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With the exception of Red Bryant, Ziggy Hood was probably one of the more misunderstood free agent signings by the Jaguars in terms of role on the team.
It all started with one of the better running jokes of 2014, when the team's longest tenured beat writer couldn't even tweet out his name correctly shortly after his signing.
Soggy Hood says #Jaguars better for for him scheme-wise, use him as penetrating technique guy
— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) March 13, 2014
His contribution was even more misunderstood.
Fans saw a defensive end and expected a handful of sacks off the edge, overlooking the fact he played in a 3-4 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hood was put in the interior of the defensive line and finished the year with 1.5 sacks, which caused many to mistakenly think he wasn't doing what he was brought here to do.
But he wasn't brought here to get sacks. His goal was to fill running lanes and bring pressure at the 3-technique position, which is just another way of saying Hood would line up on the outside shoulder of opposing guards. His role along the defensive line is very close to what Sen'Derrick Marks does, except Hood can occasionally play the 5-technique position, or line up on the outside shoulder of opposing tackles.
Hood contributed well in the first half of the season, but it wasn't until the second half of the season when he really turned it on. He had three pressures against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 and then pressured the quarterback at least once in every game following, except for Week 14 against the Houston Texans.
His run defense was also very good towards the end of the year, as he compiled two-thirds of his stops in the final six games of the season.
I think Hood ended on a high note and that he'll be a constant contributor for the Jaguars in 2015, especially with Marks out for the beginning of the season with an ACL injury.