Jourdan Lewis
Name: Jourdan Lewis
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 176 lbs.
High school: Detroit (MI) Cass Tech
Position: Cornerback
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #26
Last year: I ranked Lewis #26 and said he would be a backup cornerback with 20 tackles and 1 interception. He started seven games, making 39 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 6 pass breakups.
Going into last season, Michigan had two established starters at cornerback (Blake Countess, Raymon Taylor). Countess had been all-conference in 2013, and Taylor had played well, so I assumed Lewis was going to have to ride the bench for a while. That turned out not to be the case, as Countess struggled and Taylor did not make forward strides, either. In stepped Lewis, who was Michigan’s feistiest, most skilled, and most consistent corner. Aside from leading the team in interceptions, his most impressive feat was tracking down a Utah running back on a screen pass from the backside corner position (you can see the play HERE). It was a play that showed off his speed and determination.
One year later, I expect Lewis to be an anchor of the defense. I’m not quite sure why Countess (who is now at Auburn) and Taylor (graduated) stagnated, but both are gone and it’s clear that Lewis is the best true corner on the team. Jabrill Peppers has played a little bit of both corner and safety, but he is expected to play safety and in the slot. The Wolverines improved at pressuring the quarterback from 2013 to 2014, and another incremental step forward should help out the defensive backs. The hope is that new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin can dream up some blitz packages and get some higher level performances out of Taco Charlton, Willie Henry, and Chris Wormley, among others. If things fall just right, then the speedy and clingy – clingy in more ways than one – Lewis could find himself in the discussion for All-Big Ten honors.
Prediction: Starting cornerback; 50 tackles, 3 interceptions, 8 pass breakups
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This ranking is about 66.7% off!
I think Lewis is the best football player on the team right now. He played above Taylor and Countess (who looks likely to start at Auburn this year). The only reason I wouldn’t rank him #1 is that there a bunch of other options at corner. But that may be understating his value, because there is no clearcut #1 and #2 CB if Lewis goes down. Lyons and Peppers may be better fits at safety. Clark and Stribling might not be ready to start. etc. Plus you need to cover nickelback and Michigan probably isn’t that far from throwing a freshman, position-switch guy, or Terry Richardson on the field if things go badly on the health front…
I had him at #3 in my countdown but with David Dawson maybe stepping up a bit I think I’d bump him up to #2 heading into the season. His one-on-one skills and physicality are a key ingredient to what the defense wants to be able to do. And this Michigan team is going to hang it’s hat on it’s defense.
All conference honors should be coming his way.
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I would have a hard time disagreeing with you that he’s the best player on the team, but that’s not what the countdown is about. I think you’re pretty high on Channing Stribling, and Michigan has Jabrill Peppers and Wayne Lyons. At least two of those guys (Peppers and Lyons) are almost certifiable as starters. The guys above them don’t really have that same kind of depth at their positions.
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The issue is that Michigan needs Peppers elsewhere, maybe Lyons too. Many if not most plays will have 5 on the field, you’ll always have at least 3. So – you need to have at least 6 DBs. That’s not the case with WR. A lot of formations will have 1 WR, and some will have none. Between TE and RB, Michigan has other weapons.You need 3, maybe 4 WR, the 5th guy is pretty much a non-factor on most teams.
For that reason, CB depth is a bigger issue than WR depth.
The difference between Lewis and the 7th DB is significant. The difference between Darboh and the 5th WR is far smaller.
So yeah, I like Stribling, but Lewis is so good that Michian’s D would suffer dramatically if he went out.
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Not many formations will have zero wide receivers, or even just one.
Also, saying Michigan “needs Peppers elsewhere” is a weird statement especially when saying the same thing about Lyons. Michigan doesn’t need Peppers AND Lyons at safety. And there are numerous guys at safety who have starting experience (Wilson, Thomas, Clark, Hill, etc.). Those guys can be shuffled around.
I think your definition of the word “needs” is different than mine.
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One of the few Cass Tech guys who has actually contributed. Thankfully Lewis plays bigger than his small size.
He needs to step up his game even more, as does the entire D which was mediocre and let us down when we needed them the most. Please nobody post those laughable stats which were built against the weakest of the B1G teams last year.
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