hood

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2013/07/steelers-ziggy-hood-offseason-training-2013/

ziggy has and is working to increase on last years top season. HOF'er? who knows but I give him credit for the hard work he has put in the last couple of years to transform his body and hone his craft.

the guy is coming off his best season yet and should out do that this year. i'm not so sure the small contract offer that's been talked about is correct for this guy. he is one of the hardest workers they have and hasen't missed injury time. i'm glad he's here and we should be seeing results again this year.

technique in some aspects could need worked on, but the heart and work ethic is there. the other aspects will get better because I believe he's commited to putting in the time to make them better. speed kills and he's getting that in line as well as his stegnth.

I wouldn't write his game off yet folks. good job ziggy.

 

i like his attitude but still didn't see translation on the field . he is always too easily single blocked

 

Hood is a bit of an enigma. He seems to have a good work ethic, is crazy strong and pretty quick but it dosn't seem to translate between the lines on Sunday. I hope you're right, mac, but I'm not real confident at this point.

 

Love his work ethic, but maybe he should call up Aaron Smith to work with him instead of a personal trainer. Just an idea.

 

Hmmm? Intrguing idea.

 

I'm just not sure what Hood's issue is, because it seems like he has all the physical tools. Then again, I can go to the local gym and find about 10 guys that can run and push a sled 100 yards, but they're not in the NFL for a reason.

Could be he's just a late bloomer, we shall see.

 

Ok hood has gotten a bad name normally we don't see a DE on the field until his third year which for hood was last year. Remember guys he is a dt that converted to DE. I think he is going to have a very good year this year.

 

He was over drafted, not worthy of a 1st rd pick even if it was at the backend. The good thing is he has the right attitude and work ethic. At this point his contract has no business being larger than McLendons new 3 yr deal. I for one hope they re-sign him now with a similar contract as I feel with his efforts and Coach Mitchells coaching he'll be that player everyone hoped for when we drafted him.


Cajun-

 

I`m pullin for him to shine, if for no other reason, than we need him to!
And, as for if Aaron Smith can help him, well, I believe I read that he is in the facility, although as a scouting intern, not D-line coach...
He should still be available for input, if Hood asks...
I think he will...
I don`t know what to think of Ziggy, honestly...
I`m a casual fan, and don`t watch tape of how the D-linemen do, week in, and week out.
At least I don`t hear his name called for penalties, on Sundays...
I think last year`s workout video, showed more than this year`s, of his effort, and dedication to his craft.
Still, there is a LOT of hate here for him, not sure I understand it.
Maybe he`s overdrafted, but, hopefully, this year he will shut everyone up, and get the qb to the ground, more often..
That seems to be his biggest flaw, as far as I can tell, is that he gets blocked too easily...
Again, I dunno, unless you really focus in, and watch how a 2nd string, "spell the 1st stringer" D-Lineman does... I didn`t really see a lot of plays during the year, where I went...
"DAMMIT ZIGGY!"...
I read about his shortcomings here, a lot, but, when the game`s on, I`m not really focused on him...
If he breaks thru some blocks, and gets to the qb... maybe I will be.
He should get more playing time this year, I would think...
Time to make the most of it!

 

I think that's fair, and I would do it.

One thing for him, he's gotten better every single year. He does have a great work ethic (before Antonio Brown's big year in 2011, Ziggy was the guy everyone talked about as the hardest worker on the team). And some guys do get suddenly better after a few years. Keenan Lewis went from garbage his second year to decent his third to extremely good his fourth. William Gay had an enormous turnaround in his fifth year, after having some flat out ugly seasons, much worse than what we've seen from Ziggy. Ziggy's shown steady progress and a willingness to find what he needs to improve. I expect a performance from him this year worth another contract. I think there will be a small jump for sure, and a big jump is not impossible.

 

I must be one of Ziggy's only fans. I like the guy. I think he keeps improving and, obviously, he works hard. I'm not sure what REALISTIC expectations people have for him in our defense. Anyhow, I hope he makes believers out of the non.

 

Serviceable, nothing more nothing less up to this point.A new
contract should allow for this type of play. Should be a small one.

 

I have to believe with the work he's putting in and mclendon playing the nose and some fire in Woodley's belly from being called out, worilds wanting to show he belongs, an exciting rookie, a couple of backups that want to make a name for themselves, and an older vet playing for another SB and contract, this front 5 is going to be much improved as a whole unit. which is what this defense is about more then the play of each individual in it.

i'm expecting them to be very good this year and ziggy will be a big part of it.

 

Really expecting to see some different looks with the way they scheme the pass rush this year.

