Two players who never materialized as the Steelers had hoped
In 2009, the Steelers drafted Evander “Ziggy” Hood from Missouri in the first round. Hood was listed as a DE; however, I just re-watched the 2008 Big XII Championship game on YOUTUBE; the Missouri Tigers ran a base 4-3 defense. Hood lined up primarily at defensive tackle (DT), not defensive end (DE). So what made the Steelers think a 4-3 DT could make the transition to a 3-4 DE? Quite frankly, if Hood had played DE it probably would have been an easier transition for him. In 5 seasons with the Steelers, Hood played in 80 games, logging 11.5 sacks in those 5 seasons.
If Hood was drafted to replace Aaron Smith, who was a fourth-round pick in 1999, it did not work out the way the Steelers had hoped as Hood was not on par with Smith. In Smith’s first 5 seasons, he logged 19.5 sacks and was just flat out better able than Hood to “set the edge”, which is critical for a 3-4 DE to accomplish. It is particularly critical to the success of the Steelers defensive scheme, which is still a base 3-4 defense.
I don’t blame Hood; it wasn’t his fault he was a first-round pick. If a player is taken is in the first round; however, that player MUST perform at a higher level than every other player taken afterward. The Steelers did themselves no favors by essentially wasting a first-round pick on a college DT, whom they believed would become a 3-4 DE in the NFL.
If my assessment seems harsh it is not meant to be. However, having come off a Super Bowl victory the previous season, the Steelers had to keep the train rolling and that did not happen with the selection of Hood.
The following season 2010, the Steelers drafted Jason Worilds in the second round; Worilds played his college ball at Virginia Tech. He played DE in the “Hokies” 4-3 defense. I can only assume Worilds was drafted to provide some depth at the OLB position as Woodley and Harrison were entrenched as the starters.
In 5 seasons, Worilds played in 73 games and recorded 25.5 sacks, 15.5 of which came in his final two seasons with the Steelers. Having been a full-time starter in only one season, it’s difficult to assess the performance of Worilds in terms of whether or not he was a good scheme fit. I would say this: Had he not abruptly retired from football following the 2014 season, I am not convinced the Steelers would have been able to resign him as he was headed for free agency after the 2014 season.