Games Watched: Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan State
Best Game: Michigan State
Worst Game: Ohio St.
Pass Protection: Hayes possesses a smooth kick slide and generates plenty of leg drive out of his stance. He’s able to angle defenders past the QB. Hayes is able to mirror defenders when they use counter moves or go across his body. If his matchup beats him off the snap, Hayes is prone to bending at the waist and chasing as opposed to kicksliding.
Balance: Hayes’ balance is average. He has a tendency to lunge at defenders off the snap and he needs to work on staying square. Too often Hayes is caught off balance or with his head over his toes. Against Iowa, he ended up on the ground without much resistance. Against MSU, the Spartans’ edge rushers were able to get him on his heels.
Hand Placement: Hayes has inconsistent hand placement. He can overthink his initial punch and end up missing the target entirely. Hayes doesn’t have a strong grip once he gets ahold of his matchup and can lose his defender if they counter with a rip or swim move. Against Iowa, there were instances where a bump from a second defender or his teammate was enough for him to lose grip of his matchup.
Football IQ: Hayes diagnosed pre-snap adjustments made by the defense. As one of the most experienced players on the offensive line for Michigan, he’s looked to as a leader.
Power: Hayes isn’t a finisher in the run game. He’s more likely to stimy a run defender than blow them off the snap.
Anchor: Hayes struggles with leverage due to his size (6’7 307). He doesn’t consistently play with a wide enough base to sink his hips and maintain leverage. Smaller defenders can get under him and drive him back.
Flexibility: Hayes has good lower body flexibility and ankle flexion that allows him to be used in space.
Versatility: Hayes has only started at left tackle in his career with the Wolverines, but before becoming a starter, he appeared in 10 games and lined up all across the offensive line.
Movement Skills: A plus athlete, Hayes is excellent in space as a blocker and is frequently used on pull blocks and screens. He possesses good agility and can climb to the second level of the defense without much hassle.
Footwork/Foot Speed: Hayes has consistently good footwork. His feet don’t cross in when he’s engaged.
Summary: Hayes is a solid technician in both the run and pass games. He’s not strong enough to be a starter right off the bat, but if he goes to the right team with a good coaching staff in place, he could develop into a starter. At 23, he won’t be a young prospect by any means, but he’s still got enough untapped potential to be worth investing in.
Grade: 68/100- Fringe Day 2, likely day 3Report Author: Mike Hrynyshyn, Positional Scout
Twitter: @MikeH_Draft
