Danny Woodhead

sport historian,

Thanks for that info. However, I think when you're up against a team that has such a back like Woodhead, the answer is to have your best lineback, preferrably a mlb key on him exclusively and deliver a hit on him every play. Otherwise, he'll run all over you. Worth a try.

Tom Iron...

OMG effin moron alert, over at comcast sportsnet someone just wrote how to fix the 32 teams by team, and the advice was to draft someone "with breakaway speed." This because the longest run from scrimmage was 36 yds or something.

Reply on the board that Woodhead runs a 4.39, same as LaDainian Tomlinson's fastest. LT had plenty of "breakaway speed" runs; with more carries Woodhead will get those as well.

FYI, Danny will be chatting live tomorrow (4/5/11) at 1PM EDT at "BSPN". We ought to send him lots of support!

Chat w/ Pats RB Danny Woodhead, Tuesday (4/5) @ 1PM EDT


Edited by: DixieDestroyer

I predict that Woodhead's 2011 rushing attempts total will actually go UP, despite the drafting of Shane Vereen. Woodhead is a fan favourite, and the leader in Patriots' jersey sales after his arrival last year. He is looked at as a valuable asset in the eyes of most of the Patriot fans who see him as the new Kevin Faulk (if not better).

Three of the Patriots RBs are in their mid 30s and will be retiring. BB wanted to replace the RB depth. Belichick has always liked using a two or three back tandem. I think BB realizes that although Lawfirm is a very solid starting power back that he isn't anything special and can be held to being 3 or 4 yards and a cloud of dust against the league's more explosive playoff defenses. Lawfirm's style basically makes him a Jacob Hester type. Looking at other top powerbacks around the league, Lawfirm is a poor man's Gerhart, Jacobs or Turner and a VERY poor man's Hillis. By mid-season BB may end up going with a two scatback attack with Woodhead and Vereen. Don't be surprised if BB tries to get something for Lawfirm in the next couple years while his stock is high. I'm predicting 125-150 carries for Woody next year. Predictions?

I think you are right about Woodhead but ,I think Vereen will be more of an insurance back in case someone gets injured though I don't see him splitting that many carries his first season. Bellicheck has talked quite a bit about how defense spreading out and getting smaller and getting a bigger power back, its just ashame he didn't get someone like Gerhart. I think Stevan Ridley is going to cut into Lawfirm's carries. Lawfirm reminds me more of a poor man's Shonn Greene, not fast, big or that powerful, but good at getting to the hole and picking up a few yards. Like I said, Bellicheck seems to want a bigger bruising type back that can break tackles, Ridley is that guy. I have watched LSU for some time now, and to me he is more of the poor man's Hester, literally same type of backs except Ridley isn't as powerful, his initial burst isn't as fast and isn't as agile, he is a guy that can grind out a few tough yards, which is what was lacking in the last playoff game.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him and Lawfirm split carries with Woodhead getting a similar number of touches, probably a slight increase, with around at least 1,000 from scrimmage. You are right about Bellicheck using multiple guys. Woodhead could be the feature back, but I think Bill realizes how short of a shelf life a back has getting a full workload, and doesn't like to run the offense through one particular back. If Ridley works out I can see Lawfirm being phased out as well. What would be nice is if he got Zach Line in a few years, he is quick enough to work out of shotgun in 3rd downs and also powerful enough to break tackles.

As far as carries I don't know, I just think he will be used in a similar way to last year, just on the field a little more, he might get more carries, he might get more passes, it depends on what the defense is showing, but I don't see any of the backs cutting into his playing time. Even though he wants a bruiser like Ridley (Woodhead's power is underrated though, hes built similar to MJD), he still needs that homerun threat in Woodhead, who has freakish agility, not many backs can run well out of shotgun being at a weird angle taking the handoff, and having to make multiple defenders miss in space. I just don't see Vereen doing that consistently. I mean even Kevin Faulk wasn't a good runner as a 3rd down back, both times he got 100 carries or more his averaged 3.5 and 3.6 ypc, there were only a few types of plays he was good at getting decent gains on. Woodhead can get consistent gains on any type of play, which makes the play unpredictable on whether it is a run or pass no matter what formation, which should secure his role in the offense.

