Opinions on Wesley Woodyard

[billoliver40]

WW was one of my favorites the past couple of years. LOOOOOTTTTA
heart in that package.

Opinions: anybody think that Woodyard might be better suited to try the
Marlon McCree route and try to slide over to safety for the pros?
I know that Wesley stated that he IS a linebacker....but in the pros I wonder if his speed and hitting ability wouldn't be even more valuable at
the safety position. I saw on one of the boards that listed salaries that
MM has parlayed safety into a real nice salary package.

Whattaya think?

[BLUE-K]

He certainly has the speed for safety. How about strong safety situations? His weight of course is the issue for a linebacker position. Outside linebacker could still be an option if he could put on about 15-25 pounds.

One thing is for sure -- NOBODY has a bigger heart than Woodyard.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm surprised the Broncos aren't looking at him at safety.

[SBCatMan]

Woodyard was very fast for a linebacker, but McCree could flat out fly -- period. I am not sure WW is fast enough to be an NFL safety.

[BLUE-K]

Macree is faster, but I think Woodyard can hit harder. Therefore, the combination of speed and ferocity fits Woody.

Let your cornerbacks handle the speedy receivers, and let your safety read and pow. Being an ex-safety, I have a real soft (hard) spot for the position. :big_grin:

[jwade]

WW will play at LB, or not at all. He will not be a safety.


Jim

[TylerM35]

Best Linebacker to ever wear the blue and white and i think Wesley will play where played at UK. I sure hope he works his way up and gets the start. Besides Woodson i though Woodyard would go really high but none of the wildcats went high. Just shows how underrated we are.

[gerntz]

Good guy.

[johnkyblue]

I don't see how he just doesn't fit the role of linebacker. Seems to me that against a TE like Tamme he'd be perfect.

[Gunsmoke]

One of my all-time favorites, along with Jacob Tamme. They will be missed.

[billoliver40]

I don't see how he just doesn't fit the role of linebacker. Seems to me that against a TE like Tamme he'd be perfect.

I think the problem is that JT is on the small side for what a lot of teams are using for TE these days....looking at the lineups on NFL.Com, most of the tight ends are running 255-265.....primarily extra guards that will occaisionally catch a pass. Jacob is probably gonna be used in the H-back slot quite a bit.
When you look at the size difference, Wesley is still listed on most sites as
under 220. As a LB, you're gonna be taking on some big beef pretty frequently. Course, 220 can go up to 235 and WW would be pretty close
to the average weight of what the NFL considers "undersized" linebackers.
And several of them do real well.

[poodoo]

One of my all-time favorites, along with Jacob Tamme. They will be missed.

Same here, for sure, Gunsmoke. Too, a real disappointment for me on Draft Day was that the Colts did not also draft Wesley, along with Jacob (and I so feel they really had a need for him on special teams).

Also, BLUE-K is so right about no one's having a bigger HEART than Wesley. There is no doubt that he will be missed, along with all of the other seniors (and I must add that Keenan is also an all-time favorite of mine :)). By the way, again, good luck to Wesley, and I would surely LOVE for him to join the UK coaching staff when his playing days are finished, something that he has been mentioned as a possibility. :)

[jpay]

WW will play at LB, or not at all. He will not be a safety.


Jim Wesley is one of those guys who could make a career as a special teams player of he doesn't make it as LB. Now that being said i fully expect WW to make the Broncos opening day roster. Go Wesley go CATS

[jwade]

Wesley is one of those guys who could make a career as a special teams player of he doesn't make it as LB. Now that being said i fully expect WW to make the Broncos opening day roster. Go Wesley go CATS

If he makes a squad, there's little doubt in my mind he will get some time on special teams. However, in the NFL even special teams players need to be #1 or #2 on the depth chart at a regular position. NFL teams dress a 45-man active roster plus they can suit up a third QB on game day. There simply isn't room to carry a guy who does well on special teams, but has little value elsewhere.

FWIW the 45-man roster limitation is why in the NFL you almost never see two kickers: one for field goals and another for kickoffs. They can't afford to carry two kickers on the active roster, unlike the college game where you can carry 85 scholarship players plus walk-ons.


Jim

[UKFBFAN]

I seem to remember some very fine linebackers at UK. Jerry Claiborne (sp?) had linebackers who would knock you into next week.

Another, Marty Moore, had a very nice NFL career as a small linebacker. Wesley Woodyard can play. He has the heart of a lion.

Help me out you historians. Who were some of our great linebackers?

[RV]

Wes will do fine on special teams and is a perfect fit as a LB in a two deep zone based D like the Tampa 2. As for making a team based solely on special teams, typically teams reserve the last on or two roster spots for special teams demons. Wes is a playa and I have no doubt that he will have a productive NFL career.

