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First Round Pick “Ziggy” Hood Is Officially a Steeler
Published: July 25, 2009
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The Steelers officially reached terms with first round pick Evander “Ziggy” Hood. The reported deal includes $6.1 million of guaranteed cash for Hood. It’s essentially a five-year deal with a base salary of $8.7 million per year.
Hood, the defensive end from the University of Missouri, is only the fourth first-round draft pick to be signed to a deal and Pittsburgh is certainly very happy that they were able to get passed any holdouts with Hood, especially before the start of training camp next week.
Another interesting note: the Steel are all set with their draft picks and will also head into camp with all 80 players on the roster securely signed to contracts.
It’s always nice to be the defending champs and not have to deal with any surrounding player holdouts. It’s a rarity in the NFL these days.
What Will Mewelde Moore’s Impact Be In 2009?
Published: July 25, 2009
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Last season, the two Steelers coveted backs, a guy with a track record in Willie Parker and a rookie who played with Darren McFadden in Rashard Mendenhall both missed time with injuries. That paved the way for an older guy with experience as a backup running back- Mewelde Moore.
As training camp approaches, I am curious if Parker and Mendenhall can stay healthy for a full season. If they do, I think this team has already written it’s ticket for a division title because now that Fred Taylor is on the Patriots, there really isn’t a better running back combination in the league except for down in Charlotte where DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart challenge the Steelers. But, the bottom line is, the Panthers didn’t win a super bowl last season.
However, where will that put Moore, who was the only Steelers back to play in all 16 games last season? He had a very solid season for a backup with nearly 600 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns.
I have a lot more confidence in him right now then I do in Mendenhall. In fact, I bet you’d never guess Moore has played in 16 games 3 times in his 5 year NFL career. He’s been very reliable.
But how reliable will he be this year, assuming Mendenhall can stay healthy and play more than four games? This is an interesting case on Pittsburgh with three running backs who all can get viable shots at racking up numbers this year, assuming Parker misses a couple of games to get Moore and Mendenhall in for some snaps.
Ronald Curry Just a Small (and Old) Addition To a Weak Receiving Core
Published: July 23, 2009
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I wouldn’t even call it a core to be honest with you.
The recent acquisition of veteran wideout Ronald Curry is nothing more than a desperate plea by the Rams to take anyone who is out there.
Right now, the team is at a tough point in it’s history. St. Louis is trying to usher in a new era right now, and clearly there are some bumps in the road. I think we need to take a look at where the team is right now and make a judgment call for this season: Is 2009 really going to be a year the St. Louis Rams make a run at contention?
The answer to that question will determine the outlook Steve Spagnuolo will have heading into the season. Sure, he’ll give the media all that ‘were here to win’ stuff, but you know that’s just fluff for the writers. He knows deep down inside that this team is not made to win right now.
Getting back to Curry. I wanted to give my thoughts on the trade. I really think this was a trade that may have kept this offense from looking worse than Detroit’s was last year, which just so happens to be the team Curry came from. As you know, his best years are behind him— that is if he had any good years.
He played in Oakland for most of his career. Behind Jerry Rice and Tim Brown on the roster, he never really flourished there.
He does not have the track record to be a No.1 guy. It’s alright though; I think our group of receivers will end up being forced to work collaboratively with each other because not one of them is a great pass catcher.
