I Was Wrong About Clifton and Woodson

Aaron was a vocal critic of both Chad Clifton and Charles Woodson early in the 2010 season. Now, he admits that he was wrong.

During the first month of the season, I questioned the play of both Charles Woodson and Chad Clifton. I went so far as to say that Clifton should be benched. Not that I didn't have cause. Clifton looked terrible the first few weeks of the season and Woodson did not look much better.

Well, I can't begin to express how happy I am  to say that I was wrong. About both of them.

Chad Clifton has gone from looking like he was done during the Week 2 matchup with the Buffalo Bills to playing what can only be described as some of his best football over the course of the last month.

And Charles Woodson - where do I begin?

Did the fact that he was coming off of a NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award inflate expectations? I guess that's  only natural. But it wasn't so much the lack of things like flashy interceptions returned for touchdowns that we weren't seeing that concerned me but what we were seeing - namely, guys running by Woodson coupled with his drawing terrible defensive holding penalties on a seemingly regular basis.

Needless to say, I completely undervalued everything else Woodson brings not only to this defense but to this team. His simple presence allows defensive coordinator Dom Capers to do things other coordinators can only dream about. And his leadership in the locker room has become readily apparent as the season has wore on, especially throughout the playoffs.

The Packers have a chance to bring home the Lombardi Trophy for a forth time in large part because of the play and leadership of Chad Clifton and Charles Woodson. I am thrilled to have missed so badly in my assessments of them early in the season.

 

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Comments (20)

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zub's picture

January 28, 2011 at 11:07 am

With Clifton's performance early combined with his age and injuries, it was a justified concern. I am surprised Clifton has been as healthy as he has been.

Woodson may have been trying to do too much to early, not having confidence in Burnett and Shields, I think as the season went on and that group settled down, they grew with confidence in each allowing everyone to do their thing.

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CSS's picture

January 28, 2011 at 11:16 am

Is it possible that, as Sheilds and Williams consistantly elevated their games, Woodson played what should now be his more natural position (at this stage in his career)- a safety?

Seemed to me starting last year he began to exaggerate some of the tricks of the trade to compensate for his diminishing (though still good) cover corner skills. i.e. - holding, grabbing, down-field hand-fighting, etc...

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PackerAaron's picture

January 28, 2011 at 11:18 am

Completely agree with that first paragraph. Their improved play def let Woodson play the middle more and do more of the Rover stuff Dom likes to use him in.

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thepretzelhead on twitter's picture

January 28, 2011 at 11:44 am

Woodson...no corner tackles like he does. High or low. Sometimes the camera won't catch who tackled someone, but by the way the player falls, you can tell it was a Woodson. One classic high smack down against Forte on the far side lines was evidence of that common occurrence.

Future Mel Kiper analysis of a DB:

"This young corner is fast but he can apply the C. Woodson when he has to."

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thepretzelhead on twitter's picture

January 28, 2011 at 11:47 am

As for Clifton..amazing. The man deserves a ring just for the bone muscle separation he received from thug Sapp so many, many years ago.

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WoodyG's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:01 pm

Could never imagine early in the season that Cliffy would still be standing after 19 games .....

Woody's 'pick-6' in the SB will quiet all of the rest of his detractors .....

Nagler ..... Please don't attempt to admit all your 'wrongs' ...... Too many blog entries ....... (LOL .... A given ... sort of)

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PackerAaron's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:02 pm

That's why I had to start combining subjects. ;)

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CSS's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:06 pm

'rest of his detractors....'

I really haven't heard detractors on Woodson, who's still banging that drum?

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WoodyG's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:11 pm

Check out all the early 2011 mock drafts ..... Everyone is replacing that 'old' CB named Woodson or shifting him to safety (fulltime) in 2011 ....

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CSS's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:17 pm

Don't you think they're doing that more out of complete ignorance as to the level of play with Tramon Williams and Sam Sheilds moreso than an indictment of Woodson?

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WoodyG's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:25 pm

I blame ignorance for most wild-eyed statements ..... The only issue with Woody is that eventually age does get ya .... Sometimes almost overnight .... The argument I use to prop up Woody (for a few more good years) is that he still plays every game ....

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jeremy's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:28 pm

Yes, I thought that too reading about the "lack of depth" the packers have a CB. Just nonsense.

I can see Thompson trying to trade up in this draft (maybe with a team like Indy who's going to need a lot of picks). There's not a lot of room for rookie's on this team with all of the ascending young players. Anyways, it seems the guys Thompson picks up as Rookie FA's are better than fourth round draft picks.

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Claymaking's picture

January 29, 2011 at 03:57 am

I do think some people get their thoughts mixed up when trying to understand the game, but I hate to admit I'm on the Woodson-to-safety bandwagon. He's practically been playing the position all season with the ways he's been used, kind of parallel to Polamalu.

It's not saying Woodson has played bad, as Aaron's post very much states, but ages has slowed his legs a little and he wont be able to keep up with younger, faster guys all the time. It'd be a good move to extend his career, should he decide to keep playing. I hope they win this one though, nothing better for the vets to finally get theirs and for the young guys to get one in the books and concentrate on getting better and getting more.

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Ken at UWM's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:03 pm

Clifton deserves this championship. He's been to hell and back physically and will have a difficult post-career life dealing with the rigors. I wrote him off after Buffalo as well.

If he doesn't have the performance he has against Jared Allen at Lambeau in week 7, we probably lose. And if we would've lost our third straight to drop to 3-4, we probably finish closer 6-10 than 10-6.

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Noshville's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:15 pm

Aaron,

What a great article! In the end the coaches are in the best position to evaluate player potential. They are not always right, but should have the highest level of performance forecasting. A sports writer like yourself can see the big picture as good or better than the coaches-thus your early season evaluation was a very real concern. Thanks for the update!

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jeremy's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:22 pm

Both Clifton and Woodson are true warriors.

Woodson might want to reconsider his habit of coming to camp overweight. He's too old to get away with that now. He looked slow to start the season and when he's out of position he resorts to his bag of dirty tricks. CM3 came into camp in the best shape of his life (hammy issue acknowledged) and absolutely destroyed the competition to begin the season.

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PackRat's picture

January 28, 2011 at 12:48 pm

I killed Clifton and Taucher early on also. Clifton has done well week in and week out--But AR12s elusiveness has also contributed in a major way to his All-Pro season. Just need one more game from Clifton....against a monster in James Harrison who could dramatically change the outcome of the game on any given play.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

January 28, 2011 at 03:19 pm

I was with you on the 2 of them early on. Woodson looked slow and yes the rash of bad penalties was cause for alarm. Clifton has really come on strong after a very shaky start. Good to have 2 key vets playing some good football when we need them to.

"I am thrilled to have missed so badly in my assessments of them early in the season."

Hey man, you take enough swings you're gonna whiff once in awhile. I was thinking the same thing about them.

WHITEHOUSE ON THREE

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Oppy's picture

January 28, 2011 at 09:30 pm

I was Clifton's worst critic until mid season.

But you know what?

I'll deny it to the end.

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yogamon's picture

January 29, 2011 at 01:08 pm

My early thoughts regarding Woodson's subpar play were that he was probably having problems with his toe at that time.

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