The Jaguars coaching staff has had nothing but praise for DT Ziggy Hood.

Hood inked a four-year, $16 million deal with Jacksonville. Getting him out of Pittsburgh's two-gap system as a defensive end and into an attacking role as a three-technique defensive tackle should do Hood wonders. He'll serve as Sen'Derrick Marks' direct backup. Hood had 5.5 sacks in five seasons with the Steelers.

Jaguars signed DT Ziggy Hood, formerly of the Steelers.

Hood is a first-round pick who just turned 27, but he was an utter bust in Pittsburgh, struggling in both run and pass defense. He'll be a limited-snap rotational tackle if he makes the Jaguars' 53. Hood finished the 2013 campaign with 39 tackles and three sacks, appearing in 16 games and making seven starts.

Free agent DL Ziggy Hood is visiting the Jaguars.

Hood, the 32nd pick in the 2009 draft, has pretty much been a bust to this point. He wouldn't be anything more than a rotational interior lineman in Jacksonville, but landing with a coach like Gus Bradley could help turn his career around.

ESPN's Scott Brown believes it is unlikely the Steelers re-sign free agent DL Ziggy Hood.

Hood has been something of a bust since being selected by the Steelers in the first-round in 2009. He lacks the athleticism to push the pocket as a defensive end in Pittsburgh's 3-4, but also lacks the size to play nose. Hood's best fit could be a "one-technique" in a 4-3 scheme. Brown thinks Hood, who just turned 27, could command $3 million annually on the open market.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thinks the Steelers could consider moving Ziggy Hood to nose tackle in 2013.

Hood has been one of the least-productive 3-4 defensive ends in football from a pass rush standpoint since being a first-round pick in 2009, but he has been a solid run defender in his career. He might be a little light for nose tackle at just 300 pounds, though. Beat writer Gerry Dulac suggests Steve McLendon could then move from the middle to the outside at defensive end.

The Tribune-Review calls Steelers DE Ziggy Hood "one of the NFL's least-productive players at his position."

According to Pro Football Focus, Hood was the league's worst-rated pass-rushing end. He played 833 snaps, but came up with just three sacks and three quarterback hurries. Scouts are questioning his down-to-down effort as he heads into 2013 -- the final year of the former first-round pick's rookie deal.

Steelers DE Ziggy Hood left Sunday's game in the second quarter with a back injury and did not return.

A disappointment in the first two months Hood was coming off his best game of the season in Week 10. Cameron Hayward, the Steelers' 2011 first-round pick, will see increased snaps if Hood misses Week 12 at Cleveland.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ziggy Hood has been the Steelers' "clear-cut starter" at left end through the early days of camp.

Hood was expected to at least be pushed by 2011 first-rounder Cameron Heyward, but that hasn't been the case thus far. If he's not earning first-team reps in practice, Heyward is going to have to rely on his preseason performances to put pressure on Hood.

Steelers LE Ziggy Hood has lost 18 pounds of fat and gained 20 pounds of muscle after working out with Outer Limit Athletic Performance this offseason.

Hood faded badly down the stretch last season, conceding that he was "feeling sluggish" and not "in tip-top shape." He's already lowered his body fat from 24 to 18 percent while his training videos have made waves on YouTube. The 2009 first-rounder should have the edge on Cameron Heyward for the starting left end job this summer.

Ziggy Hood has an "inside track" on the Steelers' starting left end job.

Hood and 2011 first-round pick Cameron Heyward are competing for Aaron Smith's old job. Both players have first-round pedigrees, but Heyward played just 197 snaps as a rookie. The job is likely Hood's to lose, though he did grade out as Pro Football Focus' least effective 3-4 end last season.

The Steelers have had internal discussions about moving Ziggy Hood from end to nose tackle.

Hood practiced on the nose during the 2011 season, and took snaps there on some obvious passing downs in games. Though he's undersized for a nose (6'3/300), the Steelers could use Hood in a Jay Ratliff/Earl Mitchell-type role. The starting ends then would be Brett Keisel and 2011 first-round pick Cameron Heyward. The Steelers may have to cut pricey incumbent NT Casey Hampton.

Steelers DE Ziggy Hood (hamstring) is expected to play in Monday's game against the 49ers.

Steelers LE Ziggy Hood was forced from Thursday's game in the second quarter with a groin injury.

His replacement, first-round rookie Cameron Heyward, was on the receiving end of a sideline lecture after leaving the left side of the line wide open on a 26-yard draw play by the Browns. Hood is questionable to return.

Ziggy Hood is now the Steelers' permanent starter at left end.

Veteran Aaron Smith is done for the season as he needs neck surgery. "I'm going to dedicate this season for him," Hood said. The No. 32 overall pick in the 2009 draft is more than ready to step in. He has 14 career starts under his belt and has been stout against the run.

Steelers LE Ziggy Hood is recovering from surgery to clean out bone spurs in his ankle.

This is a routine surgery that shouldn't cost Hood any portion of offseason workouts, in the unlikely event they are any. In a breakout second NFL season, Hood racked up 20 tackles and three sacks, not including two in the playoffs. He'll enter 2011 training camp as the favorite to start over Aaron Smith.

The Steelers' run defense has actually improved since Ziggy Hood took over for an injured Aaron Smith at left defensive end in Week 8.

Smith has a reputation as the league's best 3-4 end against the run, but the stats suggest Hood has been just as good. The Steelers allowed 63.8 rushing yards per game with Smith starting versus 62.1 per game with Hood. The 2009 first-rounder is yet another draft "hit" for a franchise that rarely swings and misses.

Steelers LE Ziggy Hood will keep his starting job even if Aaron Smith (triceps) ends up playing against the Jets.

It's only fair. SI's Peter King recently anointed Smith the best run-stopping 3-4 end in football, but the Steelers haven't missed him at all with Hood filling in. Smith hasn't played in snap in three months while Hood has posted four sacks in the past five games. Smith's availability has been one of the most overplayed stories of the playoffs.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that Ziggy Hood will get the opportunity to replace Aaron Smith (triceps surgery) at left defensive end.

Hood was passed over by Nick Eason for a start when Brett Keisel went down with an injury, but even though Tomlin is "hopeful" that Keisel will be back this week, he's going with Hood instead of Eason to replace Smith. Hood was terrific during training camp and the preseason, but it has yet to translate over into the regular season.

Though Ziggy Hood was bypassed for the starting right defensive end job this week, coordinator Dick LeBeau has no worries about his progress.

Hood has been playing through an ankle injury, which may have tilted the decision to start in Nick Eason's favor. "I think [Hood] is going to be a major contributor for us this year," LeBeau said, "and I think he's right on schedule to becoming a real good NFL defensive lineman."

Steelers assistant head coach John Mitchell raved about the progress that 2009 first-round pick Ziggy Hood has made since his rookie year.

Hood was used sparingly as a rotational lineman last year, even after Aaron Smith went down in Week 5. This season, he'll be expected to spell Smith and Brett Keisel more often in an effort to keep the aging veterans fresh. The Steelers' defense once again projects as one of the best run-stuffing units around.