Ziggy Hood - Bust?

[RuHappy69]

Through 6 games as a starter he has only 12 tackles (7 solo) and 1 sack.. Is this the kind of production we can expect from a #1 pick in year 4??? Against the Bengals he was pushed all over the field and spent way too much time on the ground. What's even worse is that he leads our other DL starters in tackles which is really embarrassing!

[steelfury02]

I don't have each DL's full repertoire of responsibilities memorized, but just remember, not everyone can be one of the best Steelers DL's of all time, ala Smith.

I would say he still has a lot to learn if he wants to help clog things up and create more pressure

[maddog78]

DL and Mitchell neuter the 3-4 defensive linemen here to play a read/react, 2-gap system. Remember Ta'amu's comments during camp? He was "coached up" after getting to the QB on one play. They told him that he was supposed to maintain gap discipline, not shoot them, even if he makes a play.

Ziggy Hood ended 2010 on fire, busting gaps and making plays. He was rewarded with the bench to start 2011, as Aaron Smith struggled mightily at the end of his career.

Cam Heyward ended the Jets' game this year with a QB sack. He's largely ridden the pine since.

Hood apparently "has his mind right" now, but unfortunately he is not physically built for this system, so he'll never be more than average until the system changes.

It is what it is.

[TRH]

average. adequate. Those are the words i think of right off the bat.

As for anyone saying he's "not quite ready" and stil has things to learn, there are plenty of DLinemen across the league - drafted farther down than Hood, in later years than Hood, who are already making big, big impacts across the leage - while we continue to "wait" and see if he will become something.

All in all, i would say...for a #1 pick.....yes, disappointing. I wouldn't quite say "bust", be definitely disappointing.

[maddog78]

Here is a 2009 scouting report for Hood. In college he consistently made plays behind the LOS, something he's not asked to do here. Square peg, round hole.


The secondary was the obvious weak link of the Tigers' defense the past two years, but with Hood in the trenches Missouri more than held its own up front. That unit allowed only 124.86 yards per game rushing in 2008, ranking second in the Big 12 Conference and 12th in the nation in tackles for loss, registering an average of 7.43 stops behind the line of scrimmage per game.

Called by head coach Gary Pinkel, "the most tenacious player on the team," Hood lived up to that reputation. Despite constantly battling double-team coverage, he collected 10 sacks, 15 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 16 quarterback pressures the last two seasons as the team's starting weak-side defensive tackle.

Hood was a highly-regarded athlete who excelled on defense and also played tight end for Palo Duro High School. He ranked as the No. 35 weak-side defensive end in the nation, according Rivals.com, and was named District 3-4A Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, when he registered 93 tackles and 13 sacks.

That season, Hood also scored three defensive touchdowns and recovered three fumbles. He earned All-District honors each of his last two years. He registered 76 tackles as a junior, including five sacks and also returned an interception for a touchdown. In addition to football, he threw the shot and discus for his school's track team.

Hood chose to attend Missouri in 2005, turning down scholarship offers from Arizona State, Oklahoma State, Texas Christian, Texas-El Paso and Baylor, among others. The coaches were originally going to redshirt him, but in August camp Hood earned a spot with the second unit at weak-side defensive tackle, going on to play in 12 games. He was in on 23 tackles (13 solos), 1.5 sacks and 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

The sophomore seized a starting opportunity in 2006. In the third game vs. New Mexico he suffered a foot fracture that required surgery to insert a screw. The staff projected that he would be forced to miss the rest of the season, but each week Hood predicted he would be back the following game. He returned after just three games and played through the pain the remainder of the season. Hood went out and delivered 36 tackles (24 solos) that included four sacks, four pressures and two forced fumbles while playing weak-side tackle and nose guard. That was just the start of great things to come.

In 2007, Hood was named All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention. The weak-side tackle started all 14 games, coming up with 49 tackles (30 solos). Despite constant double coverage, he finished third on the squad with five sacks and had a career-high eight stops for losses. He caused three fumbles, recovered another and broke up five passes. After producing six tackles and 1.5 sacks vs. Arkansas in the Cotton bowl, Pinkel called that Hood's best game in a Tigers uniform.

