Draft Scout Snapshot:DS Rating on 8/24/08: #5 C, #96/750 Overall, Projected Rnd: 4 2008: All-American third-team choice by The NFL Draft Report...All-Big East Conference first-team selection...Finalist for the Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's premier center...Started all twelve games at center, recording 78 knockdowns, sixteen touchdown-resulting blocks and four down-field blocks to receive a blocking consistency grade of 87.08 percent...Was penalized three times...Did not allow any sacks or pressures on 391 pass plays...Helped the offense average 376.67 yards and 24.67 points per game...Also made an assisted tackle vs. Pittsburgh...Received grades of 90 percent or better in each of the Tennessee Tech, Connecticut, Memphis and Middle Tennessee contests...Woods' consecutive start string of 49 ranks second in school history behind Travis Leffew (51, 2002-05)...His 49 starts were also the sixth-longest streak among all active NCAA players last season, topped by Andrew Hartline of Central Michigan (51), Andrew Gardner of Georgia Tech (51), Jason Phillips of Texas Christian (50), Dallas Reynolds of Brigham Young (50) and Clint Sintim of Virginia (50)...For his career, Wood registered 328 knockdowns and 46 touchdown-resulting blocks...During his final two seasons, he graded 85.17 percent for blocking consistency...On 1,754 total plays during that span, he delivered 164 knockdowns and 27 touchdown-resulting blocks, as he allowed just two quarterback pressures and one sack on 882 pass plays...2007: Started all 12 games at center... earned first team All-BIG EAST honors... started on an offense that ranked sixth nationally with an average of 488.0 yards per game... passing offense stood fourth in the country...2006: Started all 13 games at center… named second team All-BIG EAST Conference...2005: Named a Rivals.com Freshman All-American... first team Freshman All-american by sporting News and second team by collegefootballnews.com... started all 12 games at center... earned Academic All-BIG EAST accolades...2004: Red-shirted.
Post-Draft Outlook:BEST PICK: Louisville OL Eric Wood could play center or guard. The Bills needed a stud tackle to replace Jason Peters, but a team can never go wrong strengthening itself up the middle. Wood, a throwback player who has been compared to Pittsburgh great Mike Webster, was taken with the extra first-round pick (No. 28) obtained in the Peters-to-Philadelphia trade. He's known for his nasty temperament and for attacking defenders and finishing blocks -- something new for this Bills' line. The Bills envision him at left guard where there is a need after the release of Derrick Dockery, who played too soft. In time, Wood could play center. He has the potential to be a 10-year starter, even if he's not a sexy draft pick to fans. But 7-9 teams can't afford to be sexy. A closer look at the Bills' picks: Round 1/28 -- Eric Wood, C/G, 6-4, 304, Louisville...The Bills didn't find an instant starter at left tackle to replace Pro Bowler Jason Peters, whom they traded to Philadelphia, but they have apparently filled their hole at left guard after releasing Derrick Dockery. Woods, one of the best centers in college football last season, played guard at the Senior Bowl and convinced Bills scouts that's a viable position for him. An aggressive "old-school" blocker who enjoys attacking linebackers at the second level, he brings the credentials to change Buffalo's "soft" reputation up front. A film room junkie and three-time All-Big East selection, he had 328 knockdown blocks and 46 TD blocks in his career, which included 49 consecutive starts at center. He doesn't get his pads low enough at times and might lack true nimbleness blocking on screen plays in the open field, but those are minor knocks. - by The Sports Xchange
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Draft Scout Eric Wood News
12/21/12 - C Eric Wood, who has missed two games with a sprained knee, expects to play Sunday in Miami. He's likely a game-time decision but he's encouraged by the progress he's made and said it's important for him physically and psychologically to play the final two games of the season. His return would obviously be a major boost to the line, as Wood makes all the line calls and is the unit's unquestioned leader.
12/19/12 - C Eric Wood (knee) practiced on a limited basis and hopes to increase his workload as the week goes on. He has a shot at playing Sunday in Miami, but now that the team is out of the playoffs, there's no rush to bring him back and risk anything.
12/13/12 - C Eric Wood has been ruled out of Sunday's game against Seattle because of a sprained knee, but there is a chance he could play in the team's final two regular-season games. Coach Chan Gailey described the possibility of that happening as a "definite maybe."
Wood missed last week's game against St. Louis and the role of calling out adjustments is being shared by other players, meaning the line isn't playing as efficiently.
12/12/12 - C Eric Wood (knee) remains sidelined and the team will have to use its juggled backup lineup to get by against Seattle on Sunday.
12/04/12 - C Eric Wood's bad luck just won't go away. The Bills center has seen two of his four NFL seasons end with serious injuries, a broken leg in 2009 when he was a rookie, and a torn ACL in 2011. Now, it looks as if his 2012 season might end thanks to another knee injury sustained against Jacksonville. He has a partially torn MCL in his left knee and will be out at least two weeks, and possibly all four of the remaining games.
"It's just stupid stuff that keeps happening," said Wood, who never missed a game in college at Louisville. "I played 49 straight games in college and never got banged up and maybe my luck ran out then. All I can do is hope to make it back for the last two games. The fact that I have to miss time just ticks me off to no end."
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