This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

It's quite the accomplishment that Rodney Hood served as a security blanket for Quin Snyder on Sunday night. Rookies almost NEVER accomplish something like that.

But here was Quin Snyder after the Jazz defeated the Sacramento Kings talking about Hood and basically describing him as a coach on the floor.

"You look at him when he has the ball and you feel safe," Snyder said. "He's able to get a shot, get a good shot and I think the biggest thing for Rodney is not being tentative."

Hood's nickname should be toolbag. Offensively, he may be as well-rounded a player the Jazz have not named Gordon Hayward. And it was all on display against the Kings. 3-pointers, midrange jumpers, drives to the basket, passes off the pick and roll, the ability to get to the free-throw line.

Hood says that he's finally getting comfortable within the offense. On Sunday, he had no choice but to be aggressive. Snyder sat his stars - Hayward and Derrick Favors - in the fourth quarter. He was the biggest offensive threat on the floor, and he responded by scoring 13 of those 25 in the final quarter.

The key for Hood is consistency. And health. And to stop fouling so darned much. Because if he can stay on the floor, he's clearly shown the ability to be productive.

"I think in part when he was in there without Gordon and Derrick, there's a tendency to sometimes defer," Snyder said. "Tonight, he was out there without those two and he wasn't able to do that. He had to be aggressive and he did."

If anything, Hood's emergence helps the Jazz, who now project to have a three-pronged wing attack next season, featuring Hayward, Hood and Alec Burks. In what has been a tough season for Hood, him being on the floor has been a breath of fresh air for Jazz fans.

On Sunday night, he showed the potential to have considerable scoring ability. And that should make everyone connected to the Jazz happy.

Tony Jones