• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!
Link

Woods sticking to linebacker
By Albert Breer/ MetroWest Daily News
Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - Updated: 02:03 AM EST

FOXBORO - After starting as a sophomore at linebacker for Michigan in 2003, Pierre Woods looked ticketed for stardom.
But it never happened.
Replaced as a regular, he started just nine games the rest of his career. That limited role, however, makes him a nice fit for the Patriots.
Woods became a situational rusher and played both defensive end and outside linebacker in his junior and senior seasons for the Wolverines, giving him the kind of versatility the Pats seek.
“Here, it’s about the same. You’d be up, you’d be down, the same way it was in college,” said Woods, who starred at powerhouse Glenville High School in Cleveland, where top 10 pick Donte Whitner (Buffalo) and Ohio State stars Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. were teammates. “You just gotta adjust. It’s a lot to learn, but that’s what we have film for and the coaches. They’re doing a great job.”
Woods also seems to be doing a pretty good job.
He’s played extensively as an outside linebacker with the second team during training camp, deployed standing up on the line. His situation at Michigan gave him experience in both a 3-4 and a 4-3 defense, as well as the know-how in playing both three-point and two-point stances.
It helped Friday, when the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder was on the field for a good chunk of the Pats’ preseason opener at Atlanta. Woods registered four tackles and sacked Falcons backup quarterback Matt Schaub for an 11-yard loss in the second quarter.
That, at least, is a start. But there’s plenty more that Woods needs to learn, and for a guy who spent most of the last two years exclusively as a rusher, the biggest thing is improving his coverage.
“I look at (Mike) Vrabel and I look at Rosey (Rosevelt Colvin), I just gotta learn from those guys,” said Woods, pointing at two guys who also were Big Ten defensive ends and became outside linebackers for the Pats. “I also look at Tully (Banta-Cain) and Chad (Brown) just go in there and get the teaching. When they need you to drop, get in the right zone, the right area and just read the guys that are coming out.”
Woods may be labeled as a long shot to make the team, but he only has to look at a pair of former teammates at Michigan to know he has a chance.
Former Wolverines linebackers Shantee Orr and Roy Manning, two of his close friends, also entered the league as undrafted free agents. Both stuck, Orr with Houston and Manning with Green Bay.
“A lot of those guys just told me to go out and work hard and don’t worry about anything else,” Woods said. “The coaches will notice the guys that are working hard, and hopefully everything will work out.”
 
Upvote 0
CPD

[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]LB Woods an early NFL success story [/FONT][/FONT]


[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Wednesday, September 06, 2006[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Roger Brown[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Plain Dealer Columnist [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif] While plenty of rookies have taken interesting paths to making NFL season-opening rosters, few have had a more inspirational journey than Pierre Woods, the former Glenville High star and Michigan linebacker. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif] This time last year, Woods was undergoing a humiliating, humbling season at the hands of Lloyd Carr, Michigan's increasingly clueless head coach. Carr largely relegated Woods to playing special teams and backup linebacker and defensive end - even though the native Clevelander had spent most of three previous seasons as a starting LB. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif] Now, one year later, Woods has made the New England Patriots' regular-season roster as a rookie linebacker. To do so, Woods beat huge odds as an undrafted free agent and did enough to impress a guy considered the defensive genius in today's NFL: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif] Not only is Woods' success a testament to his determination and persistence as a player, it's yet another indictment of Carr's ability as a coach. And it may help explain why Carr is on the hot seat this season at UM.[/FONT][/FONT]
 
Upvote 0
CPD

[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]LB Woods an early NFL success story [/FONT][/FONT]


[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Wednesday, September 06, 2006[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Roger Brown[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Plain Dealer Columnist [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]This time last year, Woods was undergoing a humiliating, humbling season at the hands of Lloyd Carr, Michigan's increasingly clueless head coach.[/FONT][/FONT]

I want to give this Roger Brown guy some greenies.
 
Upvote 0
CPD

[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]LB Woods an early NFL success story [/FONT][/FONT]


[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Wednesday, September 06, 2006[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Roger Brown[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif]Plain Dealer Columnist [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif] While plenty of rookies have taken interesting paths to making NFL season-opening rosters, few have had a more inspirational journey than Pierre Woods, the former Glenville High star and Michigan linebacker. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif] This time last year, Woods was undergoing a humiliating, humbling season at the hands of Lloyd Carr, Michigan's increasingly clueless head coach. Carr largely relegated Woods to playing special teams and backup linebacker and defensive end - even though the native Clevelander had spent most of three previous seasons as a starting LB. [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif] Now, one year later, Woods has made the New England Patriots' regular-season roster as a rookie linebacker. To do so, Woods beat huge odds as an undrafted free agent and did enough to impress a guy considered the defensive genius in today's NFL: Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,sans-serif][FONT=arial,sans-serif] Not only is Woods' success a testament to his determination and persistence as a player, it's yet another indictment of Carr's ability as a coach. And it may help explain why Carr is on the hot seat this season at UM.[/FONT][/FONT]

There's a MAJOR reason why Woods didn't play much after the 04 rose bowl. And it had nothing to do with on the field play. Can't hate Carr for that.
 
