2008 Giants draft retro ... Andre Woodson

by Ed Valentine on Feb 21, 2009 7:00 AM EST in News Comment 13 comments

Andre Woodson during a 2008 exhibition game against the New York Jets

Let's conclude our 2008 New York Giants draft retrospective by looking at quarterback Andre Woodson, the sixth-round pick from the University of Kentucky.

We will skip seventh-round pick Robert Henderson, since he didn't make it out of training camp.

The Giants took a flier on Woodson in last April's sixth round, hoping they could develop him into a capable backup quarterback for Eli Manning.

The little bit we saw last season tells us that the Giants know it is a process that will take time. The fact that they re-signed David Carr only confirms it.

Woodson looked unsure and overmatched in an exhibition game against the New York Jets prior to the season.

He opened the season on the practice squad. I lost track of how many times the Giants released him from the practice squad during the season, only to re-sign him as soon as they cleared roster room.

That told me two things. First, the Giants still believe they can develop him into an NFL-caliber quarterback. Second, they are pretty much the only team that thinks Woodson can play at the NFL level.

Woodson has apparently spent much of the last year revamping his throwing motion, getting rid of a hitch that slowed his delivery. 'Kudos' to Newsday's Tom Rock for the find.

So while spending last season on the New York Giants practice squad, Woodson said Giants coaches helped him rebuild his passing mechanics.

"In my old motion, my elbow would come up first, then the football would come up," Woodson said. "They got rid of the elbow coming up; now I just bring the football up. It's just a much faster motion getting rid of the ball."

Here is a little bit more from Kentucky.com.

Woodson said his indication from the Giants has been "that they like me and think I'm a player with a future. That's what they've indicated to my agent, too."

I am not convinced yet, but I sure do hope the Giants are right about this guy. It sure would be nice if they have uncovered a Matt Cassel-like backup.

Rookie Season Grade: Incomplete

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I remember hearing that he could be our Tom Brady

An unheralded, but talented 6th round QB….so whats the harm making him our no 3 when the two guys ahead of him were no 1 overall picks?

Seems like a safe way to groom him, both Eli and Carr are durable

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 21, 2009 9:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If Woodson is our Brady

does that make Eli our Bledsoe?

by django48 on Feb 21, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I always hate these analogies

they end up getting really stretched.

I don’t see Eli leading the league in passing any time soon.

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by NYERinSF on Feb 21, 2009 6:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think they meant in the sense that he'd be overlooked in the draft

due to relatively small details (throwing motion) and blossom into a successful QB, though Im not sure what the rationale behind Bradys fall was.

Well Eli will be here a long time barring injury, so best case scenario Woodson gets better and somehow his trade value goes up.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 21, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah - I get that part

It’s the Eli = Bledsoe part that seems stretched to me

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by NYERinSF on Feb 21, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bledsoe was pretty good

he’s in the top 10 in a few categories…..I dont know, Eli already had that 3700 yard season, he could pass 4k at some point, and who knows, maybe that’ll lead the league.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 21, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs