Danny Woodhead

[dwid]

Vereen has only been used in garbage time, and still hasn't looked that good, his big run was when the game was well out of hand against the Chiefs, a long of 19. He has to gear down too much to change direction. The only way he would see time is if injuries occurred. Woodhead has been used more the past few games. I read an article where the runningbacks coach talks about how Danny had been nicked up for most of the season and just now getting back to 100 percent. This could explain why he didn't see the ball as much. I did notice that it looked like he had lost some quickness earlier this season.

If anything Woodhead should be seeing more carries, everyone else has declined, even Lawfirm. Woodhead was the only one who averaged over 4 ypc against the Jets, as well as the Eagles.

 

[Wes Woodhead]

I find it frustrating when Woodhead just gets a few touches. He is quite clearly the best tailback they have. If he was the man getting most of the touches the Pats would be undefeated right now even with that bad D. The guy is so much like Barry Sanders its craziness to not get it to him at least 15-20 times a game.

 

[backrow]

example of rotoworld's agenda (who are they omitting here?):

The Boston Globe believes the Patriots "might just go with the sure hand the rest of the way" at running back.

Stevan Ridley was benched after Saturday's second-half fumble, and clearly does not have his coach's trust the way BenJarvus Green-Ellis does. Green-Ellis has never fumbled since coming into the league in 2008. Green-Ellis will likely start Sunday's game against the Ravens' No. 2 run defense, but the Pats could be forced to turn to Ridley if the Law Firm plods the way he did for most of the second half of the season.
Related: Stevan Ridley

Source: Boston Globe
Jan 17 - 8:35 AM


and now an actual excerpt from the Globe:

Rating: 3 out of 5 Danny Woodhead looks like he’s back to the 2010 version of himself as his feel for the running lanes has been very good lately. The group had four broken tackles with BenJarvus Green-Ellis leading with two. It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do with Stevan Ridley. He’s obviously the team’s most explosive back but was sent to the bench after his second fumble in as many games (one lost). The coaching staff puts a huge premium on ball security and since Green-Ellis has never fumbled, they might just go with the sure hand the rest of the way.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

and now an actual excerpt from the Globe:

Rating: 3 out of 5 Danny Woodhead looks like he’s back to the 2010 version of himself as his feel for the running lanes has been very good lately. The group had four broken tackles with BenJarvus Green-Ellis leading with two. It will be interesting to see what the Patriots do with Stevan Ridley. He’s obviously the team’s most explosive back but was sent to the bench after his second fumble in as many games (one lost). The coaching staff puts a huge premium on ball security and since Green-Ellis has never fumbled, they might just go with the sure hand the rest of the way.

the Globe isn't exactly honest with their "reporting" either ... how exactly is Ridley more explosive than Woodhead? in what speed/agility/strength/leaping (etc.) measurement does the "obviously more explosive" Ridley actually outperform Woodhead?

the only thing Ridley has more of than Woodhead is melanin. and a couple of inches of height.

 

[backrow]

exactly, Jimmy. i focused on the fact that rotoworld didn't even bother to name Woodhead but Ridley being more explosive than Woodhead is utter bull****.

 

[FootballDad]

According to ESPN, The "explosive" Ridley has a 40 time of 4.65. Really. He had a 4.21 short shuttle and 6.78 3-cone, 36" vertical, and 10'8" broad jump. You can compare those numbers to Woodhead's above. Hardly "more explosive". He has good lateral movement but is not fast. A white back with that 40 would be working at WalMart.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

According to ESPN, The "explosive" Ridley has a 40 time of 4.65. Really. He had a 4.21 short shuttle and 6.78 3-cone, 36" vertical, and 10'8" broad jump. You can compare those numbers to Woodhead's above. Hardly "more explosive". He has good lateral movement but is not fast. A white back with that 40 would be working at WalMart.

Good call on this FBD. Skid(mark)ly can't hold Danny's jock & should rightfully be on the practice squad (at best).

 

[Animalmuther0]

Gee, a kind of endorsement from a BR featured columnist on DW here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...r-pats-rb-danny-woodhead-to-be-x-factor-again

Had to call him small a few times to keep from really thinking that Danny is better than Ridley, but hey...may the DWF's are starting to wonder as well? :roll:One can only hope.

 

[Westside]

Saw the replay of the Pats win last week. Woodhead had 3 great explosive runs. One was one tackle from ripping a huge run. I will pray that Danny will finally have an explosive day against Ravens. I hope NE will be clicking on all cylinders. This is a huge CF match up.

 

[FootballDad]

Gee, a kind of endorsement from a BR featured columnist on DW here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...r-pats-rb-danny-woodhead-to-be-x-factor-again

Had to call him small a few times to keep from really thinking that Danny is better than Ridley, but hey...may the DWF's are starting to wonder as well? :roll:One can only hope.

