I find the comparison legit given their size and physical limitations.... but it goes further both players also had to overcome the racial stereotype of what wide receivers, running backs, quarterbacks and defensive backs should look like. All things being equal we have collectively been conditioned to beleive that certain players will be smarter, faster and more aggressive on the field and the fact that professional sports are all copycat leagues and if something works they try to duplicate it. The fact that he is nicknamed White Chocolate by his black team mates is proof that they feel he playing outside of the norms of his race. Now whether you belive in the stereotypes or not does not matter, it is a fact that they do exist and that certain players, playing certain positions will always need to overcome more than their physical abilities at times. But usually in the end the best player if given an opportunity to compete will be seen as the best player and earn his spot on a roster.
Chrebet set an NFL record for the most receptions in the first 2 years of an NFL career, a record that was passed a few years later by Marvin Harrison. So if you compare the two after 2 seasons, there is nothing other than size, skin color, and undrafted status. Chrebet was light years ahead, and that on beyond shitty teams catching passes from several different QBs. The only thing I can say, you put Woodhead in Chrebet's shoes with the same situation, who knows. But I still don't think Woodhead could be as good as the best 3rd down reciever in Jets history was.
Sorry Seafood but when I read your thread title, I threw up in my mouth, this kids got a long way to go to be mentioned in the same breath as Wayne Chrebet...
I remember ESPN showing Woodhead on camera with his family receiving a call from the NYJ at the end of the draft. I just assumed he was our 7th round pick. My mistake.
Sure, complain about people missing the point instead of acknowledging that it was a terrible point. You said that from what you've seen, if Woodhead were to get the chance to play and contribute, we might be looking at another Chrebet story. There's absolutely nothing to base even that mild of a prediction on save his performance against 2nd and 3rd stringers in the preseason. You say it's all about the following: - undersized - small school - undrafted - overachiever All of those things described Bart Scott back in 2002. He was underweight (which would be a valid measure for a linebacker to compare to height for a receiver), came from Southern Illinois, went undrafted, and became a productive starter. Why not make your comparison there?
Because Bart Scott has already proven himself so it would be stating the obvious, same for Jim Leonhard. With Woodhead I see a guy who is a good sound football player, who has produced any time he's been given a shot (college, pre-season), but people were reluctant to give him a shot because of his size and lack of big-time college background. That's what reminds me of Chrebet, if you want to go back further Kurt Sohn in 1981 from Fordham. Instead of discussing that people want to point out more of the obvious, which I addressed in the first post--that they play different positions and that Chrebet obviously went on to a great career. Some were even observant enough to point out that both are white, like that's some kind of rarity in the NFL. I'm not going to sit here and argue with everyone for days, I thought after watching camp up to now and Hard Knocks more than two people would get where I'm coming from--an optimistic view that maybe we've uncovered another player of that nature who goes on to be productive. Obviously he would have to get in there and go a long way to equal what Chrebet did, but again entering Chrebet's first year most of the same people would be saying the same shit about him. Again, so be it.
Some of the resistance to discussing this comes from the fact that this isn't Woodhead's first year, yet you insist on treating it like it is. Comparisons of the time Danny has been in the league to Wayne's early years are dismissed. That is why the comparison strikes as being easy to dismiss. Find another player who spent two years with 8 catches and then went on to have a very good career and then we can compare.
The trouble is, people have been saying that for more than 2 years now, and we have nothing really to show for it. THAT is why it does a disservice to Wayne. He was the next Wayne Chrebet last year (or the next Wes Welker...are there no undersized, overachieving receivers or backs who AREN'T white?), and did nothing in the regular season. These are all from the summer of 2009: Even one of our mods got in on it, although the thread is closed, so I can't linkquote: It's not that nobody saw the connection. People have been claiming that for 2 years now. Perhaps he does something for this team. He works hard and he's shifty, and EVERYONE appreciates that. That sure as hell doesn't make him Wayne Chrebet.
I realize that, but to me it's a lot more talented team to crack the lineup in than the one Chrebet walked onto in 1995, by far. We've discussed that here as well. Which is exactly why, since he's finally on the team to start the year, I thought it would be a relevant and frankly a better discussion on here than it's been. I think I've been pretty clear in saying he's obviously not Wayne Chrebet, there are clear differences, but has the potential to be a similar story if the guy gets a shot in real games. He may never, he's still pretty far down the depth chart compared to where Chrebet was--again due to a horrible 1995 team--but it's a possibility.
This thread kind of bugs me for a number of reasons, firstly :beer:. Chrebet was from a different era of football, every season it gets harder and faster, so just there, there is no comparison. I've watched , (like many here) Woodhead, and all he does is try with 110% commitment, and 9 times out of 10 delivers. I pumped this hard little fucker made the team. If anyone lives up to "playing like a JET", its him. I also feel bad For C Washington, hopefully he'll get his chance with #1s soon.
His 'chance with #1s' only comes if Greene gets injured. I sincerely hope Chauncey never sees the field this year.
I know. I don't think anyone wants to see Greene injured. I actually hope Chauncey gets signed to an active roster. I don't see a place for him here in the future barring a major injury to Greene, but he's certainly earned a chance to play for someone.
Based on HK, it seemed like his problem was grasping things mentally. From a pure talent perspective he seemed like a better option than Woodhead who will presumably have a chance to run with the ones. My point is that I think if he can nail down the mental aspect he could beat out the great white hope onto the active roster at some point. That's another, admittedly less realistic, route for him to play.
What fucks me off is that McKnight has shown shit since hes been with us, for whatever reason, whilst Washington has made play after play, everywhere. And that fumble for 6, was shit, he was down. Next season LT will most likely be gone, and my hope is that we get Washington in then, unless of course we end up drafting, we I can't see.
