ASHBURN — It’s a rite of passage for the Redskins’ young defensive linemen, a kind of hazing ritual rookies unwittingly bring upon themselves.
They step into the Redskins weight room for a lift. Odds are, Ziggy Hood is already there. Full of youthful hubris, they try to go pound-for-pound with the 30-year-old defensive lineman.
“A lot of the young guys try to go toe to toe with him because all the young guys just want to be like the vets,” said second-year defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis.
It ends the same way every time.
“You can try,” Hood said, “but you cannot keep up with me.