SAN DIEGO-Looks can be deceiving. A quick glance at Danny Woodhead outside of his game uniform and a hard-nosed NFL veteran does not come to mind. But that doesn’t matter. Whether you think so or not, Woodhead can flat out ball. Everything counts when Woodhead is on the football field doing his thing, size be dismissed.
The Dallas Cowboys know that now. The Cowboys have to be kicking themselves today. The San Diego Chargers, on the other hand, are in chill mode. That’s because the Chargers went Woodhead and never looked back against Dallas, recording a 30-21 win over the Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
Woodhead took in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers for the game’s first score, then hauled in a 13-yarder in the fourth quarter to help the Chargers get back in the game after it looked like the home team might give away another win. Woodhead’s play was the difference in the game, regardless of not producing mind-blowing stats for the afternoon.
As the new prototype running back/wide receiver that NFL teams drool over, Woodhead is the type of player who gives defenses fits.
Slot receivers are now in. Big, slow running fullbacks are out. The play of Woodhead and other designated scatbacks around the NFL have virtually eliminated the two-back formation from the offensive side of the ball.
And all they do is make defenses look silly trying to stop them from advancing the ball. The Cowboys’ secondary can give testimony to that fact after Woodhead burned them for 104 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns to help the Chargers go 2-0 against NFC East opponents this season.
Woodhead does a little bit of everything. He catches the football. He runs with the rock in his hands like its second nature. Let’s not forget Woodhead is also available for kick and punt return duties as well. These days if you’re an NFL running back/slot receiver, you have to pretty much learn to do a bit of just about everything.
Woodhead is one of the league’s leaders in that arena. He is one of those era throwback players with a new age edge. He is an all-in utility player who know how to make things go. He is the motor that keeps on running, After a couple of years of playing with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, Woodhead is now an official part of the Bolts family.
Make no doubt about it, the San Diego Chargers are glad they have the diminutive dynamo on their roster instead of playing against him. Woodhead’s specialty is moving the chains. He is one of those players that can lull a linebacker to sleep before breaking out in full sprint to complete an out pattern or hitting the holes at the line of scrimmage to help get his team the necessary yards to keep a drive alive.
At 5-foot-8, 200 pounds, Woodhead look the part more of a college student waiting to take the next classroom exam as opposed to being a tough-as-nails competitor at the NFL level. And that’s okay because all it does is give Woodhead more room to dominate his opponent.
Dennis is the editor and publisher of News4usonline. He covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, racial and social justice, civil rights, and HBCUs. Dennis earned a journalism degree from “The Mecca” aka Howard University. “I write on what I am passionate about.”