In Light of the Release of Pro Bowl and All-Pro Rosters, An Appreciation of Darrelle Revis
With all the news about Pro Bowl rosters and sites starting to release their All-Pro picks, etc., there has been one constant when it comes to the Patriots: Darrelle Revis. The impact that he’s made on the way the defense can play each and every game has been obvious. He’s been absolutely brilliant. Aside from the long Jordy Nelson touchdown to end the first half in Green Bay, it’s hard to remember an impact play where he has made a mistake.
As we near the end of the season, though, we have enough data and information that we no longer have to rely on eye test and memory to evaluate what Revis has done. Courtesy of NESN’s Doug Kyed’s work throughout the season charting the Patriots defense in the pass game, we can look at how opposing receivers have faired against Revis. The numbers may make Revis look even better than your eyes and your memory may have lead you to believe.
Through the first 15 games, Revis has been targeted 76 times and allowed just 36 completions for 499 yards, meaning quarterbacks are completing 47.37% of passes thrown Revis’ way for 6.57 yards per attempt. Anyone who follows football can look at those numbers and tell you they’re pretty impressive.
For context, though, we can compare his numbers to receiver performance. 110 wide receivers and tight ends have been targeted 50 or more times so far this season. Those players have caught 61.76% of the balls thrown their way for 7.86 yards per target. In other words, Revis has held receivers to 76% of the league average catch percentage and 84% of the league average yards per target. Essentially, Revis has turned whoever he is covering, typically the opponent’s top receiver depending on gameplan, into the Cardinals’ John Brown who Football Outsiders ranks as the 64th best receiver in football.
We can also contextualize Revis’ impact in the passing game by comparing his numbers to quarterback performance. Once we factor in the two touchdowns Revis has allowed and his two interceptions we can calculate that QBs have a passer rating of 66.7 when throwing his way. No quarterback with over 200 attempts this season has a rating that low. The only four passers who have a rating within 10 points of that figure are basically the Four Horsemen of the QB Apocalypse Josh McCown (70.5), Blake Bortles (70.8), Geno Smith (70.9), and Brian Hoyer (76.5). If we lower the attempts threshold, Revis’ passer rating against would fall between former Patriots Matt Cassel (65.8) and Ryan Mallett (67.6). And, again, he has done this against the opponent’s top receiving threat week in and week out.
I know that these numbers are basically just telling you what you already know. We’ve all seen Revis play consistently spectacular football this season. But as the Pats head into a relatively meaningless week 17 game against Buffalo with home field advantage already clinched, now is the perfect time to take a breath and acknowledge the impact that he’s made on this team. Everyone has been quick to crown Gronk the Patriots MVP because we’ve seen the difference in the offense with him versus without him. Fortunately, we haven’t had to see the Patriots’ defense without Revis this year, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been every bit as valuable.
Two more Sundays until the Patriots first game of the real season: as long as Revis is on the field, I love our chances.