Props for Woodyard

[Rock Chalk]

I thought this was really cool:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AiD2FXp5MzVRv1e892JGVACE2bYF?slug=ap-broncos-woodyard&prov=ap&type=lgns

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—The Denver Broncos were about to go down for the count when rocket-armed quarterback Jay Cutler came to the rescue along with a most unlikely sidekick—an undrafted, undersized and largely unknown rookie linebacker named Wesley Woodyard.

Things looked bleak for the Broncos when D.J. Williams, fresh off signing a six-year, $32 million contract that solidified his standing as Denver’s defensive leader, went down with a knee injury on Nov. 2.

Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey had just chewed out his teammates for lacking a nasty attitude and the bungling Broncos were sitting ugly at 4-4 with a three-game losing streak.

The injury-riddled Broncos, who had already lost strongside linebacker Boss Bailey for the year and would lose middle linebacker Nate Webster the following week, turned to a free agent from the University of Kentucky who is generously listed at 230 pounds and was ignored in the draft because he’s too small.

Or so everybody thought.

During Williams’ absence, Woodyard has recorded 50 tackles in his five starts on the weak side, leading Denver (8-5) to the brink of a playoff berth with four wins in five weeks.

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme, whose Panthers (10-3) host the Broncos on Sunday, said he’s impressed with Denver’s entire makeshift defense—but one guy stands out above the rest.

“I’ll tell you what, the more film you watch … Woodyard keeps on making plays, especially the last couple of weeks,” Delhomme said.

Two weeks ago, Woodyard had 13 tackles, 11 of them solo, and forced a fumble by Brett Favre in Denver’s statement win over the New York Jets. Against Kansas City last week, he led the team with eight solo tackles and broke up a pass in another crucial win.

“Wesley’s one of those things you call a diamond in the rough,” teammate Kenny Peterson said Wednesday. “He’s 200-what?

Two-hundred-30 pounds.

“Oh?” Peterson reacted, surprised. “I was going to say 210 soaking wet with two jogging suits on.

“But he hits like a 280-pound guy.”

Williams is inching his way back to health, and that begs the question: How can the Broncos possibly take Woodyard out of the lineup when Williams returns?

“Yeah, he’s a playmaker,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “We’ll try to keep him out there as much as we can. He’s fun to watch, both on defense and special teams.”

It doesn’t seem likely the team’s savior will spend much time on the sideline in December, though.

“If he keeps playing like that, they’ll find a way to keep him on the field,” cornerback Dre’ Bly said.

One possibility is keeping Woodyard where he is and moving Williams back to the middle.

Woodyard said he’s ready for a reduced role if that’s what it comes to.

“D.J.’s the captain of our defense. You’ve got to give all respect to him. I’m ready to accept my role on the team like I did in the preseason,” Woodyard said. “I’m going to be a playmaker whether on special teams or defense.”

The way Woodyard sees it, the more depth at his position, the better.

“Once we get D.J. back, we’re going to have a lot more playmakers on our team,” he said. “I’m just going to earn my respect every week from the guys on the team and the guys in the NFL.”

He can check those off his to-do list.

“I play with about 10 or 20 chips on my shoulder,” Woodyard said. “I’ve always been looked at as a little guy. I’ve always been small since I was little, so I’m used to playing bigger than I really am.”

So, just how did a player of Woodyard’s stature slip through the cracks on draft weekend?

“I can’t answer that question,” Shanahan said. “Why did Rod Smith go undrafted? Why was Terrell Davis in the sixth round? Why was Shannon Sharpe in the seventh round? Karl Mecklenburg (a 12th-rounder). You can go on and on. You don’t know for sure the size of the guy’s heart, but I’m sure glad we got him.”

[Majik]

I bet if we moved Woodyard to HB he'd burst out 2K in a season with our system.

[SportinOne]

If i am Mike Shanahan, i give the option of going back to middle to DJ and if he accepts the role than he accepts it but at least give it a shot.

[worm]

Woodyard said he’s ready for a reduced role if that’s what it comes to.

“D.J.’s the captain of our defense. You’ve got to give all respect to him. I’m ready to accept my role on the team like I did in the preseason,” Woodyard said. “I’m going to be a playmaker whether on special teams or defense.”

The way Woodyard sees it, the more depth at his position, the better.

“Once we get D.J. back, we’re going to have a lot more playmakers on our team,” he said. “I’m just going to earn my respect every week from the guys on the team and the guys in the NFL.”


Every single quote you read or hear from a Bronco's rookie this year has been stellar. Amazing actually. From Hillis to Woodyard to Royal to Larsen to Barrett to Clady.

That isn't even including the ones you don't hear that much from like JMFW, Powell, Torrian and Kory.

Top to bottom. This draft will go down as better than 2006. Drafts like 2008 define the backbone and personality of a team.

Gone are players like Jevon, Foxworth and others who put themselves first. The Denver Broncos, circa 2008 is alive, thriving and heading in the right direction.

Every single poster that gave Shanny crap for his drafts should step up an acknowledge what he has done as the face of this franchise this year. Whether directly or indirectly.

He might not win any year end awards...but he should.

[fdf]

Every single poster that gave Shanny crap for his drafts should step up an acknowledge what he has done as the face of this franchise this year.

The Broncos deserved all the crap anyone wants to shovel for their pre-2006drafting. It was terrible--year in and year out. It's the reason this team went into the dumpster and is having to rebuild. We were a hollow team by 2005 mostly as a result of the very poor drafting.

Then something happened in 2006. 2006 was a great draft. And 2008 may turn out to be also. 2008 is, at worst, a solid draft. Even 2007 (the weakest draft since 2006) has produced 2 starters--one very good (Harris) and one good (Thomas). And, Moss and Crowder are still with the team.

We've all speculated about what caused the turnaround. Whatever it is, I hope they keep it up. If they do, we will have a very strong franchise for many years to come.

So both crap and props are appropriate. Thankfully the props are more recent.

[worm]

The Broncos deserved all the crap anyone wants to shovel for their pre-2006drafting. It was terrible--year in and year out. It's the reason this team went into the dumpster and is having to rebuild. We were a hollow team by 2005 mostly as a result of the very poor drafting.

Then something happened in 2006. 2006 was a great draft. And 2008 may turn out to be also. 2008 is, at worst, a solid draft. Even 2007 (the weakest draft since 2006) has produced 2 starters--one very good (Harris) and one good (Thomas). And, Moss and Crowder are still with the team.

We've all speculated about what caused the turnaround. Whatever it is, I hope they keep it up. If they do, we will have a very strong franchise for many years to come.

So both crap and props are appropriate. Thankfully the props are more recent.


Yep. As the face of the franchise, Shanny was accountable for those bad drafts. Likewise he should get credit for the possibilities of the recent ones.

What do you think you have heard more of here since 2002?

[Spider]

Woodyard is the player we all were hoping Ian Gold would have been .......

[fdf]

Yep. As the face of the franchise, Shanny was accountable for those bad drafts. Likewise he should get credit for the possibilities of the recent ones.

What do you think you have heard more of here since 2002?

Actually, I've heard a lot of both. A lot of well-deserved props in recent years. A lot of well-deserved crap in earlier years. It takes a few years before you can conclude that 2006 wasn't just lucky, but a geniuine turnaround--even a broken clock is right twice a day. Given 2007 and 8, the odds are it was a genuine turnaround and people are coming around to that conclusion as the evidence comes in. Who knows, it could all turn around next year and we could draft Willie Middlebrooks, Travis McGriff, Toviessi and Marcus Nash. But I don't think so.

Of course, there are a few folks who just hate Shanahan and I don't even read their posts. But I think the vast majority of the opinion I have seen around here has been pretty right on about the drafting.

Now, on the subject of trying linebackers at safety, DL at linebacker, etc, I think there's a lot more nonsense. But on the draft, what I see is a general consensus that has been pretty right on.

[worm]

Who knows, it could all turn around next year and we could draft Willie Middlebrooks, Travis McGriff, Toviessi and Marcus Nash. But I don't think so.


Man it hurt to even read those names.

I think I just expect the NFL draft to fail more often than it succeeds. Like hitting in baseball or playing blackjack.

I get more excited for a hit than I get down for a miss. Maybe that is just me.

Beyond the success on the field. I am just happy that this team has young players that are humble, appreciate the opportunity presented to them and believe in a team first mentality.

That is the type of team that can achieve greatness.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Now, on the subject of trying linebackers at safety, DL at linebacker, etc, I think there's a lot more nonsense. But on the draft, what I see is a general consensus that has been pretty right on.
The unintended consequence of leaving Woodyard at linebacker is Steve Larsen, who made rookie of the week in his only start there...gets to continue playing out of position as a fullback. If we really want to get ALL the playmakers on the field at once AND we want to utilize DJ where he's best...that puts Larsen in the middle, DJ at will and WWIII at FS alongside Barrett. People say he can't play safety...but most people thought he couldn't play linebacker either...not in the NFL. He's proving them wrong...so why not let him take a shot at proving people wrong again? We think we need two safeties...what if we have them already?

[24champ]

Teams are now taking notice gameplanning around Woody, we will see if his play continues as a result.

[broncogary]

Woodyard is the player we all were hoping DJ Williams would have been .......

Fixed it for you. :thanku:

[Tombstone RJ]

The unintended consequence of leaving Woodyard at linebacker is Steve Larsen, who made rookie of the week in his only start there...gets to continue playing out of position as a fullback. If we really want to get ALL the playmakers on the field at once AND we want to utilize DJ where he's best...that puts Larsen in the middle, DJ at will and WWIII at FS alongside Barrett. People say he can't play safety...but most people thought he couldn't play linebacker either...not in the NFL. He's proving them wrong...so why not let him take a shot at proving people wrong again? We think we need two safeties...what if we have them already?

What he said...

