After numerous Cass Tech CBs - Lewis

Submitted by PeterKlima on

Is Jourdan Lewis the best in a long line of four star, undersized Cass Tech corners to commit to Michigan?  I think so.  He appears to have surpassed all the others.

He is on pace to be a first team All-American.  It would be nice if the string of underperforming ,smallish, yet highly rated CT players is coming to an end.

In fact, when looking at all the highly rated Cass Tech kids who have gone on to Michigan, I think he is the best since Curtis Greer (1979).  Crazy.  Plus, Delano Hill and RJS seem to be playing much better.  

Are we finally in a position to UTILIZE and DEVELOP all the crazy talent from Wilcher's program?  If so, that is significant for our program.

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Cass Tech little people; 2015 football; jourdan lewis

Donnie Brasco

October 11th, 2015 at 9:15 AM ^

Him and delano (even tho teams havent been able to test our safeties much) are balling. RJS has done well all season too.

Joined: 10/12/2012

MGoPoints: 2024

MaximusBlue

October 11th, 2015 at 9:17 AM ^

Always had the natural cover skills and great instincts. He just needed good coaches to come in and work on his techniques and the nuances of playing the position. I remember early in his career he never got his head turned around and would get a lot of pass interference calls. Now he's getting his head turned around,making the play, and even taking it back to the house. He'll play at the next level.

Joined: 07/31/2012

MGoPoints: 9765

alum96

October 11th, 2015 at 9:22 AM ^

I do want to add I think this began happening last year but I think most UM fans were so disgusted with the season he got lost in the mess.  Teams stopped throwing his way the last 3-4 games so that is usually a sign of respect.  Obviously with what the staff has done with Clark and Stribling that has only helped Lewis but I had him ranked as the #1 player on D coming into this year (Peppers and Henry in top 3) and he also got lost in the Peppers hype this offseason.

Hargreaves is the top CB in almost every mock draft - and also an underclassmen - I have yet to see Lewis anywhere yet.  Because as we have noted he is 5'6, is blown over easily by wind, and also cant even bench press the 45 lb bar. (NFL scouts look here)

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82551

Mr. Yost

October 11th, 2015 at 9:38 AM ^

I fought with people all summer that they defense was better last year than they were given credit for...

Devin would throw an awful pick on the first play of a drive and give them no rest. Or he'd do it in our half of the field and the defense would have a short field to work with.

Too many 3 and outs.

The offense was SOOO bad at simply controlling the football, flipping the field and getting to punt the team back inside the 20.

Makes a HUGE difference now with Rudock and O'Neill. Rudock is extremely limited, but he at least commands the offense in a manner that takes pressure off the defense. Many of his picks are basically early punts or they're deep into a drive where the defense has had a chance to rest, meet, and regroup. 

We don't go 3 and out nearly as much even though we're not always scoring.

I noticed something in Rudock's comments after the BYU game. He talked about how well they played in the first half and then he goes "I liked how we put together some nice drives in the second half even though we didn't come up with points."

As a fan, I want to throw up...the name of the game is points. But when I breathe and think about last year...I would've taken some 8-9-10-12 play drives with no points if it meant given our defense a break and good field position.

He's the ultimate game manager, but at least he's decent at that. Now the best part of our team benefits from it...the defense. And when they DO have to go out on a short field...they're hyped up and it's not "here we go again...sigh" like it was last year. Now it's almost fun for them, a challenge.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

MaximusBlue

October 11th, 2015 at 9:54 AM ^

Lewis locks down one side. Stribs/Clark lock down the other. Hill plays solid coverage and makes great plays in the open field. We don't hear much from Wilson which is a good thing. And that Peppers kid is ok too.I honestly can't see how this isn't one of the best units in the country.

Joined: 07/31/2012

MGoPoints: 9765

Blue_sophie

October 11th, 2015 at 9:20 AM ^

I get it re: scouts, but having our guys declare early seems like an unavoidable effect of having Harbaugh as our head coach. Usually "next man up" is a phrase reserved for injury, but it applies for early departures as well. And with NFL departures, the "next man" will likely be better: if Lewis goes in the second round the coaching staff could definitely use this to amp up recruiting.

Joined: 02/22/2015

MGoPoints: 2766

Mr. Yost

October 11th, 2015 at 9:21 AM ^

And quickly passing them as the 2nd best CB in "recent" school history.

I've got him as a late 2nd to 3rd round pick if he comes out this year. Hopefully he stays for one more...hopefully Durkin does the same.

