The Giants must beware of the little big man wearing a Chargers uniform: He could cause them big problems Sunday in San Diego.
The Giants defense will have an all-points bulletin out on Danny Woodhead, the 5-foot-8, 200-pound do-everything running back.
That’s why the first message defensive line coach Robert Nunn delivered to his players this week in his position meeting was this: “Don’t overlook him.’’
Too many other defenses have overlooked him and Woodhead, who previously played for the Jets and Patriots, has made a career of making those who dare to not take him seriously because of his diminutive size pay the price.
“That was the first thing that was said in our meeting room — ‘Do not overlook this man,’ ’’ Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said.
The man in the Giants locker room who knows Woodhead best is punter Steve Weatherford, because he used to share the Jets locker room with him when they played together. Weatherford understands exactly why opposing defenses overlook his friend.
“He’s a 5-foot-7 white guy,’’ Weatherford joked. “But he’s quick and he makes plays.’’
It never has been about size for Woodhead, which is why he always seems to come up big.
“If someone told me, ‘Hey, I’m going to give you two more inches to be 5-10,’ I wouldn’t take them,’’ Woodhead told The Post Thursday by phone from San Diego. “That’s the truth. I’m cool with my size. I use it to my advantage when I need to. What’s two more inches going to do for me? If I have two more inches, the linebackers and everyone else might be able to see me a little bit better.
“If I’m playing point guard in the NBA, I’d take the two inches, but I’m not playing in the NBA right now. There have probably been a lot of people that thought I shouldn’t be playing in the league. People look at that 5-foot-8, 200 pounds and they don’t think it’s big enough, I guess.’’
Linebacker Spencer Paysinger recalled speaking to former Jets head coach Herman Edwards about Woodhead, whom Edwards coached when Woodhead first came into the league as an undrafted free agent from Chadron State University in Nebraska.
“He said, ‘You’ll walk right by him and not even think he’s a football player, but once he breaks your ankles the first time [with a move] you’ll definitely know he is,’ ’’ Paysinger said.
“On most of the film we’ve watched on him you can just kind of tell guys have underestimated his strength and running ability and taken him for granted,’’ defensive end Justin Tuck said. “I don’t want to call him a gnat, but he’s been a thorn in a lot of teams’ side, running the ball and catching it out of the backfield.’’
The “gnat’’ has 61 receptions, second on the Chargers to Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates (64), but his five receiving touchdowns are tops on the team. Woodhead also has 288 rushing yards and two rushing TDs.
“He’s one of those guys who has overcome the odds, and I think he keeps that chip on his shoulder … a guy who’s always going to go out there and lay it on the line because he’s always trying to prove himself he never feels like he’s arrived,’’ linebacker Jon Beason said. “From a distance, you’re a fan just watching him. I love the way he plays. He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid.’’
Cornerback Terrell Thomas said: “Yeah, you admire him from a distance, but come Sunday, I want to knock his head off.’’
“When he comes onto the field you’re going to have to account for him. You can’t take a play off, because he’s like Wes Welker or Darrin Sproles in that you have to expect that they’re going to go to him,’’ Paysinger said.
“For a smaller guy he has a lot of heart; he’s very quick and very powerful,’’ cornerback Antrel Rolle said. “We all know that size doesn’t matter in this league.’’