 

Me too. He hasn't been what we all hoped for, but for me that's not a necessity in order for me to be satisfied with a player. Not everyone lives up to the high expectations. He's not a bust, and he's not bad, and he's doing his best, and he's getting better, and he earned a starting spot on the Steelers front 7.

My focus is now on Heyward. I like the flashes I've seen so far, and I think his ceiling is absolutely higher than Ziggy's, but we still don't know if he can start 16 games and be a solid piece of that defense. As much as I like Keisel, Cam's a 1st rounder in his 3rd year who has done everything except be given playing time. I hope they give him an honest chance to beat out Keisel in training camp, or at least give him 50% of snaps.

 

As always, great post Snack!

 

1st rounder or not, until keisels game takes a nose dive, how can you yank him out just to see if cam has it or not? so far BK still gets the job done and done well. I don't disagree with you snack, but the guy is playing very well still.

I like cam and believe he should be spelling both of them every other series, but you can't bench a known commodity half the time while he's the best guy there.

i'd like to see 25% of ziggy's snaps and 25% of keisels snaps given to cam. it's a tough thing to have to juggle when you have 3 and maybe 4 guys that play at a high level. I think woods will do well too when finally given a shot. fresh legs should create more plays made. it's a good problem to have.

mclendon is still going to be key to all of them playing better. his backup will be critical too. I don't think they have a lot of faith in anyone else yet. woods seeing time there opens a roster spot and I do believe that's why they are doing it.

for me , the spot I want to see a 50% at least rotation is foote's spot.

I think this defense is going to rock this year.

 

You and I disagree that Keisel was noticeably worse in 2012 than 2011. I'm not saying just yank him out. But Cam is a good young player who needs more reps if he's going to ever start. And low mileage or not, Keisel is old and could use the break. At the very least, put Cam in there in nickel and turn him loose on QBs.

One thing I'm unsure of is how well Cam knows Ziggy's LDE spot. I know he's played there some, but my understanding is that he's mostly been groomed for Keisel's RDE spot. Even if he does know them both evenly, I wouldn't mind letting him focus on one side only, which is what our starters do. After Cam there's a huge dropoff at the DE position (we don't even know yet who's next - Woods maybe?), so I agree he should be spelling Brett and Ziggy. I'm thinking something like every 2 or 3 series for Keisel, plus a permanent spot in the nickel, with Keisel, Ziggy, and McLendon splitting time next to him. That'd give Ziggy a break and keep Cam on the right side. And I think he can do damage rushing the passer now. I'm not worried about his development or experience there.

 

Agree. almost. My thing is Keisel. He had a great year last year. People look at his sacks and tackles but he had a lot of QB pressures and hits. He doesn't make assignment mistakes either and this all must be taken in account for. Cam will have to play "Lights Out" to replace Keisel this year.

People look at Heyward as being a disappointment because he hasn't cracked the starting lineup. I feel that way somewhat but realize he must beatout Keisel. No-way Hood would be starting if Smith hadn't retired.

Mac made a point about Heyward getting a % of reps. He needs reps at both DE spots in my opinion. NT worries me. McLendon will need a break. Ta'amu isn't ready to relieve him yet. Can Ziggy move side inside and Heyward on the LDE sometimes?

Sign Ziggy now and I think it'll motivate Heyward. He'll see Ziggys small contract and think, " I better play big time ball" or I'll be hit with a small contract too.

Cajun-

 

heyward can handle either side. at osu he played all over the d-line.

cam should also be done learning any of the positions by now. it's not like he just got here.

so what if keisel had a better year in 2011 then 2012, so did the rest of the team. keisel is still the best DE they have. old or not. he doesn't have all that wear and tear on him that most guys his age do. as Cajun said keisel has 3 times the pressure's of any other DE we have, that's hard to take off the field.

 

You can't include Cam Heyward in that because he hasn't seen the field time to compete. I think Cam will be the best pass rushing DE we have this year, so that gets better, not worse when you sub him in. Even for Keisel.

 

All of a sudden, I feel much better about our "old and slow" defense...
Thanx, guys!
And, then we got guys like Shemarko, and Julius Jones, waiting in the wings, and keeping up the pressure on our starters...
Always a good thing!
Not sure who is gonna pressure Mc`Clendon... But, I dont think he really needs it...
He`s beeen waiting behind fat-ass Hampton, long enough...
And has proved more than capable, when given the chance, in my book...
Very optimistic about the D this year...
But what team`s fans aren`t, in preseason?
LOL.... GO STEELERS!

 

This!!! Last year we saw the same workout regimen and got very excited about the potential but he never seems to round the corner. He is a bit of a workout warrior. To cut him some slack perhaps this is his year.

Bman

 

i'm pretty sure the coaches are not keeping cam off the field because he's the best DE we have.