Entering his third year in the NFL, cornerback Myron Lewis is seeing an increase in his confidence level on the playing field. Lewis recently spoke to local reporters about his new found trust in his abilities.

“It is up,” Lewis said. “I am just trying to get my hands on the ball. Every time I get my hands on the ball I know I am doing something right. Just to play the right technique and get the right calls and get my hands on the receivers—I take everything one day at a time. One technique at a time and I go from there.”

Lewis’s increased confidence level may be the result of the cornerback knowing head coach Greg Schiano believes in his ability to play the game.

“Coach Schiano is pretty hard on me,” Lewis said. “He has all the confidence in the world in me. He just wants me to be more confident in myself. He knows I can play and he told me just go out there and be hard on yourself—just focus. He said he loved guys like me you know big corners. So you just go out there and play. Do the right technique and everything follows then.”

An example of his increased confidence is evident in his ability to read the receiver’s body. During last Thursday’s practice the 6-foot-2 Lewis intercepted quarterback Dan Orlovsky in the end zone on a pass that was intended for wide receiver Tiquan Underwood.

“I was in good position,” Lewis said. “I saw the ball and grabbed it at highest point. Just used my technique that coach Schiano and coach (Ron) Cooper taught me. Played the defense well. Read the receiver’s hip and once he went up for the ball I looked up and grabbed the ball at its highest point.”

The 24 year-old former Vanderbilt player, who has been injury plagued his short time in the NFL, feels the need to pressure himself to stay healthy because he believes in his ability to perform his job.

“A lot of pressure,” Lewis said. “I have been hurt the past two years and you know nobody has really seen me play. So I am just putting that pressure on me to stay healthy and do my job. I know I can play —they drafted me for a reason so I [have] to go out there and play and try to stay [as] healthy as possible.”

Although Lewis only had four tackles last season and played in 10 games due to injuries, he is doing everything he can to ensure that he is able to be on the field and stay healthy in order to help his teammates this upcoming season.

“I have been eating right [and] trying to stretch every night,” Lewis said.  “Then strengthening my hamstring. So that was my main focus to eat right. Then strengthen my muscles and stretching.”