The Retort

A Trip to Revis Island

January 29th, 2010 by Joe Olivo Of The Retort Staff

This year's New York Jets defense can be summed up with just one of their 11 starters, Darrelle Revis. Revis is the Jets 2 time pro bowl cornerback and has taken the mantel of the league’s top shut down corner from the likes of Denver's Champ Bailey and Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha.

This season Revis has shut down some of the league’s best wide receivers, from Randy Moss and Terrell Owens to Steve Smith and Andre Johnson. What has truly separated Revis from other corners in the league is two things; his study habits and his strength. After playing against Revis, the Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Torry Holt said, “He is the strongest man I've ever had cover me, true strength, grown man strength. He stays on your top shoulder. Any wide receiver is going to have problems with a guy who is that strong.” Holt, one of the greatest receivers in the history of the NFL had 2 catches for 24 yards in his trip to Revis Island.

Revis recently sat down with Deion Sanders for an interview on the NFL network. When asked what Revis said to his new defensive backs coach Dennis Thurman he told him, “Coach me anyway you have to, scream at me, yell at me, argue with me; do whatever it takes to make me great.” Deion praised Revis for his technique, “I haven't seen a corner look and lean when the ball is in the air like you do in at least 7 years.”

Revis was also a great high school basketball player. He was a 2 time all state player in Pennsylvania and averaged over 25 points a game. Revis's confidence has only grown, in part thanks to his new head coach, Rex Ryan. Ryan's brashness and confidence has rubbed off onto all of his players, but none in the way that it has on Revis. “He's a great coach. He is wild man, loose. We will go to bat for his players, I don't care who it is Rex will always back him up,” Revis told espn.com.

That, Rex has; when asked whether he thought Revis should have been the defensive MVP Ryan responded by angrily saying, “This award shouldn't of been close. Anyone who knows anything about this game knows Revis is the best defensive player in the whole league. This is the best season a cornerback has ever had.”

Former Steelers, Raiders, and Ravens cornerback Rod Woodson said about Revis, “He always plays the receivers up field shoulder, not many corners do that anymore. That allows him to always say in front of the receiver and watch the quarterback during the whole play. Plus with that strength he can just man handle almost any receiver in the game.”

Revis came in 2nd in this year's Defensive MVP voting to Greenbay Packers cornerback Charles Woodson. Woodson allowed quarterbacks to complete 54% of the passes thrown his way. He also defended 18 passes and allowed 5 touchdown passes. While Revis allowed quarterbacks to complete less than 38% of passes, defended 31 passes and allowed only 2 touchdowns. Woodson won the award because he created more turnovers than Revis, 13 to 6.

When asked who he thinks should have won the award Revis responded, “Me. I have the toughest job on defense. I go everywhere, my job is to shut down the teams number one option.” For all the confidence and skill that Revis has he rarely talks on the football field. “I don't talk unless someone talks to me.” With the way Revis shuts people down it must be very quite on Revis Island.