Danny Woodhead, in his third training camp as a Jet, is ready for his next assignment.
"Right now I'm just trying to find a role. There's not any one spot that I'm looking at," said Woodhead after Tuesday's morning practice. "I just want to do anything to help the team out. That's what I'm willing to do."
The versatile 5'9" running back/wide receiver continues to do his best to secure a place in the Green & White offense for the upcoming season. Woodhead has had a lot of obstacles put in his way to get there.
He starred at Chadron State, where he set Division II records for career and season rushing records and twice won the Harlon Hill Award. Despite all these accomplishments, he went overlooked in the 2008 draft. The Jets signed him as a free agent, but on the second day of training camp he went down with a knee injury and spent the entire year on injured reserve.
Last year Woodhead made the final cut in September, only to be waived the next day, then was signed to the practice squad and in October to the active roster in the wake of injuries to Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith. He made his NFL debut in the 38-0 Week 7 victory over Oakland with three late rushes for 24 yards. He finished the regular season with 15 carries for 64 yards and eight receptions for 87 yards.
He's among the weapons in the Jets' offensive lineup, and he now feels that he has adjusted to the system well.
"I'm doing a good job in fitting in," said Woodhead. "I definitely understand it a lot more and that makes things a lot easier mentally. You still have to do things physically, but mentally it makes you feel more comfortable just knowing the offense."
So far this camp Woodhead has gotten some touches in the backfield behind Shonn Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson and will also look to be a third-down receiver and possibly a returner.
Woodhead knows that having a head coach like Rex Ryan will only do positive things for him and the rest of the Jets as they head into this season intent on accomplish their goal of winning the Super Bowl.
"Rex is a coach that players want to play for," he said, "so anytime he says anything good about you, it definitely makes you feel good. But you've still got to go out and practice hard and try to perform."
