What Role (if any) Will Danny Woodhead Play?
Danny Woodhead is a special case. I think it’s safe to say we all realize the type of player he is and can be in this league. I did an article on him a little while back, and found that he is willing to show what he can do, even if he may be smaller than the rest of them.
The real question is, what type of role will Woodhead play -if any at all- on the Jets this season? Can the Jets really afford to have four running backs on the depth chart? Well it’s a very unlikely thing to see happen nowadays, what with injuries to other positions and increased importance of other postitions.
A definite possibility for Woodhead in my mind is he makes the team as a special teamer. I could easily see him playing on special teams, helping out with blocking on kick returns and punt returns. My only concern is the size. What type of help would a 5-9 200 pound running back give to the Jets on special teams, where blocking is one of the most important tasks?
Chances are he’ll end up on the practice squad for the Jets, but the problem there is another team can always take him. So it all comes down to this question: How much do the Jets really need Danny Woodhead? I mean we have three established runners on the depth chart, two guys who could take over the starter’s job at any point in the season if Thomas Jones is hurt or is underperforming. If it comes down to that, then Woodhead would surely join the team and be put on the depth chart. But it may not be worth it in the end for the Jets. Yes, they’re not really spending a whole lot of money on him, but there’s just no point in keeping him. There’s simply already enough reliable runners on the depth chart in my opinion.
Don’t get me wrong, I really love the guy and his potential. I’m just not sure he’s in the right situation here. What do you guys think? I know there will be mixed reactions and I eager to hear what you guys have to say!
57 Responses to What Role (if any) Will Danny Woodhead Play?
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Jason says:
A guy with this type of speed has a place on any team. Wasn’t Mr. Chrebet around 5′ 9”. Woodhead is faster. Teach him to catch and line him up in the slot. Throw him a couple of screen passes and watch him fly. Also this would keep Leon Washington from getting too comfortable.
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ARRRRRGH! Mack how can you write this?
“I could easily see him playing on special teams, helping out with blocking on kick returns and punt returns”
– there is NO possible way a 5′ 7 1/2″ 200 lb RB can be a blocker on special teams… he either has to return punts/kicks or he has no role on special teams either…
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mike in bumpass va says:
Why must this guy be a blocker? Let him return!!! With that speed and size he’ll get lost behind any wall that is properly set up. It would save Justin Miller some time after such a brutal injury and the same for Washington. It’s a rookies job to play special teams. Save the real work for the vets and save their bodies for it. Plus, Utilize this kid for some of the trick plays Brad Smith does. I’m not sold on Smith. We gave it a try and came up with bupkos. This kid is a player and has more upswing than any other! If he plays, I will show up.
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Can he tackle? As in, with his speed, he might want to think about being a gunner on punt coverage teams, a la Brad Smith.
Outside of that or returning punts, he’s going to have to be Maurice Jones-Drew amazing to stick. And that guy is a bowling ball …
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AL says:
I think the coaching staff will give him a chance on punt returns and hope he shows some davd meggett type potential in pre-season. I could see him being used exactly like david megget was used in his nfl carrear.
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oscarfactor says:
Can the guy throw a deep slant????
OK, I jest. Let’s see him return punts in the preseason, make a call after that – Chad Morton was a little guy, too. He took two to the house on kickoffs against the Bills a few years back.
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zzzzz says:
Maybe he can ride on Thomas Jones’s shoulders: “Master Blaster runs Bartertown! “
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pat d says:
the jets won’t have room for another short running back. He’ll probably end up on another team and then end up burning the jets.
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jpe says:
Coming off a 4-10 season with 3 good, no great RBs’ in front of him, you have to find a way to explore this guy’s upside as a RB.
Even if he doesn’t make the team, I’d like to see him be the final cut with a lot of opportunities in pre-season to see if the incredible results he had in college have a shot at translating to this level. BC he is a keeper. WC its great theater in the pre-season -
HOZ THE JET says:
danny will be great for us on special teams he reminds me of the little rb. sprouls from the chargers hopefully he could be explosive like him athen we pick up a gem i really hope he makes the team because im high on the sleeper chatman this season.
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jettarocks says:
The guy is built and runs like Wes Welker: put him in the slot and maximise his quickness, center of gravity and hopefully sticky hands…
Could be lethal
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Badmoon says:
Dave Meggett was only 5′ 7″ he was pretty good player and he didn’t have 4.3 speed the Giants found a couple of jobs for him.
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jvsvn says:
Unless he shows serious potential as KR/PR, he is going to have a difficult time sticking around. With a 53 man roster, the guys on the bottom of the depth chart have to have flexibility and be able to do multiple things (i.e. Play special teams and be a change of pace player on offense). The problem is this: Leon Washington, Brad Smith, Woodhead, etc. How many change of pace guys can you have on the roster? You can’t keep everybody.
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I think the Jets don’t want to keep four running backs, three is more than they need right now with the extra guys at TE / WR and FB … he’s going to be squeezed out.
I think Woodhead will get some mysterious injury right around the time cuts come down and land on the IR …
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j says:
Badmoon, Meggett played 20 years ago!
This kid is strictly pre season material. -
dakar says:
i say give him a legitimate chance at RB…if he’s better than chatam…then cut chatam and give the little guy some plays…just my thoughts…
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Ferraro41 says:
I think it’s hard to make any assessments before we ‘ve seen him take a single hand-off. From where I sit, however, I can’t see why if this kid is the real deal, why Jesse Chatman is considered a shoo-in to make the team? I think the top two RB’s are set….I don’t think Chatman is necessarily guaranteed to make the team. He may have an edge going in over Woodhead, but I think the door is open for Woodhead to make a run at that spot with a strong camp. Especially if he shows he can also return KO’s and punts.
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Harlan Lachman says:
It seems clear to me that the only role for Woodhead is as Leon’s replacement. They are both small quick, change-of-pace backs.
My guess is that if Leon doesn’t get hurt or regress, the best Woodhead can hope for is a slot on the practice squad. There he would just be insurance against a Leon injury.
There is no way we carry two mini backs and no way we carry someone just to be a punt returner.
Harlan
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harlan you nailed it
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simplysimon2 says:
We will all know by the 3rd pre-season game whether he’s a gamer or not. If he is, we will not be the only team to know that. If he’s real good, you can’t hide him from the other teams. If he’s as good as touted, screw his height, sign the next Megget or E. Smith.
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RK says:
I agree with Harlan too. If he can’t block in the backfield, which Leon being OK at that, then he can’t be on the field.
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Mark says:
you never know.
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RayD ( CWPOST ) says:
Lets just take the wait and see approach before we many any judgement on the kid.
As Mark quoted ” you never know”
We’ll see in a few months how much heart the kid has …
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junior says:
barring injury i think we will know by the end of the first preseason game which is exactly what is going to happen with him and if he is the real deal and as for what his role would be i actually see him making the team where they would let him return kicks and have him and leon deep which would make me think that justin miller to be the starter oppisite revis
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Butch says:
Darren Sproles playing for San Diego is doing well, why not Woodhead.
Speed kills.
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Harvlis says:
You guys who are calling for special teams, without even seeing if Woodhead can run — how intelligent is that? What if he can’t be stopped at this level? How many great running backs have been 5’7″ – 5’8″? He needs to be given every chance, in pre-season, to see if he has potential. Jesse Chatman is 5’8″ and went to college at Eastern Washington. Although, Chatman was a standout, rushing for over four thousand yards and fifty three touchdowns during his college career – Woodhead almost doubled his output! You don’t want to see if this guy can run! Wake up!!!!!!
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EastSideKahaluu says:
On a team that has some noted lack of speed on offense, cutting a player like Woodhead should be out of the question. Let’s not discredit a guy’s ability to bump and block on special teams without even giving him a shot at the field! How tall is [2007 AP DPotY] Colts Safety Bob Sanders? About 5’8″-5’9″ I think- and I also recall he can hit pretty hard. If I was Mangini, I would try Woodhead out at not only RB but also in the slot and as a route running F-Back. There are a lot of reasons that Woodhead could see success similar to that of Wes Welker.
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Jimmy Shnoogen says:
I think his effort, determination and speed are going to be too much for Eric Mangini to ignore. He rewards players who “go beyond the call of duty” in those departments.
I believe he will push himself to be a special teams player, and he’ll be a student of that portion of the game. He may be small in size, but he sure has a normal sized brain, he knows what role he has the opportunity to obtain at this time.
Furthermore, he knows what hard work and perfection of that role could lead to if he continues to show improvement.
I don’t think the Jets should or will leave this guy to be snagged by another team. I see the possibility of a nice career for him.
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DHarvey says:
First off no one has yet seen what he actually does running with the ball against actual NFL quality defenses..he may be better than expected.
Second, on special teams, I agree with those who say his role would be as a returner, not a blocker.
Third, this kid is a gifted athlete..he was voted one of the top basketball players in his state in high school.. does anyone think he can’t catch a ball too? When its all said and done one word comes to mind..’versatility’.. He fills in a number of potential roles either as a starter or a backup.. kind of a short man’s Brad Smith..I say he makes the team..period.
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green duck says:
simple,let him compete for RB during the pre-season. if he’s far more explosive than JC just sign him and release JC (or leave 4 RB on the roster). also he gets a rookie salery.
but is he durable enough? i thing the Jets can take a chance on him especially with TJ and LW on the roster
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NY Titan says:
This kid reminds me so much of #80, I am really hoping he makes this team. However, all the talk about speed, NCAA records and how other teams want to snatch him up seems to be a little hasty. I mean, if he is such a hot commodity, he would have been drafted, no?
That said, I really hope he finds a place on this team. I also see him as a possibility to compete for the punt returner’s spot, and who knows- if he can run routes and catch- he could be very interesting in the slot. I hope he makes it. -
Woodhead is not going to make the team. All the talk about NCAA records against who – Bakersfield College. We already have one undersize running back.
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ramble914 says:
Meggett didn’t play 20 years ago, it was 10, and he played his last game as a Jet.
