Woodhead

[Kasmir]

In contrast to all the Vereen hype, it seems that Woodhead has become an almost invisible man.

Even Reiss has rarely mentioned him up to now. For one of the huge questions for this camp is whether we see this year the electrifying Woodhead of 2010 instead of the disappointing one of 2011. For some reason he fell to earth and apparently isn't expected to rise.

But if he does return to his 2010 form, it will be fascinating to see how McD uses him, especially given the success the Saints had last year featuring the similar Sproles, who -- believe it or not -- is smaller and slower than Woodhead.

But hearing nothing coming out of camp is not a good sign with a running back, and we've heard next to nothing, except for this nugget from Curran yesterday:

Danny Woodhead had some brilliant cuts during the first contact sessions.

Postcards from Camp: Day 3

It seems to me at least as likely that Woodhead will build off his electrifying 2010 than that Vereen will become a great NFL back. So why the near total lack of excitement about Woodhead this year?

For me at least, Woodhead's progress is one of the more interesting questions for this year's camp...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

In contrast to all the Vereen hype, it seems that Woodhead has become an almost invisible man.

Even Reiss has rarely mentioned him up to now. For one of the huge questions for this camp is whether we see this year the electrifying Woodhead of 2010 instead of the disappointing one of 2011. For some reason he fell to earth and apparently isn't expected to rise.

But if he does return to his 2010 form, it will be fascinating to see how McD uses him, especially given the success the Saints had last year featuring the similar Sproles, who -- believe it or not -- is smaller and slower than Woodhead.

But hearing nothing coming out of camp is not a good sign with a running back, and we've heard next to nothing, except for this nugget from Curran yesterday:



Postcards from Camp: Day 3

It seems to me at least as likely that Woodhead will build off his electrifying 2010 than that Vereen will become a great NFL back. So why the near total lack of excitement about Woodhead this year?

For me at least, Woodhead's progress is one of the more interesting questions for this year's camp...

I think it's because almost no one can ever actually find him on the field.

 

[BananaRepublican]

In contrast to all the Vereen hype, it seems that Woodhead has become an almost invisible man.

Even Reiss has rarely mentioned him up to now. For one of the huge questions for this camp is whether we see this year the electrifying Woodhead of 2010 instead of the disappointing one of 2011. For some reason he fell to earth and apparently isn't expected to rise. .

I'm unaware of him falling to earth. Do you have any other comments, quotes or links about that?

I think the Allegedly Dynamic Duo is going to continue to soak up the media coverage because they are the ones on the bubble of suspicion, not Woodhead. To me Woodhead is a lock. He's not somebody I consider coulde even be on the bubble. Tom trusts him, so I trust him.

Now this is only Day Four, and you can only cover so many people in depth. I just think with all the new faces, and with Danny's steady play, there isn't a compelling need to dish a bunch of coverage on him. Once he starts making plays in games or scrimmages.

I think Vereen is going to hog a lot of attention because he seems to be the one falling to earth. Maybe that's an overreaction but he's certainly off to a slow start. No problem, but it does alert your mind about who to watch.

The other thing is that the rookie (blanking on his name) is showing a lot of promise. He's like gangbusters impressive even catching the ball. Now to me that's big news and Woodhead has to wait. We may be watching Vereen get out performed and sent to bubble land? Could happen.

 

[shmessy]

Danny is secure.

Dude had a concussion or two last season and still averaged 4.6 YPC and had over 500 all-purpose yards.

As long as he has no bats in the belfry, he'll be an integral part of the roster..

 

[randomk1]

Like shmessy said...i think there is no talk about him because there really isn't a question mark regarding him unlike the other RBs.

 

[Dingleberry]

Woodhead being under the radar is like not hearing much about the training camp exploits of any number of players who are locks. Woodhead is a lock.

In fact, Woodhead and Ridley are the only sure locks at the RB position. Molden over Vereen? Could happen.

I still expect 4 RB's only, one of them being a fullback.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Danny is secure.

Dude had a concussion or two last season and still averaged 4.6 YPC and had over 500 all-purpose yards.

As long as he has no bats in the belfry, he'll be an integral part of the roster..

In addition to the high-ankle sprain he fought with as well. I know hes a fan favorite of sorts but bottom line is that the kid has produced and has a very important role in this offense.

I would tend to agree that hes close to a lock- especially with Addai gone.

The only way Woody doesn't make the team is if they only keep 4 guys in the backfield and two of them are FBs or Bolden inches him out and they keep 2 FBs.

 

[shmessy]

Plus, the kid is deadly in space as a pass catcher.

Couple that with the reports of McDaniels bringing back the screen pass and one may conclude that Woodhead is primed for a huge season.

 

[WhiZa]

I think Woodhead's performance at TC is a non-issue as long as he performs to or exceeds his expectations. He seems to be the same old Woodhead so really there is nothing to report. No news is good news.

 

[hovis]

I think Woodhead's performance at TC is a non-issue as long as he performs to or exceeds his expectations. He seems to be the same old Woodhead so really there is nothing to report. No news is good news.

Not that it means much, but he looked the best out of all backs in the blitz pickup drill today. Vereen looked good too, but faced lesser competition while Woody took Mayo a couple times.Bolden looked sloppy and Ridley looked awful/indifferent

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Not that it means much, but he looked the best out of all backs in the blitz pickup drill today. Vereen looked good too, but faced lesser competition while Woody took Mayo a couple times.Bolden looked sloppy and Ridley looked awful/indifferent

As you say one session early in camp may not mean much but we all know that RBs who can't do blitz pickup very well will not get much play time on this squad and may get CUT. Josh McD isn't going to want to telegraph RUN by inserting a player unable to protect The Franchise.

 

[Jared]

The biggest thing that kept Faulk on the field even even he wasn't the biggest or fasted back on the field, and even when he was a fumble risk, was despite his size he was always an EXCELLENT blocker in blitz pickup.

If Woodhead can eventually do the same, he will have a long career here.

 

[hovis]

As you say one session early in camp may not mean much but we all know that RBs who can't do blitz pickup very well will not get much play time on this squad and may get CUT. Josh McD isn't going to want to telegraph RUN by inserting a player unable to protect The Franchise.

I was saying my analysis doesn't mean much, since I'm no expert here. In fact, a bunch of the media observers are reporting that Woodhead got owned by Mayo. I just have a different opinion then those guys. First off, the linebackers "win" almost all of those matchups, it's just a matter of how long it takes. What WEEI is reporting as the "Hit of the Day" (Woodhead vs. Mayo) was pretty misleading to me. The point of the drill was for the defender to tag the "QB." Woodhead occupied Mayo for a few seconds, but kept getting pushed directly back (away from the QB), until Mayo broke free and pushed Ridley. If that were a passing situation, Woodhead would have held him up long enough to protect Brady.

Really, the best hits out of the blitz pickup drill were either Mayo dominating Ridley or Hightower embarrassing Kettani and Ivan Fears, IMHO.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I was saying my analysis doesn't mean much, since I'm no expert here. In fact, a bunch of the media observers are reporting that Woodhead got owned by Mayo. I just have a different opinion then those guys. First off, the linebackers "win" almost all of those matchups, it's just a matter of how long it takes. What WEEI is reporting as the "Hit of the Day" (Woodhead vs. Mayo) was pretty misleading to me. The point of the drill was for the defender to tag the "QB." Woodhead occupied Mayo for a few seconds, but kept getting pushed directly back (away from the QB), until Mayo broke free and pushed Ridley. If that were a passing situation, Woodhead would have held him up long enough to protect Brady.

Really, the best hits out of the blitz pickup drill were either Mayo dominating Ridley or Hightower embarrassing Kettani and Ivan Fears, IMHO.

For a RB, or a scat-back like Woody the key is not to systematically stymie the blitzing rusher rather redirect him into traffic or slow him down by a second. Thats it. The key is recognizing the defensive set, listen to TB, observe how the play is developing and throw your body at the defender accordingly.

Its safe to say that Woody is adequete in this capacity. Is he Faulk? No, however being able to buy TB a .5 seconds is something in my opinion he has done fairly consistiently.

 

[Kasmir]

My opening point wasn't that people expect Woodhead to not make the team -- although there have been those predicting that -- but that folks don't seem to realize that he's almost certainly our best running back. Coming out of training camp last year, he was the the lead back, getting plenty of looks on first down. And he led the team with 7+ ypc in the preseason. Then he got hurt. Again. His ability to stay healthy seems to me to be the big issue with him.

But for all the fawning attention the Ridley and Vereen have gotten this pre-season, in this first week of training camp...

Danny Woodhead saw the most snaps of the running backs, with 57.

Week 1: Patriots Changing Faces - Pats Pulpit

...Woodhead *still* appears to be the lead back of the committee.

 

[Calciumee]

Could it not the case (like linemen) that he is doing things right because he isn't getting mentioned?

 

[DocHoliday]

The fact that Woodhead was the only receiver who looked alive in the Superbowl (and scored a touchdown!) tells me Woodhead's position is safe.

He is an X factor on offense.

 

[12ClutchFactor]

As a rule, you don't seem to hear too much about the guys who are locked into the roster. That is of course unless they have a particularly bad day, like Gronk and his butter fingers from the other day (Must have been hanging out with Welker too much- sorry, had to do it, too soon?)

 

[PP2]

Could it not the case (like linemen) that he is doing things right because he isn't getting mentioned?

That's pretty much it.

 

[scout]

An article in today's Herald mentioning the use of the screen play as a weapon that will be used more this year. I was thinking it will be deployed against Buffalo. Anyway, the writer mentions all the rb's ability to catch the ball, and I don't remember Woodhead's name mentioned.