I kind of wish Woodhead were on a different team, similar to Charles. Charles has tons of traditional running plays, and they use a zone blocking scheme, usually with an extra tackle so he has more gaps to run through. Patriots linemen practice pass blocking more and dont use an extra tackle and not as much zone blocking. I think Woodhead could put up the numbers Charles if he traded places. Most of Woodhead's big plays were making guys miss in space all the way to the endzone, weaving in and out since they spread defenses out and there are defenders playing further from the line. On the Chiefs they run quite a bit and it sucks the dbs in, make a few of the miss and you can use your straight line speed off to the races.

Edited by: snow

[TUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bj6N2jtOeM[/TUBE]

Danny Woodhead's highlights from last year with his preseason game with the Jets at the beginning, hope you guys enjoy.

I wish Bellicheck would feed him the ball about 280 times with about 60 receptions, he could get 2k but I doubt it will happen so hoping for another season with 1,000 from scrimmage.

I'd like to see him get at least 200 carries. That would probably be enough for a 1,000 yard season. Warrick Dunn was smaller and weaker than Danny and he had 5 1,000 yard seasons so how can they knock Danny for being too small.

For some reason dwfs think blacks are made of steel and Whites are made of glass. The same people who said Tebow would get killed by NFL linebackers are the same ones who think Cam Newton will be invincible running the ball. Also, White players at skill positions stick out to people, so when one is short people recognize it, for some reason the only small black player that sticks out to people is Darren Sproles at 5'6 180. They also claim his height/weight is inflated, its listed as 5'9 195, in reality it is 5'7 3/4th (basically 5'8) 197, well it was 197 coming into the league, he looks much stockier since being with the Jets. Its actually better to be 5'8 and 200 than taller and the same weight. His size is only noticeable when going against linebackers which is expected, when you look at a guy like Sproles defensive backs tower over him.

Jamaal Charles is 6'1 199 so less muscle mass, he is doing fine with similar ability to Woodhead. He had 230 carries and 45 receptions last year and Thomas Jones had 245 carries (the Lawfirm of their offense). Despite having 100+ more carries Charles had the same number of touchdowns as Woodhead. Unfortunately the Chiefs run the ball more so we wouldn't see that type of balance if the carries were evenly split. However I think Woodhead could crack 1k rushing with 180 carries, he would have to average 6 yards per carry which I think he can do. Charles averaged 5.9 in 09 and then 6.4 in 10. Granted they had a weaker schedule and better run blocking scheme but don't be surprised to see Bellicheck tweak a few things and run more. Weiss (the coordinator for the Chiefs last year) comes from the Bellicheck coaching tree.

What I really wish is 350 carries, we already have White backs that have cracked 1,000, I want him to crack 2k, and hes the perfect guy to do it. The White backs in the past never got enough carries for the most part, if they did get 350+ it was a lot of short yardage stuff to bring down their ypc (I think John Riggins is the only one to get more than 350, one season with 370 something. Chris Johnson broke it averaging 5.6 ypc, the same ypc Woodhead had last year, just a crap ton of carries. Hillis could break it as well but I don't know if he would get enough carries either. Im hoping for 2k from scrimmage though like Marshall Faulk did twice.

I wonder why his 3 cone drill time is listed at 7.03, there is just no way it is that low with the way he looks on the field.Edited by: dwid

On fantasy sites, Woodhead's stock has dropped like a rock, and also in fantasy drafts. They figure that since the Patriots drafted two RBs that Woodhead automatically is the one whose role will be greatly reduced or eliminated altogether. They may be right but the Patriots would be foolish to do so and are the one team that gave him an opportunity in the first place. It should be obvious thatWoodhead willonly get better but the DWF mentality is just the opposite;many believethat Woodhead was a one-season fluke and a midget to boot and it's time for him to step aside for a "real" back.

It's still up in the air how Woodhead will be treated next season. I can't see Ridley taking carries away from Danny. He's a larger back, around 230lbs, who may take some carries away from Law Firm. He's also slow and runs around a 4.7 40.

Shane Vereen is a small back at around 200lbs. If anything, he'll cut into Danny's carries but he's not as explosive or fast as Woodhead. Hopefully these two backs were just drafted as insurance in case of injuries, at least for now.

