Nothing little about Danny Woodhead’s impact

[Jetfan13]

On Sunday, members of the football coaching staff were tucked away in their offices at Chadron State, performing the usual day-after-game ritual of breaking down Saturday’s film - in this case, a 21-10 win over Adams State.

Then, during the early afternoon, the phones started ringing. And ringing. And didn’t stop ringing all afternoon. You might have thought there was a telethon going on at the school.

After a while, coach Bill O’Boyle considered installing a Danny Woodhead hotline.

“We’re here working all day, as soon as he scores (his first NFL touchdown with the Patriots [team stats]) the phone is ringing off the wall,” O’Boyle said Monday. “It’s amazing how many people in the state of Nebraska still follow him. We were also getting bombarded with e-mails and phone calls from all the guys we played against, all the teams Danny played against. Those guys follow him week in and week out. I got e-mails from Abilene Christian in West Texas. Everyone wants to see the D-2 guys do well.”

While Woodhead is carrying the banner for the Division 2 schools, showing that you don’t necessarily have to go to a Div. 1 school to make it in the NFL, the recently signed Patriots running back-wide receiver stands for so much more.

His story resonates with so many people who have been told they can’t do something, or can’t reach for their dreams. Football players aren’t usually the size of jockeys, but being small never deterred Woodhead for a second.

“With Danny, right out of high school, everyone was saying, ‘Look at his height!’ Everyone was going to knock him on that,” O’Boyle said with regard to the munchkin-sized back who rushed for 42 yards on three carries and a touchdown in his NFL debut against the Bills. “But no one was going to look at all of the other intangibles he has, and everything else he brings.”

Listening to a few of his coaches, not to mention his dad Mark - a fellow former Chadron State football player - Woodhead is not someone you want to go up against if you expect to win. When O’Boyle and current Chadron State athletic director Brad Smith (who coached Woodhead his first year) recruited him out of North Platte High, they didn’t just see a talented football player. They saw an incredible athlete who not only was the best football player at his high school, but also the best at hoop and soccer.

As a point guard, he led all of Nebraska in scoring his senior year. He was the No. 2 scorer in the state in soccer. He ran track for a year in college and broke Chadron State’s 100-meter record at 10.5 seconds. And did we mention he was also a scratch golfer?

“Put a golf club in his hand, he’ll beat anybody,” O’Boyle said. “The guy is amazing as far as being a competitor.”

Woodhead, who as a kid drew a football field on the living room carpet with a green marker, has two brothers and a sister who are also very athletic. Both brothers played football, but there’s just something different about Danny.

Something special.

“All my kids are pretty good athletes,” said Mark Woodhead, a teacher in North Platte who also coaches a girls basketball team. “With Danny, any ball he touches turns to gold. Football, basketball, soccer, golf, that’s just him.”

And did we mention his height yet? When told Woodhead was listed at 5-9, O’Boyle laughed.

“Yeah, I’d say that’s stretching it,” O’Boyle said.

Papa Woodhead didn’t want to reveal any family secrets, but said Danny was definitely shorter than him, and he’s “5-10 on a good day.”

No matter. Woodhead still managed to win Div. 2’s version of the Heisman - the Harlon Hill Trophy - in 2006 and 2007. His single season total of 2,756 rushing yards in 2006 set an NCAA record for all divisions.

“He’s the best athlete we’ve had at this place,” O’Boyle said. “I doubt I’ll ever see another guy like him as long as I coach. He’s just a special kid. Always has been.”

Woodhead, of course, was waived by the Jets and picked up by the Patriots [team stats] the day before the showdown with Gang Green at New Meadowlands Stadium. While many thought this was just gamesmanship on the part of Bill Belichick, given Woodhead was a favorite of Jets coach Rex Ryan, it’s looking like the Pats saw something more.

