ANN ARBOR -- The mental lapses of a year
http://www.0750xsaf.com/landry-jones-jersey-c-1_46.html ago are no more. Lavert Hill can calmly and confidently walk out onto a college football field and excel.
And everyone around him is taking notice.
The sophomore cornerback continued his playmaking streak on Saturday, hauling in his second interception of the season in Michigan's 27-20 overtime win at Indiana. He would have had a third had it not been for a pass-interference penalty, one of the Michigan coaching staff disputes.
"Lavert is starting to come out of his shell a little bit," Michigan cornerbacks Mike Zordich said on Wednesday. "You could see his fiery-ness, his competitiveness, come out more and more in practice as the year goes."
Through six games this season, the 5-foot-11 Hill has 11 tackles (three for a loss), a position-best six pass breakups and two interceptions. He bulked up to 177 pounds for training camp, where he surpassed the competition to earn a starting spot right out of the gate.
Really, though, there was never really any concern. Hill acted as Jourdan Lewis' understudy last season, watching how the two-time All-American and NFL draft pick handled his business. How he went about playing the game.
Then -- last November, in a statement of confidence -- head coach Jim Harbaugh declared Hill a "Lewis type of player." Good speed. Good technique. Someone who picks up the scheme quickly.
"I definitely see a little Jourdan Lewis in him," junior safety Tyree Kinnel said. "That's a great comparison, because Jourdan is a great corner and a great technique guy. He knows how to play the ball; he's a ball hog.
"And I see the same things in Lavert Hill."
Ask Hill about his progress and he'll refer you back to preparation and technique. Staying in shape. Using the proper footwork. Staying low on the breaks.
"He's very natural," Zordich said. "Very instinctive. He's going to do whatever he can to get his hands on it. I think he's always looking for a pick, but when he knows he can't, he tries to slap it or backhand it away.
"He's just instinctive that way."
Zordich even went one step further, declaring Hill ahead of the curve when it came to the rest of the cornerback unit. David Long has traded
http://www.cmslamp.com/pittsburgh-steelers-reggie-white-63-mitchell-and-ness-authentic-black-mens-nfl-throwback-home-jersey-online-p-803.html reps with senior Brandon Watson on the other side, while true freshmen Ambry Thomas and Benjamin St-Juste have slowly worked their way into the rotation.
The group continues to out-perform expectations, ranking third nationally in passing yards allowed (138.0 yards per game). Hill has been a big part of the reason for that.
"Lavert's been a really good player for us," Harbaugh said after the Indiana win. "I'd say steady, but he's been better than steady. He's been playing at a really high level. Had some great defenses on the balls. Pass breakups. An interception in tight coverage. Really good. Really good.
