Kornacki: Preparation Leads to Success for Lewis, Wolverines
12/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 30, 2015
By Steve Kornacki
ORLANDO, Fla. -- University of Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis sat in the Citrus Bowl locker room 48 hours before kickoff of the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl against Florida and discussed what has been a very special season for him and the Wolverines.
Lewis broke the school's single-season record for pass breakups with 21 and was named first team All-American by USA Today and Sports Illustrated. Both the coaches and media tabbed him first team All-Big Ten, and he also was an honorable mention selection at kickoff returner.
There was pep in Lewis's step during Wednesday afternoon's (Dec. 30) spirited practice at West Orange High in Winter Garden, Florida.
"A few players are calling this our Christmas camp," said Lewis. "It feels like we are in (preseason) camp again, preparing for a big game. We prepared hard like we always do."
Afterward, a pair of surprise visitors briefly addressed the team.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh introduced Don Brown, who was recently named defensive coordinator and will assume that role after the bowl game. Brown was invited into the circle of players at midfield and made an impression on Lewis.
Lewis said, "He told us, 'Have some fun. Prepare your hardest and go out and finish the rest of your season so we can get off to a good start on our new year.' He seemed excited, like he wanted to already be a part of what we're doing here. He was excited to be a part of us."
University of South Florida coach Willie Taggart also spoke.
"He told us to go our hardest over the next 48 hours," said Lewis. "He said that if we win those 48 hours, our chances of winning are really high. He told us to handle business and wished us good luck."
Taggart and Harbaugh have a deep friendship that began when Harbaugh, then an NFL quarterback, assisted his father in recruiting for Western Kentucky. Jack Harbaugh was the head coach of the Hilltoppers, and his son helped him land Taggart, a star quarterback at Bradenton (Fla.) Manatee High. Taggart coached for the elder Harbaugh at Western Kentucky and for the younger Harbaugh as a running backs coach at Stanford. Jim was Taggart's best man in his wedding, and Taggart was in Jim's wedding party.
Lewis went from practice to a press conference at the Citrus Bowl. And while awaiting that, he smiled often when recalling 2015. Michigan had a four-game turnaround from the previous season to finish 9-3. He talked about the "many blessings" bestowed on him and his accomplishments.
Lewis went from being good to great in his junior season. What enabled him to make that jump?
"Preparing for the games," said Lewis, who also made two interceptions and 49 tackles (35 solos). "It was about knowing what my opponent was going to do and not just relying on my athletic ability, and getting ahead of what those guys are going to do."
He said that approach came from defensive backs coaches Michael Zordich and Greg Jackson.
"They put a huge emphasis on preparing for the games -- getting ready for anything the opposition wants to do," said Lewis. "We did a great job on that this year and had really good numbers this year."
Michigan led the Big Ten in passing defense with 158.8 yards allowed per game. Lewis said the entire unit improved in man-to-man press defense, and safeties Jabrill Peppers and Dymonte Thomas combined for 17 pass breakups.
"The way we played man this year was unbelievable," Lewis said. "It was about being aggressive. It was our technique or the highway, this is how we're going to do it, and we perfected it. They demanded perfection, and it's a testament to the coaching.
"It put us in a position to win."
Lewis' ability to play man-to-man defense was central to a defense that pitched three consecutive shutouts against Brigham Young, Maryland and Northwestern.
"[Lewis] allows you to play man defense," said Greg Mattison, the defensive line coach who became the defensive coordinator for the Citrus Bowl after D.J. Durkin left to become Maryland's head coach. "And against spread offenses, you can't play zone. If you play zone all day, they'll pick you apart.
"Florida runs a lot of spread, but they also run out of that. They've got some skilled athletes and we're going to be tested. The scheme really helped Jourdan a lot this year. Kids like to play man."
Lewis returned an interception against Northwestern for a 37-yard touchdown, had a school-record six breakups against Michigan State, and broke the single-season record for breakups of 18 shared by Marlin Jackson (2002) and Leon Hall (2006), Michigan's last two All-America cornerbacks.
"It made me feel good to be known as one of the best corners to come out of this prestigious university," said Lewis. "The coaches let me play, believing in my technique and putting me in positions to break up passes and intercept balls."
Lewis joined Jackson and Hall as All-Americans, too.
"It was amazing to do that," said Lewis. "It was one of my goals since I was a little kid. I tried to become an All-American, one of the best players in the country. To be emerging as one of those guys feels good. You see that your hard work is paying off, and it's an honor."
Lewis is a tremendously motivated athlete, and how he became a kickoff returner at midseason displayed that. He excelled, too, averaging 25.2 yards on 15 returns. Lewis wanted to impress new special teams coach John Baxter when returners were being evaluated in spring practice but didn't turn his head.
"I always had the ball in my hands when I was little," said Lewis, who played at Detroit Cass Tech. "I wanted that again. It was kind of funny. Coach Baxter said I had zero chance of being back there on kick returns because he didn't like my ball security. I said, 'Dang, I've got to do something.' So, it motivated me to get better.
"But he could see the improvements I'd made by the fall. It's a great feeling to know your coach is behind you and gives you the opportunity to do something you like after you improve."
His 55-yarder in the fourth quarter at Penn State made a statement. Lewis said he noticed Harbaugh feeling uneasy on the sideline after the Nittany Lions had seized momentum, and he told Harbaugh he was going to "break their back" with a big return.
"You could feel the tension before they kicked off," said Lewis. "When you do something like that, the momentum really shifts. You can feel that you got everybody pumped up, and it was a huge play."
Harbaugh found Lewis in the locker room after the victory.
Lewis said, "He told me, 'That's the way you do it. That's exactly how you do it!' He was just excited like everybody else. And on the sideline, I could see him jumping up and down."
Lewis said the exemplary preparation and enthusiasm have made all the difference.
"We always had talent," said Lewis. "We had talent on the defensive line, the offensive line, and our skill guys are off the charts. It just felt different -- the energy and the way we prepared.
"The way we competed felt different from last year. I'm just so happy to be here."
