As for Woodhead, he is likely quicker than Faulk, (40 time of
4.33 to
4.48), which means he should be able to lose defenders once he get by him, but he likely will not be as good breaking tackles given the weight difference of 25 or so pounds. Woodhead is not being used in the same way as Faulk was used (Faulk was a true 3rd down back), and appears to be benefiting from significantly better blocking than Faulk was used to getting downfield. In terms of long-term solutions, Woodhead has done a great job in his 10 games, but he isn't even in the neighborhood of Kevin Faulk until everyone on the defense knows the ball is going to him and still cannot stop him.
Danny is listed at 195lbs in the program, Kevin at 202lbs. That's a 7 lb difference, not 25. If it's not friggin obvious from looking at him, the little dude is built. If you need other measurables, he did 20 reps at 225 -- that would have been 7th amongst all RB's at this year's combine. You might also notice that the kid breaks tackles all the time -- as Tedy Bruschi pointed out last week, he has great lower body strength, too.
It's amazing and a little disturbing to see how tenacious the prejudice vs Woodhead is, even among some Pats fans. But folks are finally realizing from the kid's play that he really is fast. I guess having the fastest 40yd and 10yd dashes, and 20yd and 60yd shuttle times of any back coming out in 2008 didn't mean sh*t. Nor his collegiate track competitive timings of 10.5s in the 100m and 6.45s in the 55m. But it's getting harder and harder to deny the evidence on the field. Danny is a *lot* faster and quicker than Kevin ever was. The numbers say that, but more important, what he's doing on the field is getting harder and harder to continue to deny.
I shouldn't even bother to point out that by Football Outsider's stats, Danny is the #2 NFL back in DVOA in running from scrimmage, and #2 to only Antonio Gates in DVOA receiving -- at any position.
Just use your eyes -- better still with a DVR. The kid's been *amazing*. He's *electric* when he gets the ball.
I love Kevin. I miss Kevin. He's my second favorite player of this era's Pats (after Rodney). No one is clutch like Kevin (except Rodney). I've always dreaded the day when Kevin would hang them up, and that day may have come. But we're really, really, lucky to have found Danny just as Kevin goes out. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect replacement for Kevin (Danny even had his own fumbling problems at Chadron). Let's just be happy that Danny is is here, and that he is really, really, good. We should only hope that he proves to be as clutch as Kevin, too.