Bellicheck is not an idiot, Woodhead will get his touches. I think the picks are there for insurance. The season that Lawfirm had is more of a fluke, he has limited athleticism and doesn't do anything special. DWFs thought that Welker was a fluke and couldn't exist without Moss. With the lockout nobody is going to be able to take away the third down role of Woodhead. Vereen is smaller but not much of a scatback like Woodhead, he ran a lot out of i formation behind a lead blocker and not too familiar with pass blocking. I would say Lawfirm's carries are threatened by both Ridley and Vereen. Vereen is closer to Lawfirm's size 5'10 210 pounds, 4.5 speed. I don't see Ridley being anything more than a goal line/short yardage back, he can't really catch so its going to be an obvious running situation. I wouldn't be surprised to see him tried as a blocker.Edited by: dwid

I agree.
Bellicheck in my opinion is the only coach in the entire NFL that has the balls to play a white running back, and its because he is good.
Anywhere else he would be phased out, but at New England I think he will get about 25 - 40% of the carries this season.

Bellicheck is not a dummy. He knows Woodhead is a playmaker who does nothing but produce when he's on the field. Also Bellicheck knows that injuries are a part of the game and to not have depth at an injury prone position such as RB is foolish. Hence, he drafts two RBs as basically insurance policies if Law Firm or Danny get hurt.

Prognosis: Woodhead exceeds last years carries and gets closer to 1,000 yards in a season. Granted if the lockout does not cut into the season.

Agreed! Insurance policy with long time vetransTaylor, Morris & Faulk on the way out...they needed replacing for depth.

I look for a bright future with Danny Woodhead..at first watching the Draft was like "oh no" when I saw Vereen & Ridley get picked...however after thinking about it for awhile...would expect Ridley to basically have a "redshirt" special teams type rookieseason with limited carries...maybe the Law-Firm should be looking over his shoulder....as for Vereen...it should be a nice battle in camp; but Danny will get his...he's too elusive & explosive with great burst! Better reciever & good blocker...

I wouldn't be too bothered about the unathletic never played a down of football; racially castrated dwf geekswith their silly Fantasy list....they are just prone/programmed a drop whitey down the depth chart.

TwentyTwo, even with the fat potato chip eating white Rivals/ BSPN/ WeenieWorld fantasy ranker nerds in action- Woodhead is still somewhat fantasy relevant. Woody was slotted as a 12th round draft pick in a 12 team league and, yes, ahead of Vereen by BSPN. Hillis was ranked as the 12th best RB (13th by BSPN) and late 2nd round draft pick in a 12 team league by Yahooligan Rivals.

I'm snagging Woodhead whenever possible in fantasy football this season, as my third or fourth RB. Though as I've posted before it won't surprise me if he gets screwed over because that's how the NFL has been operating for decades. But it also won't surprise me if he continues to thrive. The rise of Woodhead and Hillis in the same season, along with Gerhart being drafted in the second round and John Kuhn contributing as a runner despite being beefed up to block, has helped the plight of the White RB a bit. Now we have to see how Woodhead and Hillis are used the season after being successful, as many White WRshave beendemoted after having big years.

I think Hillis has a bigger chance of having his role reduced than Woodhead- although the Madden cover and all the exposure will make it somewhat difficult.

The caste whores in the media are already trying to make it seem like Hillis was overworked (and they aren't saying "in a few games" where his ribs got nicked up and he was carrying the ball around 30 times). No, they are trying to make it seem like he can't handle 270 carries over the whole course of the season- and Hardesty needs to get 40% of the carries.

Many other featured backs get 70-75% of THEIR TEAM'S carries. Hillis SHOULD get at least as many carries as last year (considering he'll be the starter at week 1- and probably not have limited work a few games due to injury like last year). The media isn't painting a fair picture of the situation. I'd like to see Hillis have around 300 carries.

With Woodhead, he is entrenched in the Kevin Faulk role, but 2 or even 3 of the Pat's veteran backs are retiring and Woodhead will have two more games as a Patriot this year than last- to play in. BB knows how good Woody is- and won't want to trust rookie Vereen (Vereen isn't well schooled in the NE system as a blocker yet- and isn't as talented as Woodhead for the Faulk role anyway). And unlike most coaches BB has the balls to give Woody at least as many carries this year. I predict Woodhead will have around 140 carries this year.

Good news for Danny; things like this make it a little harder to bury him if the organization happens to be thinking that way, which is the way many of the DWFs and media pundits are after the Patriots drafted two RBs in the early rounds in April.

<H3>Danny Woodhead as pitchman</H3>


In early September of 2010, Patriots running back Danny Woodhead was without a team after being cut by the Jets.

Less than a year later, he not only has a new team and a contract extension, but his profile is being raised with a new marketing deal.

