Vet Hood added to shore up run defense
The Miami Dolphins’ run defense has been leaking yardage since the team lost defensive lineman William Hayes to a season-ending knee injury in September, and Miami has made a move that could address the team’s struggles stopping the run during the past month.
Ziggy Hood, who has spent most of his career as a 3-4 defensive end that specializes in setting the edge, signed with Miami on Tuesday afternoon, according to a league source.
Hood, who was released by the Washington Redskins earlier this month, has started 73 games for the Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers in his 10-year NFL career. He’s played for five teams during that span. Hood played in five games for the Redskins this season, contributing three tackles before being released.
Hood fell out of the rotation in Washington after the team addressed its defensive line in the draft the past two seasons, taking firstrounders Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen and 2018 fifth-rounder Tim Settle.
Adding a player such as Hood gives the Dolphins defensive front a veteran player who has contributed 225 tackles, 14 sacks and forced one fumble throughout his career. He’ll likely be used as both an end and defensive tackle, and Miami (4-4) will likely call on him to contribute in Sunday’s home game against the New York Jets (3-5), because the Jets are so run-oriented.
Since Hayes’ injury, the Dolphins have allowed 878 rushing yards in a five-game stretch. The Dolphins rank 29th in the NFL when it comes to defending the run, allowing 143.1 rushing yards per game. The Lions rushed for 248 yards and scored one rushing touchdown against Miami in a 32-21 win over the Dolphins in Week 7, and last week Lamar Miller rushed for 133 of the Houston Texans’ 188 rushing yards.
The Dolphins are allowing 4.6 yards per carry, which is tied for eighth worst in the NFL, and have allowed seven rushing touchdowns. Only eight teams have allowed more.
Defensive ends Cameron Wake and Andre Branch are both still recovering from knee injuries they suffered earlier this month, and defensive tackle Vincent Taylor suffered a foot injury in last week’s loss to the Texans.
Because of all the injuries, Miami has been forced to use Cameron Malveaux, Jonathan Woodard and Jamiyus Pittman, three former practice squad players, on the defensive line for a significant amount of snaps.
With Taylor being placed on injured reserve Tuesday, the Dolphins have two open roster spots.
They could go to center Jake Brendel and linebacker Mike Hull, who each began the season on injured reserve, but were designated as the two players eligible to return from their injuries.
Brendel’s presence could help an offensive line that has already lost two starters in Daniel Kilgore and Josh Sitton, especially since Ted Larsen has been battling numerous injuries the past two games.
Hull, a fourth-year veteran who has started four games for Miami, could provide a boost on special teams, which has been thinned out because of all the injuries the Dolphins have suffered in the first half of the season.
The Dolphins don’t have to make a decision on Hull and Brendel right away, but this is the first week they are eligible to play in a game.