There aren’t many guys who can run a 4.30, the Kid obviously has something or he wouldn’t have been so prolific in college. How can anyone say he can’t do this or that, let’s give him a chance. It would really suck to find out we had the next Barry Sanders, but got rid of him without giving him a chance.
Some other small backs:
Barry Sanders – 5-8
Thurman Thomas – 5-9
Joe Morris – 5-8 -
That 4.30 speed is real intriguing. Do you realize the things you can do with a guy who can run that fast? This guy can take dumpoff passes and be gone, he can play the slot, take pitchouts and turn them into big gaines.
Maybe he can be more explosive than Leon Washington? Leon can’t run that fast, if DW is going to give us more than keep him.
We should just wait and see.
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Big A says:
No harm in giving him a tryout at different roles. PR, KR, RB, Gunner, etc.
What if in a 2 RB formation, you put him in motion and line him up at WR. That could cause some match up problems with a LB or safety. Put him on the field with Keller and you’re going to have a very nervous D…
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Woodhead runs a 4.30. Wow now that is interesting. He didn’t fare so well in the OTA’s.
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As the report stated, he was trying to field punts in a hail storm, so let’s reserve judgement.
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RNelson says:
Wait til you see this guy play! It’s his heart and determination, in addition to his talent, strengh and speed, that makes him go. Also, he’s a good Christian person and we could use more like him in sports at all levels.
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He’s a Christian. Then we must sign him. It’s good to go after character guys but the Jets at times are over doing this causing them to reach for players in the draft.
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I thought the draft was over.
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“he’s a good christian person”? Let’s all bring our bibles to the games.
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Probably wouldn’t hurt if you did just that, providing you can find one.
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Woodhead didn’t do so good in the OTA’s. When it was his turn to catch punts it started hailing.
Maybe he should pray for better weather.
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Pat,
Woodhead said he wants to go one-on-one with you — in the rain.
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Casey says:
Living and growing up in Nebraska, I have spent my life watching a few good athletes that eventually made some waves in the NFL. Am from North Platte, Nebraska (aka Danny’s hometown) and I can attest that this guy is talanted. Have watched less gifted backs for Nebraska make big contributions in the NFL. If the Jets give this guy a chance, they won’t be disappointed. You can’t really tell me that an inch or 5 pounds is that big of a deal, remember 4.3 speed. Danny is a man’s man football player, that is something you can’t learn.
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Kel says:
Given Danny’s flat-out speed, hands, quickness, agility, leaping ability, and most of all, his toughness and heart, fans may soon be comparing Wes Welker to Danny, not Danny to Wes, and Welker is part the backbone and workhorse of his team.
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naugaman says:
He was the best collegiate running back in the state of Nebraska including the Cornhuskers! If he came from The U of Nebraska he would be looked at differently. Forget the Wes Welker comparisons, this guy is a Mike Garrett, Joe Morris type even if he is white. He is very fast, very strong and has great heart and determination. The Jets cannot afford to allow another team to develop this kid’s talent, and I like him because he is a football player , not because he is a Christian. Too bad the Jets didn’t have Christian Okoye in the past, that would have made zealots happy!
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blake says:
have u seen this kid! he has every thing 4 any team youll be retared not to but him 1st string
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jetnut7 says:
The Jets MUST keep him. He has a lot of potential. Bruce Harper, Joe Morris, and Barry Sanders were small. He could be used on returns and a third down back.
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HuskerPower says:
Bassett:
How could you possibly call Danny Woodhead’s injury and IR status weeks in advance, and be right??? Epic call!Can you give me some gambling advise since you have proven yourself to be a football genius?
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Make sure you keep Woodhead. The last Nebraskan you kept around was a 1968 WR named Sauer. Joe Namath remembers him.
Sauer’s Dad is in the Cornhusker Hall of fame as a Fullback. It is to Solich and Callahan’s shame that Woodhead wasn’t a Husker.
Go Favre-Woodhead!!!
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zach says:
So what that he’s only 5 foot 7 1/2 feet tall he’s still 200 lbs. I mean he hade the best broad jump runs a 4.35 40 yard dash ( darren mcfadden ran a 4.33 for his best the same as woodhead) did half an inch less the the high vertical leap at the combine ( 38.5 inches ) benched 225lbs. 20 times when mcfadden only did 15 at the same weight and he had the best pro agility. Plus at 5’7 200lbs. he’s almost the same as a guy named Barry Sanders the guy who many consider to be the best running back ever after only 10 years and playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in NFL history.
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dvorbs says:
What is the status of Danny Woodhead now? Did he have surgery on his knee? How did it go? Is he still on the roster for the Jets? Just out for the whole year?
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meg says:
how is danny?
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JustAGreenGuy says:
He is on injured reserve and will be available for training camp next year. I haven’t heard anything else.
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MaizeDr says:
See the following article from the Omaha World Herald:
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1200&u_sid=10513964
DW seems to be doing well.
Punt returner or bust for Danny.
I don’t think 4 RBs is too many, as long as at least two of them contribute to special teams.
Last year was the first year I can ever remember us having only three (although Brad Smith and Stacy Tutt did give us alternative options there).
I think Caulcrick and Danny will both be hoping to make the roster, despite the fact there are three other backs ahead of them.