Exceptional comments after the article:

Jim Humphries
5' 6" @ 190. His teams' best ball carrier and best-out-of-the -backfield receiver. Dangerous returner. Explosive and hard to bring down. Elusive. YPC north of 5 rushing on a pass happy team. Never heard qualifiers such as "elfin" or "diminutive" used to describe this player.
Who dat you ask? Why, its Darren Sproles. Saints, o'course.
Woodhead is "perceived" to be slower, less explosive, smaller, ad nauseum. DW will probably not get the touches because he is not supposed to be good at his craft. Why aren't Sproles, Ray Rice, Steve Smith, Maurice Jones-Drew, McCluster, Kendall Hunter, Jacquizz Rodgers, Brandon Banks, Stefan Logan routinely labeled as small? Men who are the same height or smaller?
I think I know why, as most people do. Why just looking at them and then standing DW up next to them, they got to be better right? We are socially engineered to believe that. Ridley better? Of course. Isn't it obvious?
Woodhead is a gifted RB that deserves a shot. A fair shot. You are right...why he doesn't figure in O'briens offensive schemes based on his skill and obvious talent is a glaring oversight to any fan of this game. He could be the Jordy Nelson of his team. The Patriots should exploit this against the Ravens D. But they won't. Too bad, too. DW would charge hell with a snowball for his team.
Hopefully the Pats keep him and the next OC will recognize his talents as a guy who can run the ball well. Whose YPC is over 5. Whose hands are sure and not as likely to fumble. Not the guy who "shouldn't" be able to run the ball as well as he does.

Bob Klingenberg
Right on Eiten - Right on. Finally somebody speaks out! Great insight into the most tragic story in the NFL in 2011-12. Danny has been wasted all year as a running back, and totally ignored as a pass receiver out of the backfield. After a stellar year in 2010-11, Bill Obrien coached the dumbest game of his career against the Jets in the playoffs by running Danny up the gut over and over ad naseum. It didn't work, the Pats lost, and Danny has been in BO's dog house ever since. Danny became Bill Obrien's scapegoat for his own stupidity. Danny Woodhead is not a primarily a gut buster, though he can, but he is a lethal slide-glide juke-jive perimeter runner. He is also a lethal shovel pass, screen pass , slant pass receiver, and is never looked at by Brady as Danny runs worthless invisible routes. Last year BB and BO designed an offense to maximize Danny's Harlan Hill Trophy giftings. This year, Danny has been unrecognizable as he has been embarrased and shamed for Obrien's own bad coaching in a painful playoff loss. Danny will not reemerge as the gifted athlete he is until Bill Obrien is gone

 

[Don Wassall]

Some very astute comments. O'Brien is off to Penn State after the playoffs to take over that disgraced football program, so we'll see how Danny gets used by the next offensive coordinator in New England.

 

[wile]

That playoff loss was painful watching Brady overlook Danny wide open as the outlet with 10yds of space in any direction, but lo and behold Brady had to challenge the corners downfield. Bellecheck, Obrien and Mr. Gisselle deserved a horse whippin for that.

 

[bearclaw500]

Some very astute comments. O'Brien is off to Penn State after the playoffs to take over that disgraced football program, so we'll see how Danny gets used by the next offensive coordinator in New England.

That new offensive coordinator is Josh Mcdaniels.:cry:

 

[dwid]

[video=youtube;DZcY0X1sZ_c]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZcY0X1sZ_c&feature=g-all-u&context=G29524abFAAAAAAAAEAA[/video]

too bad they never bothered putting up any footage back when he came out. Good to see though, still only a handful of games, would be nice to see his entire career.

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

Thanks for posting the vid, dwid. It was fun to watch.

 

[backrow]

---

indeed, thanks dwid.

 

[bearclaw500]

I didn't realize the law firm was a free agent. Sounds like Cincinnati is going to make an offer to him. This should be good for Woody.

"Last night we reported that there were two "mystery teams" involved in the bidding for Patriots free agent running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Today we know that one of those teams is the Cincinnati Bengals.
According to a report by Yahoo, Green-Ellis is on his way to visit with the Bengals today. New England has expressed interest in retaining Green-Ellis, though they were unable to agree to an extension. The organization would still welcome him back, but if another team makes an aggressive push they will likely allow him to walk"

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2012/03/benjarvus_green-ellis_to_visit.html

 

[Freethinker]

I didn't realize the law firm was a free agent. Sounds like Cincinnati is going to make an offer to him. This should be good for Woody.

"Last night we reported that there were two "mystery teams" involved in the bidding for Patriots free agent running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Today we know that one of those teams is the Cincinnati Bengals.
According to a report by Yahoo, Green-Ellis is on his way to visit with the Bengals today. New England has expressed interest in retaining Green-Ellis, though they were unable to agree to an extension. The organization would still welcome him back, but if another team makes an aggressive push they will likely allow him to walk"

http://blog.masslive.com/patriots/2012/03/benjarvus_green-ellis_to_visit.html

If this happens, Stevan Ridley would probably take the Green-Ellis role so I don't think it benefits Danny too much. We just need to hope Shane Vereen doesn't steal any of his carries as he's the more comparable back to Danny but vastly inferior. Hopefully Danny will also be fully healthy all year in which case he should be better than last year across the board.

