I Keep Coming Back To Danny Woodhead

[IcyPatriot]

Analyze - analyze - analyze ... we all do it. The more I do it the more I see Danny Woodhead as the x-factor for the game. Contain Ray Rice and keep Lewis - Suggs - and Reed 1 or 2 steps from exploding on Brady. That's all Tom needs is one or 2 steps of hesitation from them and that comes from lots of Danny Woodhead. If he's in his zone tomorrow I believe it's Woodhead's performance that gives Brady that one or two seconds more to factor Branch in down field and it gushes open from there for Gronk and Hernandez - not that they need much help anyways.

Also ... how great would it be to see Solder catch 1 or 2 tomorrow ...

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Agreed I think Woodhead and Ridley are our best bets to keep that D honest. Ngata will make it tough to run up the middle.

Glad Woodhead is back to 2010 form, he was just in time for the stretch run. Same with AH, the other X factor here.

 

[hovis]

Analyze - analyze - analyze ... we all do it. The more I do it the more I see Danny Woodhead as the x-factor for the game. Contain Ray Rice and keep Lewis - Suggs - and Reed 1 or 2 steps from exploding on Brady. That's all Tom needs is one or 2 steps of hesitation from them and that comes from lots of Danny Woodhead. If he's in his zone tomorrow I believe it's Woodhead's performance that gives Brady that one or two seconds more to factor Branch in down field and it gushes open from there for Gronk and Hernandez - not that they need much help anyways.

Also ... how great would it be to see Solder catch 1 or 2 tomorrow ...

I can see him breaking a big gain, he's overdue for that; otherwise I doubt he'll contribute much. I'm a huge Woodhead fan, so it took me a while to accept it, but he's below average at blitz pickup. I know others will disagree, but I think it's a technique / recognition problem, rather than a strength problem. Blitz pickup is an artform, and it takes experience to be able to feel the rush and make the right call. Woodhead got plenty of reps in the regular season and was pretty inconsistent. The use of Hernandez as the shotgun RB was pretty telling; he hasn't maintained BOB's trust taking on blitzers.

 

[olschool]

I keep thinking kind of the same thing. I think the speedy guys, Woodhead, Welker , Branch, Edelman, Ridley, will have a better game against defenders who tend to over pursue, and go for the big hit instead of the sure tackle.

Gronk and Hernandez are going to be doubled anyway, and we know Brady always looks for the open guy first.

But, it really comes down to how well the line protects Brady. If he gets protection, he can beat any defense. If he doesn't, oh well, wait'll next year.

 

[strongside]

Whether it was the injury, teams having more film on him, or just lack of opportunity he is just not the same player he was last year. I don't see the burst on the cut back runs and the balence since he seems to get tripped up on a lot of runs..

With the weapons on this offense I think Balt will be glad to see him with the ball in his hands.

 

[Ring 6]

I can see him breaking a big gain, he's overdue for that; otherwise I doubt he'll contribute much. I'm a huge Woodhead fan, so it took me a while to accept it, but he's below average at blitz pickup. I know others will disagree, but I think it's a technique / recognition problem, rather than a strength problem. Blitz pickup is an artform, and it takes experience to be able to feel the rush and make the right call. Woodhead got plenty of reps in the regular season and was pretty inconsistent. The use of Hernandez as the shotgun RB was pretty telling; he hasn't maintained BOB's trust taking on blitzers.

Has Hernandez ever stayed in and blocked from that spot?

 

[Ring 6]

I know it's trite, but the game will be won in the trenches.
The Patriots skill position players are light years better, so if they do not lose the battle in the trenches, they won't be stopped, and the Ravens will have to dominate in the trenches to put up enough points to win.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I bet the title of this thread would be great with Woodhead added into Josh Gracin's popular song

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Whether it was the injury, teams having more film on him, or just lack of opportunity he is just not the same player he was last year. I don't see the burst on the cut back runs and the balence since he seems to get tripped up on a lot of runs..