[Kaylore]

Fixed it for you. :thanku:

Not really. DJ Williams was a finalist for defensive rookie of the year and he was having a great season until he got hurt.

[Smiling Assassin27]

I’ve always been small since I was little, so I’m used to playing bigger than I really am.”


We have Yogi Berra reincarnated.

[Irish Stout]

Fixed it for you. :thanku:

If you have an issue with DJ Williams you need to get yourself checked. Prior to our rookies coming in on D, DJ and Champ were the only two guys we had out there who would be starters on any other team.

Now Woodyard is everything I ever thought he would be from the first moment I saw him in preseason, but to say he should be on the field before DJ or that he exceeds DJ in play making ability is just plain ridiculous. DJ was leading this team in tackles before he got hurt and had 170 tackles for this team last year at Middle. DJ is not a guy you want to lose to another team. DJ is not a guy you want to be riding the pine when he could be playing.

The very same thing goes for Woodyard, but Woodyard's excellence doesn't make DJ a worse player.

[Willynowei]

Whats this idea people have that Sam is so drastically different from Will? In the NFL today offensive formations and packages are so adaptable that they can attack any linebacker you have in any way they want, whether if its on the ground or through the air. You can't be a predictable defense and just lineup one guy over the tightend all the time, then what happens if the offense motions? You're going to realign upfront every single time? Not realistic, just keep DJ where he is, put Woodyard at Sam and rotate Larsen and Webster in there and we'll be good for this season. Play your best 11, have Woodyard cover whoever's infront of him if he has to.

[Kaylore]

Whats this idea people have that Sam is so drastically different from Will? In the NFL today offensive formations and packages are so adaptable that they can attack any linebacker you have in any way they want, whether if its on the ground or through the air. You can't be a predictable defense and just lineup one guy over the tightend all the time, then what happens if the offense motions? You're going to realign upfront every single time? Not realistic, just keep DJ where he is, put Woodyard at Sam and rotate Larsen and Webster in there and we'll be good for this season. Play your best 11, have Woodyard cover whoever's infront of him if he has to.

There's concern that Woodyard's size will make him a liability against the run in the Sam. I think that concern is legitimate.

[no-pseudo-fan]

We need to do something. We can not let Woodyard sit on the bench.

[_Oro_]

How about some love for preseason. We all saw Woodyard make big play after big play in the preseason. Most of us immediately jumped on the Woody bandwagon. Turns out his preseason play translated to the NFL.

Yay preseason!

[TonyR]

The Broncos deserved all the crap anyone wants to shovel for their pre-2006drafting. It was terrible--year in and year out. It's the reason this team went into the dumpster and is having to rebuild. We were a hollow team by 2005 mostly as a result of the very poor drafting.

Then something happened in 2006. 2006 was a great draft. And 2008 may turn out to be also. 2008 is, at worst, a solid draft. Even 2007 (the weakest draft since 2006) has produced 2 starters--one very good (Harris) and one good (Thomas). And, Moss and Crowder are still with the team.

We've all speculated about what caused the turnaround. Whatever it is, I hope they keep it up. If they do, we will have a very strong franchise for many years to come.

So both crap and props are appropriate. Thankfully the props are more recent.

Great post. As for "what caused the turnaround" one can only assume it's the Goodmans, a little bit of luck, and perhaps some improved scouts whose names we don't even know.

[DenverBrit]

We need to do something. We can not let Woodyard sit on the bench.


WE have no say, sorry. ;D

[TonyR]

How about some love for preseason. We all saw Woodyard make big play after big play in the preseason. Most of us immediately jumped on the Woody bandwagon. Turns out his preseason play translated to the NFL.


Same with Hillis. I loved what I saw in the preseason and couldn't figure out why we weren't utilizing him more in the first half of the season.

[DenverBrit]

Great post. As for "what caused the turnaround" one can only assume it's the Goodmans, a little bit of luck, and perhaps some improved scouts whose names we don't even know.

After all the 'WTF' 'OMG' moments, does anyone now miss Sundquist?

[Atlas]

The Broncos deserved all the crap anyone wants to shovel for their pre-2006drafting. It was terrible--year in and year out. It's the reason this team went into the dumpster and is having to rebuild. We were a hollow team by 2005 mostly as a result of the very poor drafting.

Then something happened in 2006. 2006 was a great draft. And 2008 may turn out to be also. 2008 is, at worst, a solid draft. Even 2007 (the weakest draft since 2006) has produced 2 starters--one very good (Harris) and one good (Thomas). And, Moss and Crowder are still with the team.

We've all speculated about what caused the turnaround. Whatever it is, I hope they keep it up. If they do, we will have a very strong franchise for many years to come.

So both crap and props are appropriate. Thankfully the props are more recent.

2005 was a good draft.

Williams, Paymah, Foxworth and Meyers all are NFL caliber players.

[Jay6Cutler]

no dont move DJ to the mlb. put woody there yes hes small but hes made play everywhere hes play he reminds me of mecklinberg but hes got more speed. this kid got star writtin all over him