Sketchers USA on Thursday announced a two-year endorsement deal featuring Woodhead, who will "represent the company's high performance footwear and apparel lines in worldwide multiple-medium marketing campaign."
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4697625/danny-woodhead-as-pitchman

Interesting pithy Bleacher Report article on Woodhead: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...tions-can-danny-woodhead-continue-to-dominate
[h=1]New England Patriots Predictions: Can Danny Woodhead Continue to Dominate?[/h]

[h=3]By Patrick Clarke Featured Columnist
on August 8, 2011[/h]237 reads
0




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Jim Rogash/Getty Images
The Patriots' 2010 season was full of surprises, none more than the emergence of 5'8" running back, Danny Woodhead, who rushed for more than five yards per carry, and scored six touchdowns out of the back field for the Pats.

Woodhead blew his 2009 production with the New York Jets out of the water last season, proving the age-old saying that big things come in small packages.

The 26-year-old back out of Chadron State played in 14 games last season for New England, and quickly became a staple of the offense.

One has to expect more of the same from Woodhead in 2011, but how will the acquisition of Chad Ochocinco affect Tom Brady's offensive direction?

Will Woodhead's 2010 success make him a wanted man, someone teams prepare all week for and hope to shut down?

Regardless, Woodhead is a different kind of back.

He can change the pace of a game, break a tackle in the back field, and take a dump off pass 50 yards for a touchdown.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis will without question be the no. 1 guy behind Tom Brady this coming season, but Woodhead can do things that Green-Ellis cannot, among them provide an elusive and crafty back that plays well beyond his size.

If Woodhead can make the little guy popular again in 2011, the Patriots will go deep into the playoffs.

I never understand how Lawfirm is always penciled in as the number 1 back (other than the fact that he has that special melanin). If it were another team I could see. He really overacheived last year and Im not sure if he could duplicate that this year AND you have someone on the team that is capable of putting up Marshall Faulk type numbers in the Pats offense. Its not like he is that much smaller than other feature backs, he isn't that much smaller than Marshall Faulk who was 5'10 and 210. Barry Sanders was 5'8 203 pounds, Ray Rice plays now and is 5'9 195. Warrick Dunn was like 180 pounds at 5'9 and had 8 seasons with 220+ carries. I think there was one season in his 12 season career where he had less than 200 touches, he only played in 11 games that season and had 162 touches. Woodhead is around 200 at 5'7 and 3/8ths, he shows enough power to plow through traffic and can pass block like a 250 pound fullback.

I agree dwid. It should AT LEAST be more of an even split. Woodhead needs AT LEAST 150 carries this year and AT LEAST 40 receptions! In reality he really needs to have a 2010 Jamal Charles' like workload!

Lawfirm reminds me of Jacob Hester (ie. a very solid split carry powerback), except Hester could very well be better because of a superior 10 yard burst!

Here is the latest from Weenieworld on the Pats runningback situation. Will Vereen cut into Danny's carries this season?

Rookie RB Shane Vereen has not practiced since going down with a hamstring injury a week ago.



Vereen is losing valuable reps in a competitive backfield. Multiple beat writers noted that the second-rounder was one of the fastest players on the field early in camp. Vereen should have a role this season, but he's not a great bet for more than 10 touches per game.

dwid said:

I never understand how Lawfirm is always penciled in as the number 1 back (other than the fact that he has that special melanin). If it were another team I could see. He really overacheived last year and Im not sure if he could duplicate that this year AND you have someone on the team that is capable of putting up Marshall Faulk type numbers in the Pats offense. Its not like he is that much smaller than other feature backs, he isn't that much smaller than Marshall Faulk who was 5'10 and 210. Barry Sanders was 5'8 203 pounds, Ray Rice plays now and is 5'9 195. Warrick Dunn was like 180 pounds at 5'9 and had 8 seasons with 220+ carries. I think there was one season in his 12 season career where he had less than 200 touches, he only played in 11 games that season and had 162 touches. Woodhead is around 200 at 5'7 and 3/8ths, he shows enough power to plow through traffic and can pass block like a 250 pound fullback.

Click to expand...

Belichick has always liked workhorse backs (or at least uses them). When he won the first time in an upset over the Rams Antoine Smith was a mediocre starter who ran hard but wasn't anything special. In fact when I see guys like that who are in the late 20's to early 30's you know that White tailbacks are overlooked. At that point of his career Smith was basically a north south running fullback. Corey Dillon was also employed in the same fashion and had the same balding tires too...

Corey Dillon by the end of his career was one of the slowest running backs I've ever seen. "Lumbering" doesn't begin to describe his style by then yet he was still the main horse as White is Right notes.