Why Michigan Football’s Aidan Hutchinson should be No. 1 pick

Drive (Motor)

All of these things that I’m mentioning may seem cliché so far, but it is all true. Every single thing I mentioned is qualities that scouts and executives look for in a player, and also what type of players are needed to succeed in the NFL.

Lastly, what makes Aidan stick out as a #1 pick is his drive or motor. In the weeks leading up to the Orange Bowl, Georgia was asked numerous times about what made Aidan Hutchinson so dominant and different compared to other pass rushers. The Georgia assistant coaches would answer that the difference was Aidan’s drive and want-to.

Georgia’s assistants called numerous Big Ten coaches and assistant coaches that had schemed against Michigan football’s pass rush earlier in the season, and they all had those same things to say about Aidan: his drive, his motor.

They all said that that’s the most surprising thing about Aidan Hutchinson. They hadn’t taken that fully into account when scouting him and trying to find ways to neutralize him.

I did watch a few Oregon games, and there was a noticeable difference in effort between watching Kayvon and Aidan. It just seemed like Kayvon ran out of gas easier on plays. It also seemed like he quit on certain plays, with his effort level being a big question play-to-play.

In certain plays, I noticed he couldn’t even get off blocks from tight ends. Those are simple things that dominant players have to be able to execute.

Yes, I do understand that he was hurt for a few games, but if he was going to be affected that much by his injury, he shouldn’t have been playing. If he was going to go out there and play, it’s no excuse. You go out and show out no matter what. Aidan Hutchinson got injured last year and came back stronger.

And the counter to this is Aidan’s “no-show” against Georgia in the Orange Bowl. Well, go back and watch the film. Georgia made it a point to get the ball out quickly as part of their strategy to neutralize the pass rush of Aidan and David.

When Georgia didn’t get the ball out quickly, there was so much holding going on from Georgia’s offensive line, that there was no possible way for Aidan to get to the quarterback. It’s not like the rest of Michigan’s defense was giving him any help that entire game, as Georgia just got what they wanted.

If people are caught up on the Georgia game, I guess they must not have watched Aidan play Penn State and Ohio State. You have to look at his entire season of work, not just one game.

Also, Georgia won the freaking national championship. The SEC makes even the best players from other conferences look silly. I don’t know if an otherworldly game from Aidan would’ve won Michigan the game anyways.