I'd love to see this defense next year with everyone coming back who's eligible.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Mr. Yost

October 11th, 2015 at 9:29 AM ^

Law, one my favorite players of all time.

He's #2.

Lewis is breaking that tie at #3 with those guys and heading into Law territory. If he plays his senior year, I think he locks up that #2 spot unless they let him play offense and something unthinkable happens.

As for next year...

Thats...Marshall, Charlton, Glasgow, Mone, Hurst, Henry, Wormley, Godin, Strobel, Furbush, Gedeon, McCray, Peppers, Lewis, Stribling, Watson, Clark, Thomas, Kinnel and Hill.

LB is a little "eek' but you have to think those guys put it together and Harbaugh was raving about Furbush last week as a guy pushing for more time like Higdon and Kinnel. You're talking about being the best defense in the country AGAIN.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

alum96

October 11th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^

It boggles that a Caleb Kelly would not want to play behind this DL and in front of this DB.

We need a Jaylon Smith type who can come in and play as a freshman.  Man I cannot imagine the resume Durkin going to be able to walk into these recruits houses with in a month - there has to be a top 10 LB we can flip with this success and immediate playing time.

If Lewis is back we only lose Mario (already gone) and rjs - who played well yest in the 1st and 3rd level.  And I think there was talk they might ask for a 6th year for Mario yest.  Get any LB play next year with Gedeon and grad transfer or super freshman and just damn on what this defense will be in 11 months.

Also I dont see Winovich in the 18 man TE rotation.  Maybe he can go back to LB and push Furbush and Wangler.  If just 1 of those 3 hit it would help.  Damn I am still upset Ferns transfered.  That was a Harbaugh man in every way.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82551

Mr. Yost

October 11th, 2015 at 9:45 AM ^

A LB/FB combo...that's Harbaugh porn right there. Kid should've waited.

I'm hopeful we hit on one of these freshman BUCKs Harbaugh has spoken highly of too...Shelton Johnson and Rueben Jones. Plus the Ron Johnson kid this year. Although 1 or 2 of those guys will beef up and move to the strongside.

LB is somewhat worrisome, but I LOVE this nickel we play. No longer does it hurt us in the world of spread teams. Peppers is a LB/CB/S freak of nature.

So we only need 2 starters and a rotation player. I think Gedeon and McCray will be the starters and then you have Wangler/Furbush/hopefully Winovich and any freshman trying to be the James Ross of the group. Obviously for injury or bullshit targetting purposes you want a 4th, but only starting 2 guys does help.

Probably is, we may not end up keeping Reese OR Harding. So we're going to need some guys. Jon Jones and Devin Bush would definitely fit the mold along with the 2* Johnson if Caleb Kelly doesn't come around.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Mr Miggle

October 11th, 2015 at 9:26 AM ^

I think your final question is a relevant one. We've gotten some highly ranked players out of CT who had potential, but lacked technique. I expect us to get more out of that type of player with this staff and they won't just be coming from CT.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47696

chewieblue

October 11th, 2015 at 9:42 AM ^

but it bears mentioning that our current DB coaches should get some of the credit. They must be pretty darn good because not only Lewis, but every guy back there in the secondary has gotten markedly better this year.

Joined: 04/29/2010

MGoPoints: 5573

Mr. Yost

October 11th, 2015 at 9:49 AM ^

I don't think the WR ever caught it...even if Lewis wasn't there it was going to be bobbled and incomplete.

However when the WR was bobbling the ball, he hit it into Lewis' leg/junk and Lewis quickly reacted like anyone would and reached down and the ball (no pun intended) was sitting right there for him to hold onto and return for a touchdown.

Ever seen something throw something as hard as they can at a mans balls and the guy still catches it while falling to the ground? Kind of like that, but softer. It was just a natural reaction type thing and the ball is being bobbled and ends up right at Lewis' leg...he hangs on and runs the other way. But if he's not there it likely just falls to the ground or to the WRs feet.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

Mr. Yost

October 11th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^

What in the hell were you watching?

He was awful...all he did was talk shit and get burned.

Or he would be trailing the WR by 5 yards...the pass would be incomplete and he's be jumping around and "no fly zoning" his arms like he has something to do with it. Look at these CBs and safeties...they're in the hip pocket every time. Cissoko would at least the QB leading the WR out of bounds on a terrible throw that he doesn't even make a play on was all him.

I'm not saying he couldn't have been great...but when he was on the field, it was usually ugly. He would've been a great candidate for the nickel spot. But too much of a head case.

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220