STEVE HUTCHINSON
By: Dave-Te' Thomas

#76-STEVE HUTCHINSON University of Michigan Wolverines 6:04.6-306

ANALYSIS
Positives... Fifth-year senior with the sudden burst off the snap needed to ride the defenders out...Has good movement skills blocking upfield...Shows good hip swerve and sinking ability when dropping back in pass protection...Makes proper hand adjust-ment to sustain blocks...Gets excellent pad level in his motions as a drive blocker... Accelerates out of his stance sharply and does a great job of turning and sealing the opponent in in-line blocking situations for the ground game...Stands flat-footed with a solid lower base to effectively neutralize the surge in pass protection...Uses his large, powerful hands well to lock on and ride the defender away from the play...Has superb redirection ability to get a piece of another defender after making the initial block.

Negatives... Looks a little awkward with his foot movements when trying to adjust to the line-backers blocking upfield...Needs to maintain balance on the move, as he tends to overextend in order to stay with his man, resulting in the defender's hand slaps knocking him off stride...Ducks his head before making initial contact.

CAREER NOTES
The two-time team captain has started 45 games at the left guard position for the Wolverines in the last four years...Joined left tackle Jeff Backus in giving Michigan the best blocking tandem in the collegiate ranks...Was originally recruited as a defensive tackle, after starring at that position, in addition to tight end, during his prep days...His 45 career starts rank fifth in school history among offensive linemen...Became the second player in school history to earn first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors four times, joining defensive tackle Mark Messner (1985-88) and joined Messner, Michigan State punter Ray Stackhowitz (1977-80) and Purdue offensive guard Dick Barwegan (1943-46) as the only Big Ten performers to earn first-team conference honors in every year that they played for their schools... Made 28 touchdown-resulting blocks and 286 knockdowns in 47 games, participating in 3189 plays.

REMIND ME OF... Kansas City's Will Shields.

GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL... SThe first team to go looking for a guard in this draft will quickly scoop up Hutchinson. Like Shields, you'd wish he'd be more physical, but he compensates with textbook blocking angles and pure athleticism.

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