Hard Hat Award (Game #15, vs.
Stillers LB LaMarr Woodley and DE Ziggy Hood are the co-winners of the weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller player who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.
In a tight game in which the defense shut the door after some leaks, Woodley and Hood came through with tough, stellar play down the stretch.
Woodley had a big game, particularly on paper, where he recorded 7 solos, 3 assists, 2 sacks, a FF, and a forced INT. Admittedly, he was able to gratuitously feast on 2nd year benchwarmer Oniel Cousins, who started at RT due to injury. To his credit, Woodley didn�t just sit there an titty-joust the way he did the first 8 games of the season; rather, he got his feet moving and with that came some ferocious pressure on the QB. Woodley made 2 impact plays; one by forcing the INT, and the other by forcing the fumble on 4th down late in the game. Much of what Hard Hat defensive football is creating havoc and forcing turnovers, and Woodley did just that on Sunday.
Hood, who has rotted most of the season, has gradually been given more and more PT, albeit mostly out of desperation, especially when Keisel went down to injury in the 3Q versus the Ravens. Finally given his most playing time of the season, Hood relentlessly attacked the QB -- his forte -- and led the D-line�s charge to harass and plunder QB Joe Jacco.
Kudos to Woodley and Hood for winning the Hard Hat Award. Wear the Hard Hat proudly, fellas !
Previous 2009 Hard Hat Winners:
Game #1, vs.
Game #2, @
Game #3, @ Cinci: Mike Wallace (honorable mention to Alice Cooper bassist Chuck Garric)
Game #4, vs.
Game #5, @
Game #6, vs.
Game #7, vs.
Game #8, @
Game #9, vs. Cinci: No one
Game #10, @ KC: Rashard Mendenhall
Game #11, @
Game #12, vs. Oak: No one
Game #13, @ Clev: No one
Game #14, vs.