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_vs_Broncos_Second_Quarter_Thoughts/1569004 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/b/bba319aa3b7dfaaaea1303a7bd4e6f0b280c3476/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90766885.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0478170A608C95461986BC589CA3109035F9B8ACB3C6C1443.jpg Coach Jim Zorn was expected to make a decision on the Redskins' punter situation today but says he'll instead wait until Saturday, which bodes well for Hunter Smith. Nursing a groin injury, Smith missed last week's game in Atlanta, and the team signed Sam Paulescu, who punted three times for 150 yards against the Falcons. If Smith wasn't ready to punt again this week, the team was expected to place him on season-ending injured reserve. But Smith punted at practice today and sa... Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:00:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Punter_Smith_might_return_Sunday_against_Broncos/1559485 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Punter_Smith_might_return_Sunday_against_Broncos/1559485 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Punter_Smith_might_return_Sunday_against_Broncos/1559485 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/6/367d4c00f65093620af160b5c07e06603b6801b3/small/Buffalo_Bills_v_5783.jpg The Redskins, apparently concerned about punter Hunter Smith's status for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons because of his lingering groin problem, worked out punters today at Redskins Park. Smith initially suffered the injury on his first punt Oct. 4 during a 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He sat out the next two games and punted seven times in the 27-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. On 20 punts this season, Smith has overall and net averages of 43.4 and 38.8... Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:30:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_held_punter_workouts_today/1506971 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_held_punter_workouts_today/1506971 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Redskins_held_punter_workouts_today/1506971 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/9/a971c7b78718ef445727c6ce53e7dd63f050fb1b/small/Super_Bowl_XLI_7de5.jpg Pro bowl left tackle Samuels, expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season because of a neck injury, participated in a team photo today at Redskins Park. "I haven't talked to him," Zorn said. "I don't know any more quite yet." Samuels earlier this week traveled to California to consult with a specialist. He has not played since suffering the injury during the Redskins' first possession in a 20-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 11. The 10-year... Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:58:37 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Injury_news_Samuels_Smith_Haynesworth_Portis/1424287 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Injury_news_Samuels_Smith_Haynesworth_Portis/1424287 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Injury_news_Samuels_Smith_Haynesworth_Portis/1424287 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/6/367d4c00f65093620af160b5c07e06603b6801b3/small/Buffalo_Bills_v_5783.jpg The Redskins plan to work out Hunter Smith (groin) on Saturday to determine whether he could handle punting duties this week against the Kansas City Chiefs at FedEx Field. "We're going to make a decision tomorrow," Coach Jim Zorn said after practice at Redskins Park. "We're trying to give him one more day. Hopefully, the 24 hours will help in some way. "We have the time to do that, so I'm going to take the time to do that. If he can go, if he punts and feels go... Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:32:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Punter_Smith_Has_One_More_Day_to_Recover/1380995 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Punter_Smith_Has_One_More_Day_to_Recover/1380995 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Punter_Smith_Has_One_More_Day_to_Recover/1380995 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/b/b/bba319aa3b7dfaaaea1303a7bd4e6f0b280c3476/small/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f90766885.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d77BFBA49EF878921CC759DF4EBAC47D0478170A608C95461986BC589CA3109035F9B8ACB3C6C1443.jpg Hunter Smith may be available to punt Sunday. He stopped and discussed that with the media after eating lunch, talking in his usual easygoing fashion about knowing how far he could push his leg without risking reinjury and the like."Tomorrow after practice, I'm gonna punt some," he said, "and we'll see then, make a decision based on how that goes. We've done what we needed to do this week, which is to strengthen it and rest it. It's probably a three week injury... Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:29:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hunter_Smith_Is_50_50_For_Sunday_Also_For_Assisting_William_Wallace/1380978 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hunter_Smith_Is_50_50_For_Sunday_Also_For_Assisting_William_Wallace/1380978 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/Hunter_Smith_Is_50_50_For_Sunday_Also_For_Assisting_William_Wallace/1380978 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/b/ebced0f4442289515bced605e437c545db467f38/small/Washington_Redskins_v_3d58.jpg