As Tom Brady [stats] cracked, Woodhead was around for about 10 minutes and still managed to contribute significantly in the 38-30 win over the Bills. Taking on some of the Kevin Faulk [stats] role, Woodhead was used in the backfield. His second carry as a Patriot, he scampered 22 yards for a touchdown. Even with only three carries, you could see he was a natural, with great vision and a terrific feel for how to use his blockers.

“I’ll bet the Jets are shaking their head after watching that,” O’Boyle said. “It’s just a matter of someone giving him a shot and letting him get on the field to do some things. ’Cuz he’s going to surprise people. But nothing he does will surprise us.”

That’s because the folks at Chadron State have seen it up close and personal. They’ve had the full Woodhead experience. Smart in the classroom, even better on the field.

“Yeah, he’s kind of a freak,” said Smith.

“I’m telling you, it’ll only get better the more he keeps going,” O’Boyle said. ”He’ll feed off that. Because there are so many guys that doubt him, even now. There’s no guy that I’ve ever met that will feed off that more than he will.

“But, we’re just elated with what he’s doing now. If you know him, he’s always going to succeed.”

[JiF]

1) Joe Flacco is holding the banner for Div 2 schools.

2) I told all you ****ers he'd be taking the Faulk responsibilities and he'd do well.

3) Damn the kids an athlete...all those sports he excels in?

4) The Jets gave him the shot last year, but he suits the Pats offense better. Are you going to throw him the ball out of the backfield or LT? Pretty sure if the Patsies had the choice, they'd use LT over him.

[THE ILK]

Stay pure Danny, don't let that cheat scum corrupt you!

[Jbro22]

1) Joe Flacco is holding the banner for Div 2 schools.

2) I told all you ****ers he'd be taking the Faulk responsibilities and he'd do well.

3) Damn the kids an athlete...all those sports he excels in?

4) The Jets gave him the shot last year, but he suits the Pats offense better. Are you going to throw him the ball out of the backfield or LT? Pretty sure if the Patsies had the choice, they'd use LT over him.

Delaware is Div 1 AA.

[visajets]

Good for him. Lets see what he does this week against the Dolphins. Im pretty sure Buffalo can be considered a Division 1 AA team.

[PatsFanTX]

4) The Jets gave him the shot last year, but he suits the Pats offense better. Are you going to throw him the ball out of the backfield or LT? Pretty sure if the Patsies had the choice, they'd use LT over him.

If the Pats wanted LT, they would have went after him when the Jets did.

They decided to pass, and rightfully so.

Woodhead will be a very nice role player in the Pats offense.

[THE ILK]

If the Pats wanted LT, they would have went after him when the Jets did.

They decided to pass, and rightfully so.

Woodhead will be a very nice role player in the Pats offense.

Too bad you did not put him on the field against us.

2nd half goose-egg!

[JiF]

Delaware is Div 1 AA.

JiF Fail.

If the Pats wanted LT, they would have went after him when the Jets did.

They decided to pass, and rightfully so.

Woodhead will be a very nice role player in the Pats offense.

Please. LT wouldnt touch a Pats uniform, he hates the Pats and you asshat coach. Thats why he was perfect for us. And dont even try to begin to tell me that you wouldnt welcome LT with open arms. He twice the player of anyone you are currently deploying from your backfield.

You couldnt offer LT enough money to play for that scumbag organization of cheaters.

[PatsFanTX]

Please. LT wouldnt touch a Pats uniform, he hates the Pats and you asshat coach. Thats why he was perfect for us. And dont even try to begin to tell me that you wouldnt welcome LT with open arms. He twice the player of anyone you are currently deploying from your backfield.

You couldnt offer LT enough money to play for that scumbag organization of cheaters.

The Pats would never want a player who always comes up small in big games.

[THE ILK]

The Pats would never want a player who always comes up small in big games.

Kind of like Rodney Harrison in Super Bowl XLII.

[Jbro22]

JiF Fail.

