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Super Bowl XLIX Player Profiles: Patriots CB Darrelle Revis

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As Super Bowl XLIX approaches, plenty of attention will be given to the matchup between the New England Patriots‘ explosive offense and the Seattle Seahawks‘ vaunted defense. Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” deserves all the hype and credit they receive, and they are one of the best overall units in the NFL. But when these two teams collide in Glendale, Ariz. on Feb. 1, neither Richard Sherman nor Earl Thomas will be the best defensive player on the field. Instead, Patriots CB Darrelle Revis will take the title as the top cornerback in the game.

Revis has regained his status as a true shutdown corner this year, a rare breed in today’s passing league. The six-time Pro Bowler has 23 career interceptions and was voted first team All-Pro this season. Revis has a reputation for locking down an opponent’s top receiver and sending him to “Revis Island.” He’s arguably the Patriots’ most important player on defense, and his talents will be on display in his first Super Bowl appearance. Before we get to what makes Revis so special and better than Sherman, let’s look at what he’s accomplished to this point.

Revis was taken in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Jets after playing his college ball at Pittsburgh. He made a name for himself during his six-year tenure in New York and emerged as one of the elite corners in the game. Revis won the AFC Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2009 and was named first-team All-Pro from 2009-11. After leaving the Jets in 2012 and playing a season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he signed a two-year, $32 million deal with New England. Revis thrived in his first season with the Patriots, finishing the year with 47 tackles, two interceptions and 14 passes defended.

Compared to Sherman, Revis is arguably more valuable and an all-around better player. New England moves Revis around strategically like a chess piece, whereas Sherman lines up almost exclusively on the left side of the field. Seattle’s defensive scheme allows Sherman to be physical at the line of scrimmage and cover only a third of the field. The Seahawks typically play Cover 3 with the safety Thomas in the middle of the field or helping Sherman over the top. There’s no arguing that this strategy works to perfection and that Sherman is excellent at doing his job, but Revis provides more versatility at the position.

Sometimes Revis is tasked to a shut down a specific receiver, like when he held the San Diego Chargers‘ Keenan Allen to one catch for three yards in Week 14. Calvin Johnson, T.Y. Hilton and A.J. Green were all held in check by Revis this season. In last week’s AFC Championship game, he covered five different receivers during specific situations and recorded an interception. His superb preparation and intelligence helps him understand the strengths and weaknesses of each receiver he guards, which is incredibly rare at the corner position. Revis can play man or zone coverage; he can cover the inside or the outside receivers. It remains to be seen whether or not Sherman can do the same because of Seattle’s defensive scheme.

There’s still one thing that Sherman possesses that Revis doesn’t: A Super Bowl ring. That could change if Revis and the Patriots defeat the Seahawks on Feb. 1. So when you’re watching the game on that Sunday, look out for No. 24 on New England’s defense. He’ll likely be all over the field covering multiple positions, because there isn’t a receiver on Seattle’s roster who deserves a trip to “Revis Island.” A strong performance from Revis and a Patriots victory in Super Bowl XLIX could prove his status as the game’s best corner and ultimately his legacy as a future Hall of Fame player.

Ben Linton is a Contributing Writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @Ben_Linton91 or add him to your network on Google.

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