[jpay]

Wes will do fine on special teams and is a perfect fit as a LB in a two deep zone based D like the Tampa 2. As for making a team based solely on special teams, typically teams reserve the last on or two roster spots for special teams demons. Wes is a playa and I have no doubt that he will have a productive NFL career.
I couldn't agree More RV. While he is a Tad light for an every down LB in the NFL, I see hm as a passing down LB and a Special teams monster. The Leading tackler in the SEC WILL be on an NFL roster on opening day.....l

[White Out]

WW will go down as my favourite Wildcat ever. What a dynamic set of players that has left us.. WW, Woodson, Little, Tamme, Burton. Then Curtis turns into snoop dog.

[poodoo]

Reading back through the thread, I remember the NFL coaches' so positive reactions to Wesley from the Senior Game. The coaches and commentators saw Wesley as a player who HAS to make an NFL roster, even though he is a "tweener."

We've called it "heart" here. Actually, though, Wesley has so many intangibles. He is a true WINNER. If I were putting together a football team, without doubt, Wesley Woodyard would be on my team and just might be my first pick. :)

Too, yes, RV, in regard to your comment, I had been sort of expecting either Tampa Bay or the Colts to draft Wesley. :shrug1: IF Denver somehow chooses not to keep Wesley, I really feel that another team will pick him up. GO WESLEY!

[White Out]

Reading back through the thread, I remember the NFL coaches' so positive reactions to Wesley from the Senior Game. The coaches and commentators saw Wesley as a player who HAS to make an NFL roster, even though he is a "tweener."

We've called it "heart" here. Actually, though, Wesley has so many intangibles. He is a true WINNER. If I were putting together a football team, without doubt, Wesley Woodyard would be on my team and just might be my first pick. :)

Too, yes, RV, in regard to your comment, I had been sort of expecting either Tampa Bay or the Colts to draft Wesley. :shrug1: IF Denver somehow chooses not to keep Wesley, I really feel that another team will pick him up. GO WESLEY!

If no one in the NFL is smart enough to take Wesley Woodyard, someone with his heart and speed would be awesome to have up here in Canada in the CFL. I think he could be a dominant safety north of the border with the bigger field

[BLUE-K]

If no one in the NFL is smart enough to take Wesley Woodyard, someone with his heart and speed would be awesome to have up here in Canada in the CFL. I think he could be a dominant safety north of the border with the bigger field

Even though I am new here as well, welcome, White Out. Nice to have an upstairs neighbor!

Do you think WW's speed and smaller size would benefit the larger field? How? Seems that arena football -- which smaller -- tends to be a quicker game. Are you saying the larger field is better for fast, more lithe runners than say, power or quickness?

[White Out]

Even though I am new here as well, welcome, White Out. Nice to have an upstairs neighbor!

Do you think WW's speed and smaller size would benefit the larger field? How? Seems that arena football -- which smaller -- tends to be a quicker game. Are you saying the larger field is better for fast, more lithe runners than say, power or quickness?

absolutely. fast defenses and smaller players thrive with the bigger field cuz it all starts on offense up here. guys like doug flutie who are too small for the NFL come here, and use their quickness to exploit the big field. so a guy like Wes, who's fast and tough would probably thrive in our environment. that being said id love to see him on sundays still, but being able to get a Blue Bomber jersey with Woodyards name on it would be a dream to me

[BLUE-K]

WW needs to play somewhere, that's for sure...

Flutie got robbed at Buffalo, BTW. I'll never forgive that coach for plugging that other QB in the '99 (I think) playoffs after Flutie carried the team and made them winners for half a season prior.

[White Out]

WW needs to play somewhere, that's for sure...

Flutie got robbed at Buffalo, BTW. I'll never forgive that coach for plugging that other QB in the '99 (I think) playoffs after Flutie carried the team and made them winners for half a season prior.


Rob Johnson I think was the Qb he put in. Ill never cheer for Buffalo again. They robbed Flutie. The football gods punished them with the music city miracle

[BLUE-K]

Yep, Rob Johnson, that's him. He was the most frail and mediocre QB I think I ever saw. Just plain did not have NFL written on him at alllllll. I thought Wade Phillips's (?) days were numbered after the debacle.

[Gunsmoke]

I seem to remember some very fine linebackers at UK. Jerry Claiborne (sp?) had linebackers who would knock you into next week.

Another, Marty Moore, had a very nice NFL career as a small linebacker. Wesley Woodyard can play. He has the heart of a lion.

Help me out you historians. Who were some of our great linebackers?Snedegar was an absolute beast! Smashmouth at it's finest.

[KentuckyKajun]

Help me out you historians. Who were some of our great linebackers?

Never saw him play as a Wildcat but watched him with the New Orleans Saints for years, Joe Federspiel. My favorite LB I saw play for UK was Jim Kovach, Woodyard is a very very close 2nd.

[poodoo]

Snedegar was an absolute beast! Smashmouth at it's finest.

Wasn't he, though! :big_grin:

[jpay]

Snedegar was an absolute beast! Smashmouth at it's finest.Not to shabby for a former QB. Hoping Matt Lentz picks up were Sned left off....