I try not to nitpick but feel like that was big enough to point out. Thanks for understanding.

[Smashmouth]

I now offically hate Danny Woodhead.

[BroadwayJoe12]

The Pats would never want a player who always comes up small in big games.

Yet you signed a guy who had 25 combined touches since coming into the league in 2008. Really has shown the penchant for making those huge plays in big games...oh wait. Don't be foolish, if LT and the pats didn't have their disagreements, there's no way they'd rather have danny than him.

[visajets]

The Patriots are a desperate team on the demise. They are drawing staws and looking for stars in all the wrong places. Come on if Danny Woodhead is the best that they can do... They are really in trouble.

[JiF]

The Pats would never want a player who always comes up small in big games.

Ha! Now this is good.

Wouldnt the greatness of the Pats make up for his lack of contribution in big games? Surely they'd know better than anyone else how to utilize him in a big game scenario.

[The Crusher]

If the Pats wanted LT, they would have went after him when the Jets did.

They decided to pass, and rightfully so.

Woodhead will be a very nice role player in the Pats offense.

Please explain.

[The Crusher]

The Pats would never want a player who always comes up small in big games.

After last years playoff game against the Ravens Belli should have cut the entire team.

[Irish Jet]

The Pats would never want a player who always comes up small in big games.

This is hilarious.

[CobraVerde]

Who is Danny Woodhead??

[Matt39]

The Patsfantx trolling isnt nearly effective when the Pats are merely an average football team.

[visajets]

The Patsfantx trolling isnt nearly effective when the Pats are merely a below average football team.

Fixed that for ya.

[T0mShane]

I am so not worried about Woodhead becoming a factor that I will actually not use this opportunity to bash Tannenbaum.

[THE ILK]

I am so not worried about Woodhead becoming a factor that I will actually not use this opportunity to bash Tannenbaum.

[Jetsfan80]

I am so not worried about Woodhead becoming a factor that I will actually not use this opportunity to bash Tannenbaum.

I still don't understand the largely unwarranted hate. Help me understand.

[NJ]

2) I told all you ****ers he'd be taking the Faulk responsibilities and he'd do well.

It wasn't news to me Bro - I hated to see him leave. It's my belief he will be a solid contributor in this league for awhile.

[faba]

For what NE wants him to do he will do all right- I am not going to worry about it though that we do not have him anymore.

[sirlancemehlot]

For what NE wants him to do he will do all right- I am not going to worry about it though that we do not have him anymore.

I don't think any of us are worried per se, it's more sad to see our little engine that could chugging along for our biggest rival. Danny did nothing but surprise folks and outwork everyone--and yet we cut him and keep McKnightmare. Stings a litle is all.

[Bruce Banner]

I wouldn't be surprised if Woodhead gets more yards than Shonn Greene this year. The kid was good, that preseason game against the Eagles wasn't a fluke. This team really screwed up in letting him go.

[THE ILK]

Just imagine how good he'll be if everybody plays 3rd and 4th stringers against the cheats.

[Jetsfan80]

I wouldn't be surprised if Woodhead gets more yards than Shonn Greene this year.

This quote will be hilarious a few weeks from now. Can't wait.

[visajets]

Are all of you playing with your woodheads or what? He scored against the Bills...

[bitonti]

i wish him good luck, even as a Patriot. He wasn't getting reps here.

[PatsFanTX]

I wouldn't be surprised if Woodhead gets more yards than Shonn Greene this year. The kid was good, that preseason game against the Eagles wasn't a fluke. This team really screwed up in letting him go.

Come on, Woodhead will only be used as a role player with the Pats.

If he is on the field for 10 snaps a game he will be lucky.

[THE ILK]

Come on, Woodhead will only be used as a role player with the Pats.

If he is on the field for 10 snaps a game he will be lucky.

A poor team's Leon Washington, without the return skills.

[Matt39]

Woodside made one run and now he's Barry Sanders.