Haha so I just stumbled upon this at 4 am, studying for finals never really works out though right? http://http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/articles/show/2196-damien-woody-s-a-fine-fit-on-the-rebuilt-ol/printer_friendly Damien Woody's a Fine Fit on the Rebuilt OL Published: 05-16-08 By Randy Lange Editor-in-Chief Damien Woody and the New York Jets are a marriage made in green heaven. Woody knows why he wanted the Jets. It had to do with Eric Mangini. "Yeah, that definitely was part of it," he said of the Jets head coach, with whom he worked on the New England Patriots from 2000-03. "Just my familiarity with Eric and the philosophy he has, the core values he has, those are things I was definitely looking for. I really admire him as a coach. The preparation, the structure of the things he does are for the team." And Woody acquired that respect even though he has always been an offensive lineman and Mangini coached defense in Foxboro. "He was really familiar with all the guys on the roster," he recalled. "Eric was a great guy, a funny guy to work with, a relatively young guy. He had a lot of energy. So when it came time for free agency and this situation popped up, it was a pretty easy decision." As for why the Jets would want Woody, well, they had some openings for offensive linemen, experience required. Thus in March, Mangini and general manager Mike Tannenbaum brought in left guard Alan Faneca, entering his 11th pro season, and Woody, entering his 10th. "Me and Alan, what we bring is just a veteran experience, playing a lot of plays, playing in multiple systems," he said. "We're just bringing a wealth of knowledge to the young guys who really haven't had a lot of experience in this league so far." Woody, in his first extensive interview since arriving on the Jets after four seasons with the Lions, told newyorkjets.com after Thursday's OTA practice that everything we've always heard about an O-line needing cohesion, chemistry and camaraderie is still true. That belief led to a recent night out at a Brazilian steakhouse, Churrascaria Riodizio in Roslyn Heights, N.Y., not far from the Jets' Hofstra University training complex. Woody's not sure, since with everything going on in his and his family's move from Detroit "I don't know my right from my left now," but even with the presence of the Jets' linemen and the quarterbacks in the restaurant, he may have picked up the hefty tab. It was a price the 6'3", 320-pounder was glad to pay to start a tradition among him and his new linemates. "It goes for any offensive line at any level," he said. "The offensive line really has to be that unit that jells, and it's the hardest unit to jell. So we just wanted to get on top of it as quickly as possible. Me and Alan in particular, we wanted to get to know the guys and just go from there." The jelling part is much appreciated by the Jets' quarterbacks. On Thursday, Chad Pennington was asked about his new line and said of Woody and Faneca: "They've seen a lot of football and have been very successful in their careers. We have a really good mix of veterans and young players where our young players can really learn from these veterans coming in that we brought in. They?ve seen a lot of football, they?ve been successful and they know how to play the game." And Kellen Clemens credited Tannenbaum and Mangini. "They went out and, speaking specifically to the front five, got two very good players in Alan and Damien, guys that are really going to help," Clemens said. "Things are definitely moving in a positive direction." It is assumed that Woody will be the right tackle on the Jets' rebuilt OL, for several reasons: With Anthony Clements' departure, there is an opening, he started the last five games of his Lions career there, and that's where he was lining up during Thursday's practice. But another reason Mangini likes Woody and vice versa is because the former first-round draft pick out of Boston College has been around. In his 125 NFL games, including playoffs, he's made starts at four of the five OL positions: 63 at center, where he started out with the Pats; 43 at RG, where he began with Detroit in '04; 14 at LG, mostly in 2003, and those five at RT to finish with the Lions. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Woody is the only NFL offensive lineman active in 2007 who has at least five career starts each at center, guard and tackle. And he and Jamar Nesbit of New Orleans are the only active O-lineman to make at least one career start at four of the five line positions. So where does he play as a Jet? Woody knows his coach and he knows himself. "I'm going to play the position that's going to best help the team win," he said. "Whatever they want me to do, I'm just going to go out there and get the job done." He also declined to compare the early mood of his latest team with that of any other teams of his acquaintance. But he does like the vibe he's feeling from the Green & White. "The guys in the locker room have been great. Everybody gets along with each other, everybody interacts with each other," Woody said. "It all starts with the chemistry. You've got to have that chemistry on a team. And that's one thing I feel really good about is our chemistry. Now we've just got to build." ** That said, I really believe in the philosophy that if you have an O-line with mediocre talent, that know, and really understand each others strengths and weaknesses, and pick each other up according to their s & w, they will be very successful. I can see this happening with the jets line, but instead of mediocre talent the Jets now have the potential to have one of the most talented lines in the league. Mangold and Ferguson have already succeeded, Mangold especially but both have the immense potential, especially with the new additions of pro bowler alan faneca and a solid starter in damien woody.