Upvote 0
Link

10/8/06
Behind the Scenes with LB Pierre Woods
Jared Puffer
The Patriots originally signed Pierre Woods as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2006. The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound linebacker collected 24 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles as senior for the University of Michigan last season. Woods sat down with us to answer some questions about his life both on and off the football field.


The Patriots originally signed Pierre Woods as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2006. The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound linebacker collected 24 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles as senior for the University of Michigan last season. He earned All-Big Ten second team honors as a sophomore in 2003, after tallying 68 tackles and a team-high seven sacks. The Cleveland native is the third undrafted free agent, joining Mike Wright and Randall Gay, in the last three seasons to make the final roster out of training camp. Woods sat down with us to answer some questions about his life both on and off the football field.
FAVORITES
What is your favorite reality TV show? Flavor of Love on VH-1. That is the most hilarious show ever.
What is your favorite thing to do off the football field? Whenever I get a chance to I like to spend time with my family.
What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Strawberry.
Where is your favorite vacation spot? I haven't been on vacation in a long time. My godfather has a nice place down in Tampa, Florida.
What is your favorite concert that you have attended? There were a whole bunch of groups: Brooke Valentine, David Banner, Mike Jones and the Ying-Yang Twins.
What was your favorite class in college? Either African-American studies or my film and video class.
OFF THE FIELD
What is one thing that you can't live without? My television. I have to watch SportsCenter. My other favorite shows are House, 24 and Prison Break.
What was your most embarrassing moment in sports? I went up for a dunk in the city basketball championship game and missed. It was like Grant Hill's Sprite commercial a couple of years back.
Do you remember the most remarkable play you have ever seen on the gridiron? I remember when Karlos Dansby made an interception along the sidelines in college and then threw it to one of his teammates who returned it.
What type of food do you refuse to eat? Pig feet and chitlins.
You wore the number 45 in training camp and now you have switched to number 58. Is there any significance? They gave me the new number and I embraced it. It is not the number that makes you. You make the number. It is a blessing. Whatever number they give me I'm going to wear it with pride.
Which player on this team best resembles your personality? That is a tough question. I would have to say Eric Alexander.
What scares you the most? I don't like scary movies, but that is not what scares me the most. I don't like guns.
What is something interesting about you that the fans may want to know? Probably that I'm a loyal person. I think that is very interesting. Not many people are loyal these days.
ON THE FIELD
What was your mindset coming into training camp as an undrafted free agent? I just wanted to work hard, have consistency and improve each day. It was a blessing that it worked out. I'm still working hard each day. It is never easy.
Have you talked to undrafted players like Randall Gay and Mike Wright as far as what to expect? I mostly talk to the guys at my position - Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Rosevelt Colvin. They give me great advice on different things to expect during the season. They tell me to continue working hard and stay focused.
Which player or coach have you learned the most from in your career? My high school coach, Ted Ginn, Sr. Coming from the streets, he has always been there for me. He was a father figure for me when I lost my father in the eighth grade. He was like a guiding light.
Do you remember the recipient of your hardest tackle? I hit LenDale White pretty hard in the Rose Bowl. My biggest hit was during kickoff coverage against Wisconsin's fullback. He said he was happy we didn't play them for two years.
THIS OR THAT
A weekend in Las Vegas or a weekend on the beach in Cancun? I'll go with Vegas.
Go to the concert or buy the CD? I'll buy the CD.
Playstation 2 or X-Box? Playstation 2.
Sports car or SUV? SUV. I have a Chevy Blazer.
Bigger rivalry: Red Sox/Yankees or Michigan/Ohio State? Everyone knows it's Michigan vs. Ohio State. The tension when you go down to the Horseshoe is crazy. The fans just hate you. It is the same way at the Big House. It is a great rivalry that a whole bunch of players can talk about and remember for a long time.
Relax at home or out on the town? Relax at home.
JUST FOR FUN
If you were playing in a basketball tournament and the game was on the line, which teammate would you least like to take the last shot? That's a hard one. Who looks the most unathletic? There is no way that Corey Mays could make a shot.
If you had a free roundtrip plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would love to go to Africa.
If you could attend any event in the world, what would you choose? The Super Bowl. I don't just want to attend. I want to play in the game.
If you could have a cameo on any TV show, which would you choose? I would be on Martin.
 
Upvote 0
osugrad21;628881; said:
Which player or coach have you learned the most from in your career? My high school coach, Ted Ginn, Sr. Coming from the streets, he has always been there for me. He was a father figure for me when I lost my father in the eighth grade. He was like a guiding light.

I never get tired of reading quotes about Ted Ginn, Sr. :)
 
Upvote 0
Patriot player?s motto: Work Hard

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, August 15, 2007

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG

Journal Sports Writer

FOXBORO ? As he puts it, Pierre Woods likes to get his hands dirty.

He learned the value of hard work from his father, Lyle. When he was young, Pierre spent summers toting wheelbarrows at work sites for the asphalt and cement company where Lyle was employed.

Though he had a chance to go to Ohio State, Woods instead chose rival Michigan and calls it ?one of the best times of my life.?

Patriot player’s motto: Work Hard | New England Patriots | projo.com | The Providence Journal
 
Upvote 0
Back
Top