San Diego Chargers: Danny Woodhead key to running game

Out of Chadron State, Daniel Frank Henry Woodhead has always been the classic jack-of-all-trades player in the NFL.

He can run, catch the ball with play-making moves and certainly provides great blocking in pass protection. And with Ryan Mathews possibly becoming a free agent in 2015, the Chargers are in the market for a running back. Many have predicted – or rather fantasized – that the Bolts would either take Wisconsin back Melvin Gordon or go to free agency and pick up a fresh back such as Reggie Bush or even Mark Ingram.

Many are forgetting though that the Chargers have one of the most versatile backs in the NFL in Danny Woodhead. And while this is not a case for Woodhead being a starter, I believe that a triple-back backfield could spell success for the Chargers in 2015.

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If you don’t believe me, let’s look at the numbers.

During Woodhead’s collegiate career, he eet Division II records with an unbelievable 7,962 rushing yards and 101 touchdowns on 1,135 carries – all in just 44 games (6.9 yards per carry). By the end of his senior season, Woodhead’s career yards per game average came out at a whopping 183.0 yards per game. As well, Woodhead showed his receiving abilities early on with 1,388 yards and eight touchdowns on 119 receptions.

His 9,259 all-purpose yards ranks second on the NCAA all-time list next to Brian Westbrook who had 9,512 all-purpose yards with Villanova.

Not to mention, Woodhead rushed for an unfathomable 2,756 yards and 34 touchdowns on 344 carries during his 13-game junior season. That means that he was able to rush for 212.0 yards per game. That’s 212 yards every…single…game. It is no wonder that Woodhead won the Division II’s Most Valuable Player award in 2006 and 2007.

It wasn’t until Woodhead was signed to the New England Patriots in 2010 that Woodhead was able to show his NFL promise. With the Pats, Woodhead totaled 1,199 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns and a 4.8 yards per carry average. Woodhead’s three seasons in Boston saw him catch 92 passes for 982 yards and four touchdowns.

It was this success that translated to a to two-year deal with the Chargers. And although his 2014 season was cut short due to a season-ending high ankle sprain, his 2013 season was outstanding.

According to Ricky Henne of Chargers.com, Woodhead “recorded new career highs of 76 catches (second on the team), 605 yards and six touchdowns in 2013. He ranked first among all NFL running backs in touchdown catches and ranked second in receptions and receiving yards. Woodhead also posted 429 rushing yards for a total of 1,034 yards from scrimmage, as well as two rushing touchdowns for a total of eight. Adding in his 262 kickoff return yards, he set another career-high with 1,296 all-purpose yards.”

With that considered, I believe that the Chargers should not focus the entire running game around Woodhead, but rather use Woodhead intermittently as a spark plug to get the offense going. I believe that having him healthy and playing often is the key to a successful Chargers running game for many reasons.

Other than taking the pressure off of the Chargers primary back, Woodhead would provide consistent pass protection for Philip Rivers in the case that the Chargers offensive line fails in 2015. He would add key rushing yards on third down and in short yardage situations, if called upon.

But I believe that Woodhead’s primary function next season will be out of the backfield rather than in the backfield. Woodhead has been known as a receiving-back for good reason; the guy can catch and run the ball better than any other back in the AFC.

I think that if Woodhead can be utilized just like he was in 2013, the Chargers should see some offensive success.

At the moment though, I am not confident enough to call Woodhead an “every down back.” What I do see him as though is a primary back in the sense that he gets the most carries, however, I see him virtually splitting those carries with the other Chargers backs.

In the instance that the Bolts do draft a running back, Woodhead would serve the role of a mentor and leader for the incoming rookie. By sharing carries and being the primary pass-catcher out of the backfield, Woodhead’s experience and abilities would be put to their full potential.

And while an improved offensive line is imperative to a playoff push, Woodhead’s increased role in the offense should yield favorable results.

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