good luck on finals...im done with mine for good!...graduated on sunday anyways, if there was a player that was acquired and struggled next year i think it be woody...i think hes gonna suck...just a hunch
I dont know too much about Woody Ive never seen him play. Has anyone really seen an extended body of work from this guy? It seems Mangini has to know something about this guy to warrant bringing him in and plugging him into the starting RT position. All i do know is that he was a guard and wasnt playing well, then got moved to tackle and played very well. Was it just because someone lit a fire under his ass or was it to land a contract?
It's a nice article but let's face it it's all about the dough. The only reason a guy signs with any team in any sport today is the dough. It's a business - sure Mangini is a a guy that he likes but it's the money that makes him sign.
solid run blocker sometimes gets beat in pass blocking. i always thought he was a very solid starter at OG and especially for the lions. and he fared well as a RT too. he wont be anything amazing but he definitely will be an upgrade over clement. hes definitely not someone you see getting pushed around if he gets beat its by a good rip or swim.
i like hearing in these interviews - the part at the end - about the locker room. i realize no one would come out and say the locker room isn't a great environment (for whatever team they're on); but i actually believe that about the Jets' locker room. call me biased or wearing green glasses or whatever. i just think that Mangini is hellbent on getting character guys so that the locker room sticks together when things go awry, such as last season. and when things go well, it makes them that much better.
Thanks coach. I figured he would be an upgrade over clement that guy was the worst. I really cannot wait to see some smashmouth football from this O-Line.
I think Woody will end up being a stopgap at RT for a season until we can get a true RT on board, and I don't think that's going to happen this offseason. Hopefully he will be servicable.
Woody is a great guy to have on the roster, whether he plays RT or somewhere else. If someone gets hurt, we can shift Woody around, and it only really makes us need one backup offensive tackle, so we can shift Woody to play whichever position was hurt (except LT, that's a little roo risky perhaps).
Woody's essentially a starter-capable version of Wade Smith. He can play every position but LT along the line if needed. He's a solid run blocker, although his pass blocking seems inconsistent. If he can play RT like he played last year over the course of the season and our line does end up finding the chemistry they need, we're going to be able to run all over opponents this year. I agree with abyzmul though, we're going to be looking for a RT in the near future; I only expect Woody to start this year and possibly next as well before moving to a reserve role. Whether or not we end up with an extra 2nd rounder in next year's draft, I could see us using a 2nd on a RT. I'm pretty sure next year's class is supposed to be deep in the o-line department. I also don't know who's up to be a FA next offseason either but we could look there as well.
yeah, but at the same time, he's good to have on the team because as Jetfanmack was saying, he is multitudes. losing Wade Smith was kind of disconcerting from a depth standpoint, but knowing Woody can play center if need be, is a relief. i guess next year is when the FO completes the OL by acquiring a stud RT and/or G (either Left to groom behind Faneca, or Right to step in immediately) and make it a dominant unit.
It's my favorite restaurant. The place is fucking great. Wine suggestion: Monte Velho de Alentejo. Great red wine. You can also get it at a place (think it was called) Lisbon Liquors, across the street in the same area.
He was pretty good with the Pats but had good people playig beside him. Went to Lions, got lazy and fat (fatter) and didn't do all that much for them. Was considered way overpaid by them.
I don't know that it was that he got lazy and fat. he had a foot injury in 06 that didn't heal properly at first. he was unable to do any running, or excises that required standing. He blew up to 400 pounds, and was just ineffective as a guard, and was benched. As the season went on he lost 40 pounds. The RT was injured, Woody stepped in, and did a very good job. That's his story, and I hear he is sticking to it. One thing I had read which is VERY encouraging, was during an interview with Cotchery, about the time the Jets signed Woody, Cotchery, who is a physical specimen, said he was attending some elite conditioning camp. The kind of camp that the combine invitees go to so they can be at their peak for the combine, and he had met his new team mate Woody, who was also there. It sounds like Woody is taking his conditioning seriously this season. If he is, he will be fine
