here's a very complimentary article from
bleacherreport.com:
Patriots Fans Are Wondering, Who Needs Randy Moss When You Have Danny Woodhead?
In a season packed with parity, the Patriots have risen above much of the league by cutting ties with some of their big name players.
New England is 4-1 following their overtime win against the Baltimore Ravens. They would be in sole possession of first place in the AFC East, if Denver's Renaldo Hill hadn't grabbed Santonio Holmes' facemask in the final minutes of the Jets/Broncos game.
The Patriots are getting back to their roots. In the last two seasons, they've traded three of their most prominent players: Randy Moss, Laurence Maroney and Richard Seymour.
They're starting to look a bit more like the team that won three Super Bowls.
Back then, the Patriots were known as a unit, and few individuals were recognized above the team. Players weren't worried as much about who was getting the most touches. They were simply devoted to winning.
That said, the Patriots still need players to step up and produce in the absence of guys like Maroney and Moss. Who are those players? Some of the obvious players that come to mind are Deion Branch, Wes Welker and Benjarvus Green-Ellis.
Another player that could prove to be a significant contributor for New England is Danny Woodhead.
Prior to playing in the NFL, Woodhead was a star for the NCAA Division II Chadron State Eagles. On Oct. 6, 2007, he broke the all-divisions career rushing record. In four seasons for the Eagles, Woodhead piled up 7,962 yards on the ground and 101 rushing touchdowns. He also had 129 receptions for 1417 yards and eight touchdowns.
At 5'8" and 175 pounds, Woodhead received no Division I offers because coaches and scouts felt he was too small.
He utterly dominated Division II competition, but received little to no attention as he made his way into the NFL. Perhaps he was once again considered too small, or maybe it was that the competition he faced wasn't strong enough, or it could have been the classic stigma that white players can't thrive at a skill position like running back.
Whatever the reason, Woodhead was undrafted, and largely unnoticed.
However, he did do enough to get the attention of one team in 2008. The New York Jets signed him as an undrafted free agent. He didn't see any regular season action in '08 but played a little bit in '09, carrying the ball 15 times for 64 yards and making eight receptions for 87 yards.
Apparently he did just enough to get the attention of the New England Patriots, who acquired him after Week 1 of this season. He has quickly emerged as a legitimate offensive weapon for the team that leads the NFL in points per game.
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Tom Brady is the kind of quarterback who spreads the ball around and gets it to whoever's open. He's already shown on a few key plays this year that he trusts Woodhead. Brady may help him to become a star in a fashion similar to how he helped Wes Welker become a star.
Woodhead's story is strikingly similar to that of Welker who was also too small, undrafted and underused prior to joining the Patriots. In Miami, Welker was primarily a return specialist, but became one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL for New England.
Brady trusted Welker right off the bat, and found him for over 100 receptions in three straight seasons from 2007 to 2009.
This is the first season that Woodhead has really been utilized, and it seems like his stock is rising within the organization. Perhaps not as quickly as Welker's stock rose, but rising still.
In yesterday's win over the Dolphins, Woodhead led the team in carries with 11 and rushing yards with 63. He also made five receptions for 52 yards.
He's played just three games for the Patriots, but he has 141 yards and a touchdown on just 22 carries. He also has six receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. It looks like New England is going to start using him more, and he could be a big part of the offense from here on out.
Woodhead is a perfect fit for this team. He's worked hard to finally get his shot and will do everything he can to take advantage of it.
And oh yeah, he's up to 200 pounds now, so maybe he's not too small anymore.
