Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
September 9, 2012
Fridays are the loosest days in the Steelers’ locker room. Heavy duty game prep is finished. Minds are at ease.
Coach Mike Tomlin sometimes circles the room after practice, delivering good-natured digs along his route. Players razz each other to no end.
This past Friday, defensive end Ziggy Hood and linebacker LaMarr Woodley — who comprise the left edge of the Steelers’ defense — started slinging verbal darts.
As Hood spoke to a reporter about the man he replaced — retired defensive end Aaron Smith — Woodley piped up.
“You’re talking about Aaron Smith?” Woodley said. “You don’t even belong in the same sentence as Aaron Smith.”
“Shut up,” Hood shot back, before turning to the reporter and saying, “I don’t even like LaMarr Woodley. Anybody who names their kid LaMarr …”
This went on for a bit. Woodley joked that Hood was the real reason behind his hamstring injury last season (“I had to do double duty,” he said). Hood did not blink. He returned every volley with a smash.
Symbolic of the new Ziggy Hood?
I’ll say yes, and I’ll take it a step further: I think the young bucks along the defensive line are going to make a name for themselves this season, starting in Denver.
I’m talking about a sleeker, meaner Hood, a healthier, wiser Cameron Heyward and a perpetually ticked-off nose tackle named Steve McLendon. The prime-time opener might be billed as Peyton Manning’s coming-out party in orange and blue, but this group is primed to announce itself, as well.
They could become a major story, supplementing vets Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel.
It’s fitting that the game is in Denver. That is where Hood, Heyward and McLendon were forced into expanded roles in last season’s playoff game, which, of course, ended on an all-time Orange Crush-er of a play.
“That’s motivation for a lot of the guys, especially us young guys on the defensive line,” McLendon said. “When Case and Keisel got injured that day, it left us three out there. We left with a bad taste in our mouths. It’s a great opportunity to go back and play that team again.”
Added Hood, “What better opportunity to showcase our skills as young guys?”
Hood, 25, is an old young. He is entering his fourth season, and quite frankly hasn’t lived up to his first-round billing. He was too pudgy last season. Too easy to block.
He was more of Piggy Hood than Ziggy Hood.
That is why he spent the offseason reshaping his body through improved diet and unbelievably intense workouts (type ‘Hood’ and ‘1,200 lb. sled drag’ into YouTube for a look).
“My workouts were all about explosion,” Hood said. “Anything to help my feet get quicker.”
It showed through an outstanding camp and exhibition season. Hood was especially disruptive in Buffalo. He batted down a pass, recovered a fumble and blasted Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick — and I loved his answer when asked if he felt good about the performance.
“Not really,” Hood said. “Until I play every play perfectly, it’ll never be a really good game, in my eyes. I have a lot of work to do.”
McLendon, meanwhile, is approaching the season with a James Harrison-sized chip on his shoulder. Like Harrison, McLendon, 26, has been cut multiple times (five at last count) and uses the slights to fuel his nonstop motor.
“It’s always in the back of my mind,” he said.
McLendon likely will share time with Hampton.
Heyward, 23, figures to man multiple positions. He figures to wreak havoc, too. Last season, as a rookie, he was coming off elbow surgery and missed key offseason learning sessions because of the lockout.
Now he almost can’t help but be better. Players who don’t improve under defensive line coach John Mitchell either aren’t good enough or motivated enough. Heyward doesn’t have those problems. He, too, got in a good lick on Fitzpatrick in the Buffalo game and generally looks more like the guy who wrecked Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl two years ago.
Veteran linebacker Larry Foote smiled when I mentioned the three young bucks.
“Those guys,” Foote said, “are ready.”
Joe Starkey co-hosts a show 2 to
6 p.m. weekdays on 93.7 “The Fan.” His columns appear Thursdays and Sundays. He can be reached at jraystarkey@gmail.com.
6 p.m. weekdays on 93.7 “The Fan.” His columns appear Thursdays and Sundays. He can be reached at jraystarkey@gmail.com.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/2547042-74/hood-season-defensive-mclendon-starkey-game-woodley-guys-heyward-primed#ixzz25zFKXSJP
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment