The 'real' reason why Rod Hood was cut

[AsUpRoDiGy]

No other CB in the league gave up more TD's than Hood, which made him expendable. Here is the list of Hood, and our starting CB's.

http://www.operationsports.com/forums/pro-football/289299-top-50-cbs-nfl.html

44. Rod Hood, Arizona Cardinals
Season Totals: 83 attempts, 7.72 YPA, 33.73 Forced INC%, 8 TDs, 1 INT

My two cents: Rod Hood played well at times, but overall did not have a great year. His eight TDs allowed were the most in the NFL (tied with Dwight Lowery and Ellis Hobbs). Hood is likely better suited as a nickel back, but is the best option the Cardinals have to start opposite the emerging Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Hood has the ability to be a solid CB and played well at times, but his bad games were REALLY bad. In the season finale Hood allowed 127 yards and a TD against a bad Seahawks passing game. He needs to eliminate games like that if he wants to be considered a solid CB.

14. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals
Season Totals: 76 attempts, 6.41 YPA, 43.42 Forced INC%, 4 TDs, 4 INTs

My two cents: Rodgers-Cromartie was forced into extensive action when starting CB Eric Green couldn’t seem to stay healthy. Over his last eight games Rodgers-Cromartie played lights out. Let’s look at his numbers over the last half of the season: 4.81 YPA, 45.83 Forced INC%, 0 TDs, 4 INTs. That is exactly what you want out of your rookies, steady improvement. If Rodgers-Cromartie can carry the momentum of his second half into next season, he should be playing in the Pro Bowl as an NFL Sophomore.

24. Bryant McFadden, Pittsburgh Steelers
Season Totals: 45 attempts, 5.60 YPA, 31.11 Forced INC%, 1 TD, 2 INTs

My two cents: There may not have been a CB that benefited more from his teams pass rush than Bryant McFadden. His 5.60 YPA is very impressive, but his forced incompletion percentage is just over 30 and far from impressive. McFadden is an unrestricted free agent and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Steelers let him walk. While I like McFadden and think he is a solid player, his low YPA is slightly misleading.

Reading this makes me somewhat gratified that we let Hood walk, he had a tendency to give up the big play, which seemed to constantly hurt us.

 

[az1965]

While the issue is well known and not a surprise, it is interesting to see it backed up by real data

 

[40yearfan]

Thanks ASU guy. Very interesting find.

 

[Mitch]

Thanks ASU guy. Very interesting find.

Ditto. Thanks, Prodigy.

 

[mojorizen7]

7. Ron Bartell, St. Louis Rams
Season Totals: 93 attempts, 5.77 YPA, 48.39 Forced INC%, 2 TDs, 3 INTs

My two cents: People need to start taking notice of Ron Bartell. He isn’t a big name and he plays on a bad team with a bad defense, but it’s not because of him. Not only has Bartell played well, but he has played well while being surrounded by guys who probably shouldn’t even be in the league. The Rams have already announced they have signing Bartell as a priority this offseason, his numbers show why.

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Thats my boy.

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Re-signed,sealed and delivered.
Carry on....

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[Mitch]

The other stat that would be icing on the cake is Hood's propensity for holding/pass interference penalties. That's what always worried me the most about him. He's a penalty waiting to happen.

As for McFadden, he is a disciplined CB who keeps everything in front of him, which is why he allowed completions but few TDs.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

The other stat that would be icing on the cake is Hood's propensity for holding/pass interference penalties. That's what always worried me the most about him. He's a penalty waiting to happen.

I noticed that about him also. He always seemed to have a hand on the receiver and never looked for the ball. It wasn't a matter of if the ref would call a penalty it was when. Giving a ref that option puts us at risk to often for the big play.

 

[Dr. Jones]

1. Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders
Season Totals: 29 attempts, 4.97 YPA, 62.07 Forced INC%, 0 TDs, 1 INT

My two cents: Was this the best season every for a CB? Asomugha was only thrown at 29 times the entire season and allowed just 9 receptions. He allowed two catches (both to Tony Gonzalez) over an eight game span in the middle of the season. He allowed 144 yards receiving for the season, and 46 of those came on one play against the Chargers where he misjudged an underthrown pass to Vincent Jackson. If a CB has had a better season than this, I’d like to see the numbers.

Holy flippin sweet mother of mary!!

 

[WildBB]

Besides DRC at #14, these were the other rookies that made the top 25/26 CB's.

18. Mike Jenkins, Dallas Cowboys
Season Totals: 38 attempts, 4.34 YPA, 39.47 Forced INC%, 2 TDs, 1 INT

My two cents: I hated the way the Cowboys handled Mike Jenkins in his rookie season. Jenkins was outplaying Terrence Newman, Anthony Henry, Orlando Scandrick, and Adam Jones, but still couldn’t get playing time. Sooner rather than later I’m sure Jenkins and Scandrick will be the starting CBs for Dallas, but the experience Jenkins could have gained during a heated playoff push could have been valuable to him for years to come.

19. Aqib Talib, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Season Totals: 35 attempts, 5.80 YPA, 34.29 Forced INC%, 2 TDs, 4 INTs

My two cents: I don’t understand why the Buccaneers chose to keep playing Ronde Barber over Aqib Talib. Actually, I take that back, I do understand, I just don’t agree. Barber has been one of the better cover two CBs over the last five or so years and a key contributor to the Buccaneers success. This year however, Barber took major steps backwards and should have been benched. When you have a first-round pick that is playing well waiting behind an aging veteran who is playing like crap, you have to put in the rookie. Not only did Talib have great numbers, he also intercepted over 11% of the passes that were thrown in his direction.

25. Antoine Cason, San Diego Chargers
Season Totals: 66 attempts, 5.62 YPA, 21.21 Forced INC%, 3 TDs, 2 INTs

My two cents: At first glance it looks as though Cason had an absolute dominant year, but he didn’t. His YPA of 5.62 is great, but his 21.21 forced incompletion percentage is atrocious. Something that his numbers would suggest is that he is a sure tackler, and he is. Cason gave up 45 completions, but kept everything in front of him for the most part. I really like the way Cason played as a rookie. He didn’t try to do too much and I feel he has a bright future in the league. If he can turn some of those six yard completions into incompletions, he could really turn into a dominant CB

26. Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo Bills
Season Totals: 39 attempts, 6.13 YPA, 35.90 Forced INC%, 3 TDs, 2 INTs

My two cents: McKelvin had a rough start to his rookie season, but pulled it all together by the end of the year. McKelvin played great against the Jets, Broncos, and Patriots to end the season. Over that three game stretch McKelvin had a YPA of 4.4 and a forced incompletion percentage of 50. He also didn’t allow a TD during that stretch. I would imagine that the Bills would have McKelvin, Ashton Youboty, and Terrence McGee as their top three CBs next season.

 

[Dayman]

Excellent article. CB statistics are difficult to find outside of Football Outsiders.

I had no idea how poorly Hood stacked up to the rest of the league. Antonio Cromartie's fall from prominence is also pretty shocking.

 

[Unsterblich856]

Excellent article. CB statistics are difficult to find outside of Football Outsiders.

I had no idea how poorly Hood stacked up to the rest of the league. Antonio Cromartie's fall from prominence is also pretty shocking.

Yeah, his hip injury prevented him from flipping his hips fluidly, combined with lack of pass rush, he was turned into toast.

 

[187]

Hood had an awful, awful year compared to his first season with us. I'm not happy to see him go by any means, but if he continues to play this poorly next season I won't be looking back.

 

[Perfectionist]

24. Bryant McFadden, Pittsburgh Steelers
Season Totals: 45 attempts, 5.60 YPA, 31.11 Forced INC%, 1 TD, 2 INTs

My two cents: There may not have been a CB that benefited more from his teams pass rush than Bryant McFadden. His 5.60 YPA is very impressive, but his forced incompletion percentage is just over 30 and far from impressive. McFadden is an unrestricted free agent and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Steelers let him walk. While I like McFadden and think he is a solid player, his low YPA is slightly misleading..

