Charles Woodson
In 1997 the Raider defense suffered through the worst season in its history. During the 1998 draft, Al Davis selected Charles Woodson from Michigan. Woodson was not just another Heisman Trophy added to Raider lore. The Raider defense went from dead last in the league to a top 5 ranked defense. #24 intercepted 5 passes and ran one back for a touchdown against the Cardinals. His second season saw him pick off only one pass but that was good for a touchdown as well. In 2000, Woodson rebounded and picked off four passes and had a career high in the tackle category.
Woodson had been solid throughout his entire five year career in Oakland. He made the Pro Bowl during his first four seasons. Woodson is beginning to show the ability to make plays and dominate using the same methods that were made famous by Willie Brown. Charles is a great player and he has only begun discovering his abilities. Woodson is one of those rare players who touches the ball and can make magical things happen with it.
During the 2002 season Woodson missed a lot of time with injuries. During the Raiders 11-5 run that year they were 5-4 without Woodson and 6-1 with him.
The 2003 season wasn't a good year for the Raiders. However, Charles Woodson stayed healthy and played in 15 of the 16 games, he was suspended for the final regular season game against the Chargers. He still had enough time to record 70 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery and 8 passes defensed
2004 and 2005 saw Charles struggle with injuries and he made just two total interceptions. In 2005 he missed 10 games with a broken leg.
Here are his career stats:
| Year | G | GS | Tackles | Solo | Asst | Sack | Safety | FF | FR | BK | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD |
| 98 | 16 | 16 | 64 | 62 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 118 | 23.6 | 1 | 22 |
| 99 | 16 | 16 | 61 | 53 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 1 | 15 |
| 00 | 16 | 16 | 79 | 67 | 12 | 0.0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 36 | 9.0 | 0 | 13 |
| 01 | 16 | 16 | 53 | 42 | 11 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 64 | 64.0 | 0 | 11 |
| 02 | 8 | 7 | 37 | 36 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 4 |
| 03 | 15 | 15 | 70 | 56 | 14 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 67 | 22.0 | 0 | 8 |
| 04 | 13 | 13 | 74 | 60 | 14 | 2.5 | 0 | 2 | n/a | 0 | 1 | 25 | 25.0 | 0 | 9 |
| 05 | 6 | 6 | 31 | 27 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 106 | 105 | 469 | 403 | 69 | 5.5 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 328 | 19.29 | 2 | 86 |
Other Stats:
2 Receptions 27 yards 13.5 yrds per catch
4 punt returns for 6 yards
WOODSON CURSED?
But you wonder sometimes if Woodson is cursed. Seems like when he makes his most spectacular plays, the Raiders lose.
It happened again Sunday night against the Chiefs. Woodson’s strip of wide receiver Samie Parker, forcing a fumble recovered by Stuart Schweigert, was a spectacular individual play, a game-altering, game-winning play. Only the Raiders couldn’t cash it in for short-field points, and lost the game 23-17.
Remember Super Bowl XXXVIII? Woodson intercepted Brad Johnson’s first pass of the game. OK, he got lucky. Regan Upshaw forced the interception with a furious pass rush and Woodson, recovering from a broken ankle, was basically a shell of himself. The Raiders lost 48-21.
How about the Tuck Rule? Woodson again. Nobody had even heard of Walt Coleman until he forced Tom Brady into, um, an alleged incomplete pass.
Even weirder was Dec. 16, 2000 in Seattle. The Raiders led 24-19 and Woodson runs down Ricky Watters from behind at Husky Stadium, and with a mighty swipe, knocks the ball loose. Marquez Pope falls on it, and hydroplanes into the end zone. At best, the Raiders would get the ball at the 20, with Pope’s progress carrying him in. At worst, he’d be ruled down at the 2. Still an Oakland ball.
Not so fast. Officials ruled Pope had supplied the momentum into the end zone and ruled it a safety. The Seahawks not only got two points, but the Raiders had to kick away. Seattle took the ball and drove for the winning score. The rule has since been changed so the recovering team cannot be penalized in such a fashion.
