Sack Attack: Ex-Ram Hayes getting a shot

By: By John Dell | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: November 15, 2009

Growing up in High Point, William Hayes had a poster of All-Pro Jevon Kearse on his bedroom wall. Now, Hayes is playing a lot like Kearse.

Hayes, in his second season as a defensive lineman with the Tennessee Titans, had his best game as a pro last weekend, finishing with eight tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble in 34-27 win over San Francisco. He made his fourth straight start in place of the injured Kearse and raised his season totals to 27 tackles and three sacks heading into today's home game against the Buffalo Bills.

"I wouldn't say it was my best game, but I guess the stats say it was," Hayes said by telephone late last week. "I played pretty good, but the main thing is we won the game."

Hayes' father, Robert, said: "He told me he was going to get two sacks in San Francisco, and he about backed that up. He really is feeling a lot more comfortable, and when he calls home to talk to us, you can hear the excitement in his voice."

Hayes, a former star at Winston-Salem State, needed a little time to get used to the system of assistant coach Jim Washburn, but he has developed into one of the Titans' most reliable defensive linemen. His transformation has been helped by his commitment to take better care of himself, cutting fast food from his diet and hiring a personal chef to help him eat better.

"I can move a little better, and I've noticed the difference," said the 6-3 Hayes, whose weight is down 15 pounds to 255.

Hayes, a fourth-round draft pick by the Titans in 2008, has so much respect for Kearse, 33, that he's a little uncomfortable talking about filling in for him. Hayes first met Kearse at a football camp during his freshman year at High Point Andrews.

"That's somebody I looked up to ever since I was a kid," Hayes told The Tennessean last week.

Washburn told The Tennessean that he has been impressed with Hayes' improvement.

"He's sort of a total guy," Washburn said. "He's not just a speed guy. He big, strong, he can run. Sort of a nice blend of everything you're looking for in a defensive lineman."

Hayes said that Washburn was one of the assistants who pushed the Titans to draft him. And Washburn reminds Hayes of that often.

"I'm his little experiment I guess," Hayes said. "But Coach Washburn just wants to bring out the best in my ability, and he pushes me. But it's what I need."

jdell@wsjournal.com | 727-4081