Will we need to have a better pass rush this year for McFadden to be successful here? Still a heck of a lot better than Hood.

 

[Harry]

The numbers by themselves are bad. According to STATS, Hood was burned for 16 TD passes over the last two seasons. Quarterbacks completed 60 percent of their passes when targeting him last season. Nonetheless I thought it was interesting the article pointed to the fact that McFadden benefitted from a great pass rush; Hood did not. I thought the Cards poor pass rush was one of the primary reasons for many of their defeats, including the Super Bowl. Hood just became the fall guy. The Cards have a long history of not seeing the entire picture. It will be interesting to see how McFadden does, as I don’t see the pass rush as vastly improved. I doubt he will be significantly more effective than Hood.

 

[slanidrac16]

I will say this about Hood...a couple of the td's he allowed we because of an abosulutely perfect, on the money pass.

Bottom line, we got better with McFadden.

 

[Stout]

I will say this about Hood...a couple of the td's he allowed we because of an abosulutely perfect, on the money pass.

Bottom line, we got better with McFadden.

I know that used to be popular opinion, but I have to call bs on the thought. Yes, the balls were well-thrown, but being in perfect position, he had ZERO excuse not to break up or even intercept the pass. No excuse, none. If he had ANY awareness of when the receiver was reaction, and notion of looking for the ball...if he had ANY ball skills whatsoever (essential for a top CB), those plays never happen. His problem is that he is clueless as to when the ball will arrive, and so makes QBs look great all the time.

 

[legend]

Agreed Stout. Hood ran well with his receiver, but never turned his head.

 

[Krangodnzr]

LOL Niners!

Nate Clements, San Francisco 49ers
Season Totals: 96 attempts, 8.19 YPA, 26.04 Forced INC%, 7 TDs, 2 INTs

My two cents: Not only did Clements have horrible numbers, but he was also second in the league with 17 unforced incompletions. Clements was one TD allowed away from the league lead and only managed two INTs in 96 attempts. Clements has not lived up to the ridiculous contract the 49ers gave him a couple years before. Clements is actually a good CB in short coverage, but is horrible just about everywhere else. If the 49ers can get an actual pass rush Clements could be an average CB.

 

[cgolden]

Anyone notice Sheldon Brown's name in the top 5?

 

[Totally_Red]

The numbers by themselves are bad. According to STATS, Hood was burned for 16 TD passes over the last two seasons. Quarterbacks completed 60 percent of their passes when targeting him last season. Nonetheless I thought it was interesting the article pointed to the fact that McFadden benefitted from a great pass rush; Hood did not. I thought the Cards poor pass rush was one of the primary reasons for many of their defeats, including the Super Bowl. Hood just became the fall guy. The Cards have a long history of not seeing the entire picture. It will be interesting to see how McFadden does, as I don’t see the pass rush as vastly improved. I doubt he will be significantly more effective than Hood.

McFadden is a stop gap IMO. He may not be any more effective in pass defense, but I suspect he'll be more of an asset in run defense.

Greg Tolar is hopefully the long-term answer at RCB though admittedly he is a projection and has a long way to go to develop into that.

 

[Russ Smith]

The interesting thing to me in there is how much better we were in the postseason. Regular season 31 sacks, postseason 10 sacks which led the NFL.

14th in regular season, first overall in postseason. Some of that is of course making the Superbowl gives you more games, Pitt was 2nd for example, but Pitt with 9 and Baltimore with 8 were the only other NFL teams with more than 4 sacks in the postseason. Wasn't a Clancy fan at all but you have to admit we figured out a way to pressure the QB in the postseason. If only we'd had 11 sacks and the last one took down Roethlisberger at the end there

The surprise to me on the list is Dwight Lowery, I know he got picked on as a rookie and he was playing on a team that had a pretty good pass rush. He'll get better has great hands but points out how good DRC really was last year when he got to play because a lot of rookie CB's get toasted much worse than DRC ever did.