The not so talked about off season mistake: Danny Woodhead

[English Patriot]

It was all about Wes this, Wes that when under the radar a 5'8 guy named Woodhead was allowed to slip through our grasps and not just because he's damn hard to catch but because the Pats let him just walk.

Just how big a mistake was not signing Woodhead or is not an issue at all? His CONTINUED production for Rivers cannot be denied or ignored.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

I miss woody. Wish he would have stayed, such a good player next to Tom.

 

[DaBruinz]

Hmm.. Danny Woodhead or Shane Vereen. Tough choice. I understand why BB went with Vereen. Wouldn't say it was a mistake, though. And I loved Woodhead.

Is Woodhead having a great season? Yep. Why is that? Because Ryan Matthews is hurt again and Woodhead has been pressed into more service. He's seen more touches with the Chargers than he would have here with the Pats.

 

[Tunescribe]

It was all about Wes this, Wes that when under the radar a 5'8 guy named Woodhead was allowed to slip through our grasps and not just because he's damn hard to catch but because the Pats let him just walk.

Just how big a mistake was not signing Woodhead or is not an issue at all? His CONTINUED production for Rivers cannot be denied or ignored.

I loved Woodhead but prefer Vereen. Unfortunately, they pretty much play the same role.

 

[English Patriot]

Completely agree on Vereen because he's terrific, but what would have been wrong with having both?

Then that element of having run and pass in one guy almost every down will be out there because when one is tired you just plug the other in with no loss of production or quality at the position and vice versa.

 

[fnordcircle]

Watching Vereen last night we were an unbroken wrist from never having this conversation.

 

[English Patriot]

Watching Vereen last night we were an unbroken wrist from never having this conversation.

There is no doubt for me that Vereen is one of the best all-round threats in the NFL, i'm just saying Woodhead was relatively cheap and you can never have enough good players.

Even with Woodhead here i would still have wanted Vereen to be in for more plays than him.

 

[Dingleberry]

Vereen missing 10 games makes the "mistake" of not signing Woodhead more pronounced. All things being equal, Vereen is a better, younger player. Without that injury back in Game 1, the absence of Woodhead would have been minimal.

This offense is so much netter with a Vereen or Woodhead as a 3RB option. As long as Vereen is healthy, Woodhead would be redundant.

HOWEVER, dropping wide open and perfectly thrown wheel-route catches in consecutive weeks is not making me happy. Catch that ball, Vereen!

 

[Froob]

Why do you guys assume Woody wanted to come back and be a backup? Healthy Ben VaReene fills his role quite nicely. Dude is just as good as a receiver as he as a running back.

 

[Dingleberry]

Completely agree on Vereen because he's terrific, but what would have been wrong with having both?
.

Then you'd have no room on the roster for Bolden. The role of RB replacing Ridley once he fumbles is a busy job!

 

[English Patriot]

Then you'd have no room on the roster for Bolden. The role of RB replacing Ridley once he fumbles is a busy job!

. Seriously though the choice of Bolden or Woodhead is very very easy

 

[Dingleberry]

. Seriously though the choice of Bolden or Woodhead is very very easy

I agree.

Although the difference in money matters due to the cap.

And without a Vereen injury, Woodhead would have seen reduced playing time.

 

[Joker]

HOWEVER, dropping wide open and perfectly thrown wheel-route catches in consecutive weeks is not making me happy. Catch that ball, Vereen!

I'd agree with this 100% except I was there, my first reaction was "NO!!!" and then I realized my nutz were frozen black and my fingers couldn't move and I figured "well, I'll give Vereen a pass tonight"...if you weren't there you have NO IDEA what that cold was like...I was surprised every time ANY receiver MADE a catch.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Hmm.. Danny Woodhead or Shane Vereen. Tough choice. I understand why BB went with Vereen. Wouldn't say it was a mistake, though. And I loved Woodhead.

Is Woodhead having a great season? Yep. Why is that? Because Ryan Matthews is hurt again and Woodhead has been pressed into more service. He's seen more touches with the Chargers than he would have here with the Pats.

Yeah - you nailed it. While I would have found a place on the roster for Woodhead if I were the GM, I think that Woodhead would have opted for a place where he could get more touches.

If you really want to fault Belichick's offseason moves, it's not Welker or Woodhead - it's failing to lock up Edelman sooner. Edelman really didn't garner a whole lot of interest, nor did the Patriots make him any kind of priority.

I don't want to think of where they'd be without him right now.

Belichick is very lucky he got Edelman back - and for as cheaply as he did.

 

[Rob0729]

First, people talk about Woodhead all the time on this board.

Second, I still believe that Woodhead didn't want to re-sign with the Pats. People say why couldn't the Pats have both Woodhead and Vereen, but why would Woodhead want to back up Vereen or compete with Vereen for reps when San Diego was giving him the primary third down/change of pace role. Players want to play, not sit on the sidelines. I think Woodhead took the opportunity where he would get the most playing time.

 

[PATRlOT]

Completely agree on Vereen because he's terrific, but what would have been wrong with having both?

Then that element of having run and pass in one guy almost every down will be out there because when one is tired you just plug the other in with no loss of production or quality at the position and vice versa.

At least we've got 2 Welkers ....(Edelman and Amendola)

 

[unoriginal]

Woodhead never put up the kind of game-over-game numbers Vereen is doing now when healthy. In his three games, Vereen has never had less than 7 catches.

Woodhead never had more than 5 catches in a game. And while a willing blocker, he was undersized against linebackers.

Vereen is better for this team. Woodhead signed with Chargers because they made him a better financial offer than the Jets, and he didn't want to sit behind Vereen here. I don't think he gave the Pats a chance to match the offer, once he got a credible starting offer elsewhere he was gone.

 

[RayClay]

There is no doubt for me that Vereen is one of the best all-round threats in the NFL, i'm just saying Woodhead was relatively cheap and you can never have enough good players.

Even with Woodhead here i would still have wanted Vereen to be in for more plays than him.

Cut Edelman?

 

[Ring 6]

Completely agree on Vereen because he's terrific, but what would have been wrong with having both?

Then that element of having run and pass in one guy almost every down will be out there because when one is tired you just plug the other in with no loss of production or quality at the position and vice versa.

Why would woodhead want to stay and share a role when thee are 31 other teams to go to.

 

[English Patriot]

Why would woodhead want to stay and share a role when thee are 31 other teams to go to.

Admittedly i didn't think from Woodhead's side of the argument however it's not like he'd be riding the bench all the time, with 3 rookie receivers and only 1 main TE to throw to he would have still seen alot of snaps just not as much as San Diego can offer.