Hood continued to be relentless in his pursuit of quarterbacks in 2008, as five of his 12 pressures caused interceptions. The team captain and All-Big 12 first-team choice was in on 62 tackles (31 solos) that included seven stops behind the line of scrimmage and five sacks. He also recovered two fumbles and blocked one kick.

[steelfury02]

is it safe to say that some of you want an attacking D-line like the Giants? That's what I'm sensing when I hear talk of scheme and how guys like Hood and Heyward should be utilized.

If so, my question would be - what is the solution if this type of D-line overshoots, and then/or gets beat - who has the responsibility to make up for that?

I'm not accepting one scheme over the other right now but there is some legitimate concern TRH, like you said - when we're seeing other players making impacts more quickly. I'd give guys like Hood a little more time - but hey - what will happen once Dick is done? Does anyone think they will try to switch it up then - especially if this D continues to be up and down all season?

[maddog78]

Originally Posted by steelfury02

is it safe to say that some of you want an attacking D-line like the Giants? That's what I'm sensing when I hear talk of scheme and how guys like Hood and Heyward should be utilized.

If so, my question would be - what is the solution if this type of D-line overshoots, and then/or gets beat - who has the responsibility to make up for that?

I'm not accepting one scheme over the other right now but there is some legitimate concern TRH, like you said - when we're seeing other players making impacts more quickly. I'd give guys like Hood a little more time - but hey - what will happen once Dick is done? Does anyone think they will try to switch it up then - especially if this D continues to be up and down all season?

Not necessarily a 4-3, but a 3-4 that allows linemen to get upfield. Are guys get cut down too easily in the run game. You can't cut a guy that gets across your face and is penetrating.

I'd rather give that a shot that continually watching our DL get cut block and taken out of plays. You can't maintain gap discipline when you're on the ground.

[steelfury02]

Originally Posted by maddog78

Not necessarily a 4-3, but a 3-4 that allows linemen to get upfield. Are guys get cut down too easily in the run game. You can't cut a guy that gets across your face and is penetrating.

I'd rather give that a shot that continually watching our DL get cut block and taken out of plays. You can't maintain gap discipline when you're on the ground.

I know what you are saying, and it sounds better to me in theory, but then the question is - do these young guys have the ability to get upfield (I'd say overall "yes" based on their history - but the jury is still out because that isn't what they are taught) - and also, what if they "miss" / over-pursue - then who is there to fill that gap? lastly, does this put even more pressure on Timmons and Foote to make the open field tackle, and more pressure for the DBs to make sure they attack the ball?

[steeltheone]

The players we have now of Defense are not near as good as what was here a few years ago and a few years ago Ziggy looked good . It all goes hand in hand!

[Edman]

Originally Posted by maddog78

DL and Mitchell neuter the 3-4 defensive linemen here to play a read/react, 2-gap system. Remember Ta'amu's comments during camp? He was "coached up" after getting to the QB on one play. They told him that he was supposed to maintain gap discipline, not shoot them, even if he makes a play.

Ziggy Hood ended 2010 on fire, busting gaps and making plays. He was rewarded with the bench to start 2011, as Aaron Smith struggled mightily at the end of his career.

Cam Heyward ended the Jets' game this year with a QB sack. He's largely ridden the pine since.

Hood apparently "has his mind right" now, but unfortunately he is not physically built for this system, so he'll never be more than average until the system changes.

It is what it is.

Be careful. According to some on here he isn't that good to begin with when 2010 proved otherwise. According to them, our young players all suck and are busts.

Played well as a starter in 2010, he was punished for his production in 2011. He didn't see the playing time that year until Aaron Smith got hurt again, and I am willing to bet that if Smith had decided to come back again this year, Hood would be back on the bench. Hood "can have the right mindset" all he wants, if there's a veteran ahead of him, he can forget about playing time.

The only way our young players will see any playing time on this team is when the veterans ahead of them retire or get hurt.