 

[dwid]

I don't know, watching Ridley, it looks like his production was a flash in the pan. He doesn't have the skillset to be a back that you rely on to get double digit carries every week. We will still see a rbbc in New England but hopefully Danny comes out on top with the most touches..

 

[Woody]

Apparently Danny Woodhead is a "passing back."
I think this means he doesn't actually run, but is in the backfield strictly to block and go out in the flat? They didn't say he's a "running back" so I don't think he actually gets handoffs.

I'm confused.
http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story...riots-agree-deal-joseph-addai-source-confirms

 

[dwid]

Apparently Danny Woodhead is a "passing back." I think this means he doesn't actually run, but is in the backfield strictly to block and go out in the flat? They didn't say he's a "running back" so I don't think he actually gets handoffs.I'm confused.http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story...riots-agree-deal-joseph-addai-source-confirms

I guess they mean 3rd down back, pass blocking, running routes, maybe a few draws. Unless they want "passing back" to be a new White position. Its pretty much what Brian Leonard plays, rarely seeing any handoffs, just pass blocking and catching, something many black backs struggle to do. The Patriots should take note of how the Saints used Darren Sproles, he had 86 runs for 603 yards and had 86 receptions for 710 yards, except Danny is more talented and can use more carries. Darren got to run a variety of plays, lots of toss plays, ways to get him space and use his quickness. They didn't really do that with Danny last year, I know he had some injury problems early, so hopefully we will see more of that next year. I think Welker's role eats into the amount of receptions Danny will get, but hopefully he can still get close to 100 carries and about 50 receptions.

I don't think Addai will do much, similar to Chad Johnson last year. Many are saying he can be the 3rd down back, which would leave Woodhead to do what? Addai can't get tough yards and is very injury prone. I would say he is depth at best. They missed on 2 backs last year. Vereen couldn't even see the field and Ridley had one good game early on, dissapeared and then had a good 3 game stretch against some mediocre run defenses, and then wasn't used much in the playoffs.

 

[bearclaw500]

Caste prick-face, Jason Cole with a slam on Woodhead. Complete with the obligatory anonymous source (in this instance an unnamed NFL head coach) and then the typical criticism of Woodhead's size. Never mind that Woodhead is pretty much the same height and weight as Shane Vereen. You are only too small if you are a white RB.

Will Patriots take ball out of Tom Brady's hands in order to run with Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen?

The Patriots can't just put up decent rushing stats. They have to run it when everybody knows they have to run it. Enter Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, the pair of running backs the Patriots drafted in 2011. The lack of an offseason didn't give either enough time to learn the passing plays, particularly the protection schemes. With that problem solved, Ridley is now the starter with Vereen in position to step in if needed.

The quality of the Patriots' running game has been average, at best. To believe in the New England ground game is to believe in urban legend. As in the legend of Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. Green-Ellis went by the nickname "Law Firm" and the 5-foot-8 Woodhead is a modern-day Rudy. Truth is, neither was beyond serviceable.

"You didn't have to prepare for those guys," an NFC head coach said. "Green-Ellis and Woodhead weren't going to hurt you. They got the yards they were supposed to get because of the scheme of the offense. They weren't going to make mistakes, but they weren't explosive."


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--i...RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

 

[dwid]

Shane Vereen still hasn't accomplished anything against a first string defense.

 

[seattlefan]

I've read articles in the past by that dweeb Jason Cole. He always makes room to insult white players. I'll bet Ridley and Vereen put up mediocre performances this season.

 

[Don Wassall]

The quality of the Patriots' running game has been average, at best. To believe in the New England ground game is to believe in urban legend. As in the legend of Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead. Green-Ellis went by the nickname "Law Firm" and the 5-foot-8 Woodhead is a modern-day Rudy. Truth is, neither was beyond serviceable.

"You didn't have to prepare for those guys," an NFC head coach said. "Green-Ellis and Woodhead weren't going to hurt you. They got the yards they were supposed to get because of the scheme of the offense. They weren't going to make mistakes, but they weren't explosive."

I was watching the NFL Network some over the past day, and they've been covering the return of Maurice Jones-Drew to the Jags with the same sort of non-stop breathless coverage that used to be reserved for moon landings and assassinations of important figures.

At any rate, Danny Woodhead towers over this guy. One of the clips they showed was of Jones-Drew on the practice field with a black teammate and a White one. Jones-Drew literally came up only to about the White guy's chest.

In the range of 5'8" to 5'10" is the height of the average black running back. Woodhead is only slightly undersized for an NFL tailback yet the mocking adjectives still come fast and furious after all this time. He was widely predicted to be on the roster bubble; I hope that either through injury or lousy performance by Vereen and Ridley, Woodhead sees the field more than he did in 2010 and puts up even better stats.