Blue Chip of the Week

Rock Cartwright: With Clinton Portis out for at least another week and Ladell Betts done for the year, Cartwright is the new starting tailback. A player the coaching staff was trying to push aside earlier in the season is now the closest thing the team has to a healthy every down back. Cartwright has run well in limited action this year. His 13 carries for 67 yards against Dallas pushed his season totals to 30 carries for 135 yards or 4.5 yards per carry, tops among Redskins running backs with 30 carries or more. As a receiver, Cartwright has more catches than Portis [13 to 9] for more yards [93 to 57] and the same number of touchdowns [1]. Cartwright doesn’t run with much wiggle so he’s not going to make anyone miss, but he does run straight ahead and with power, no dancing around looking for holes. Don’t expect a lot of 45-yard runs, but don’t expect many negative runs either. Cartwright can prove he’s a reliable backup running back in addition to the team’s best and most versatile special teams player.

STOCK UP

Devin Thomas: Okay, his numbers the last two weeks [5 catches, 70 yards] is about what Larry Fizgerald does in the first half of most of his games. Nevertheless, any improvement shown by Washington’s 2008 2nd round picks is a welcome development and Thomas appears to be doing more now. He also had a 38-yard kickoff return to start the 3rd quarter against Dallas that set the Redskins offense up in great field position. The offense couldn’t do anything about it, of course, but at least Thomas did his part. The return demonstrated real power and determination on Thomas’ part, indicating he may have the stuff of an NFL player yet. The jury is still out on Thomas and the verdict now is more negative than positive. Finally, though, there is a bit of light amidst the darkness.

STOCK DOWN

Shaun Suisham: He’s had a terrific 2009 season, but his misses against the Cowboys helped cost the team a win. I don’t blame Suisham for missing a 50-yard field goal, I blame his coach for attempting it. However, Suisham also missed a 39-yard field goal to end the first half and that is not acceptable. Kicking indoors on astroturf, with no wind or cold issues, kickers must hit everything within 45 yards. Suisham’s miss couldn’t have come at a worse time. Let’s hope he can restore his accuracy to what we saw in the first nine games of this season.

Stephon Heyer: He committed two penalties yesterday and blocked poorly for the pass and the run. Heyer simply doesn’t get much of a push in the running game, which means running backs have to take on defensive linemen instead of linebackers and safeties. He’s also not blocking well in the passing game, forcing Jason Campbell to throw or step up in the pocket before he’s ready. Heyer simpy does not play to the standard of a starting tackle in the NFL and the Redskins need to make replacing Heyer in the starting lineup one of their top offseason priorities.

Starting Running Backs: Portis down. Betts down. Rock Cartwright — watch your back.