With the weapons on this offense I think Balt will be glad to see him with the ball in his hands.

This may have been true earlier in the year but down the stretch Woody has run really well IMO and the burst has been there. Go back to the first Denver game and watch his TD run. There's other examples I can't think of, but even though he hasn't broke one for 30-40 yards he's overall looked good on his runs to me lately.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Whether it was the injury, teams having more film on him, or just lack of opportunity he is just not the same player he was last year. I don't see the burst on the cut back runs and the balence since he seems to get tripped up on a lot of runs..

With the weapons on this offense I think Balt will be glad to see him with the ball in his hands.

I'm thinking more of Woodhead in the passing game than the running game ... short tosses to the right or left behind the line or near it.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I still don't like Woodhead as the Kick returner.....I think there are guys more dangerous at getting a good return.

Woodhead is better suited as the situational RB than on STs

 

[NEP4Life]

Concur on Woody's importance.

Plus:
- Light and Mankins vs Ngata and Suggs
- With all the Welker/Gronk/Ahern hype, Branch is the forgotten receiver. Will he be singled? Will he respond?

Defensively, we all beaten the Ray Rice dead horse, so I won't go there for now. I do however wonder how Sterling Moore and safety Devin McCourty will hold up when Flacco tosses up some deep balls to Boldin and Smith. There'll be opportunities for picks, but might they give up big plays.


The ultimate X-factor: If Brady comes out and starts tearing up the Ravens' D, do they go for his knee? They have Pollard, and considering what Ray Lewis has (allegedly) done, I doubt the D would have any reservations about wrecking a knee. Can Hoyer step in if Brady goes down?

 

[strngplyr]

The ultimate X-factor: If Brady comes out and starts tearing up the Ravens' D, do they go for his knee? They have Pollard, and considering what Ray Lewis has (allegedly) done, I doubt the D would have any reservations about wrecking a knee. Can Hoyer step in if Brady goes down?

All I'm going to say is ...really?

 

[NEP4Life]

The only real disincentive is that a blatant cheap shot that takes out Brady would probably get the initiator suspended for the Super Bowl.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

I am not so sure. Woodhead was lit up by Ray Lewis the last time these teams met; I doubt he is looking forward to the rematch.

The key is Hernandez; I expect that Josh will fake some runs by him to bring the criminals in the Raven LB corp up close to the line and then throw over their heads.

As far as cheap shots you can expect the Ravens to try to knock Hernandez on the head....

 

[NEP4Life]

Woodhead was lit up by Ray Lewis

He had 16 touches for 115 yards, with over 40 of those yards coming in the 4th quarter.

If that's what happens when somebody gets "lit up" by Stabby Lewis, I hope he remembers to light up Gronk, Welker and Ahern.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

He had 16 touches for 115 yards, with over 40 of those yards coming in the 4th quarter.

If that's what happens when somebody gets "lit up" by Stabby Lewis, I hope he remembers to light up Gronk, Welker and Ahern.

So maybe you are right; the fate of so many will depend on a Hobbit.

 

[Calciumee]

He had 16 touches for 115 yards, with over 40 of those yards coming in the 4th quarter.

If that's what happens when somebody gets "lit up" by Stabby Lewis, I hope he remembers to light up Gronk, Welker and Ahern.

Not possible, Gronk is always on the dark side...

 

[patsfan13]

The Key is in the trenches, IMo for the Ravens to win they would have to be +2 in TO's don't see that unless they can generate enough pressure on Brady to force a few INT's.

I don't see Ridley playing a lot unless they have a big lead due to the recent spate of fumbles. Lots of Law firm and Woodhead in the backfield.

 

[Ring 6]

The only real disincentive is that a blatant cheap shot that takes out Brady would probably get the initiator suspended for the Super Bowl.

How about the disincentives that have caused no player in the NFL to pull such a move?