The Revis Effect

June 26th, 2013

darrelle revis 0607Joe’s got a hearty breakfast here for those starving for football Xs and Os and real strategy talk. It comes from the outspoken yet anonymous “NFLosophy,” who is rumored to be a former NFL front office type and has quite a following on Twitter (@NFLosophy).

After the Bucs acquired Darrelle Revis, this NFLosophy dude went deep into what he calls The Revis Effect, complete with an NFL “all-22” film breakdown and all kinds of detail.

Here’s a snippet:

What you see here is Revis on an island at the top of the screen. The single-high safety is shading over top of the 2 wide receivers and tight end towards the bottom of the shot. In 11-personnel (1 running back, 1 tight end) and a 3×1 formation (3 receivers to one side) a lot of defenses will elect to play Cover-2 or if they go Cover-3 or Cover-1 man, the CB on an island will usually play in off-coverage. This will allow the receiver a short to intermediate route to ensure that he doesn’t beat the single coverage over the top.

As you see it, even in a personnel package that screams pass, the Jets have 8 men in the box. They’re comfortable leaving Revis in press man outside and a single safety over top of the 3 receivers to one side. The Jets are set up to defend both the run and the pass because of the flexibility that Revis gives them. They’re also daring Tannehill to try to throw at Revis here – something they like to do.

One of the other things that Revis allows is that by dropping a safety in the box the Jets can clutter the middle of the field making it harder to find windows to throw into. Revis essentially has the left 1/3 of the field covered. The Jets have more than enough available players to drop into coverage to blanket the remaining 2/3 of the field.

You can click the link above to read the whole examination of Revis. What Joe enjoyed most is the video below. The author uses this film from Revis’ final game of 2012 in Miami (when Revis blew out his knee) to remind us that Revis is stout against the run. Revis, aka The Boy Wonder, is the pursuing cornerback at the bottom of the screen.

25 Responses to “The Revis Effect”

  1. Piratic Says:

    Great link Joe!!!
    Could I be the first (today) to ask for more stories like these? Obviously we’d like to have your take on said article, as well. That’s a given. Cheers!

  2. Mike J Says:

    Kinda interesting as the WR Revis was covering slanted in to block the safety, but that brought Revis into the hole unblocked.Maybe a zone was anticipated bythe Fish, but inside the 10??

  3. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    It looked to me like bringing that WR over to block was the mistake. Seems like keeping Revis out of the area would have served them better.

    Which, of course, is one of the reasons I’m excited to see this guy play.

    I didn’t want him here initially. I had pictures of 45 million guaranteed in my head. Revis put that to rest with the contract he signed. Still big money but no guarantees accomplished two things…put the Bucs in the position to cut him in order to save cap space later (if needed) and it showed me that he is confident enough in his abilities to earn each year.

    I think that was the goal Wright had as well…though clearly Wright is nowhere as good as Revis, but then, who is?

  4. Sneedy16 Says:

    @Mike J

    They probably assumed that they were going to zone to protect the pass, but the Jets rarely went to zone coverage. They always man Revis up, and That’s the plus we needed. Barron in the box Goldson single high safety. It should be an interesting defense.

  5. robert Says:

    Revis is the MAN!!!

    even better my wife is a Jets fan, and game one will be awesome.

    I just hope they get him enough reps to get into football shape….because these guys who hold out, miss camp for injuries or whatever reason almost always seem to pull a hammy.

    a happy hammy makes me happy

  6. robert Says:

    well Hernandez is now prison fodder

  7. RIs_Buc Says:

    Good read. Might have to follow that….
    Thanks for sharing Joe, this season can’t come sooner, GO BUCs

  8. The 300's Says:

    Revis is going to be a stud for us. Can’t wait to see him in action. He is a guy that will make Josh Freeman and everyone else on defense look a lot better. It is a lot easier to be a quarterback when you don’t think you have to score a touchdown every time out just to keep up.

  9. Buc'n Junkie Says:

    That video footage just goes to show how important it is for the rest of the defense to step up their game, especially since Revis controls 1/3 the field. I hope this year we never see our opponent on our 10 yard line.

  10. Brain Says:

    NFLosophy is a former NFL Ops coordinator – he didn’t even work in the front office let alone reign as GM. He’s never played a down of football but he has a solid knowledge base. Anyone with a clue knows Revis is a monster addition…

  11. robert Says:

    OMG….now Revis will make jfro better….

    only jfro can do that.

    when will it end?????

  12. BucDan Says:

    It’s not just the Revis made the hit. He wrapped the RB up, unlike 80% of the DBs in the league today. Schiano loves a hard-nosed football player and this play right here shows that Revis is just that.

  13. Hunter Says:

    Joe, that guy from twitter was never a GM. He ran one department for a short period of time that was operations related. But, his goal is obviously to try to get another shot in the NFL.

  14. BucDan Says:

    @robert

    Where did you see that claim? Revis makes the TEAM better.

    “This will also translate into less pressure on Josh Freeman. Freeman routinely had to throw 35+ times to keep putting points on the board in a hurry just to keep his team in the game. Now the Tampa offense will be able to rely a little more on its run game (what it prefers to do) and take some of the weight off of Freeman’s shoulders.”

    Less passes attempted will hopefully lead to a higher completion percentage, but nowhere does it say Revis will make JFree better. Just that the TEAM will be able to rely on the defense more often.

    AGAIN, if you think #5 lost more games for us than our defense, you are DELUSIONAL.

    I can only imagine the conversations this forum would have if the defense stopped the Eagles last year. Or the Falcons. Or the Redskins. Defense stops those last drives and the Bucs are a 10 win, possible playoff team.

    Do you forget the throws he made to lead us from behind against the Carolina?? The “tying” throw at the end of the Saints games?

    “But his completion percentage is blah blah blah”

    Guy can play and makes plays. Please let me know who in the NFL you would rather have than #5. Name a player on the QB bubble that can provide the Bucs with the kind of play that Josh Freeman can. Seriously, make me a list so I can see where you place him among the other QBs in the league.

  15. WestCoastBucsFan Says:

    ^^You literally left me with nothing say. You took every single word I wanted to say. Well played.

    Although, I must say, Robert is not really worthy of a response. He is the type of “fan” that thinks Freeman doesn’t play enough Madden. He also hopes, ” . . . that jfro doesn’t make it through TC healthy . . .” Not to mention he would be happy to see Orlovsky start over Freeman. The guys football knowledge is the the equivalent of your average sewing machine.

  16. Bucky23 Says:

    100 % spot on BucDan

  17. stevek Says:

    BucDan,

    I am with you, Freeman “can” do it, but “can” he do it consistently?

    Playoffs for this team in 2013 would answer the bell.

  18. robert Says:

    “The 300’s Says:
    June 26th, 2013 at 10:00 am
    Revis is going to be a stud for us. Can’t wait to see him in action. He is a guy that will make Josh Freeman and everyone else on defense look a lot better. It is a lot easier to be a quarterback when you don’t think you have to score a touchdown every time out just to keep up.”

    keep up guys

  19. stevek Says:

    BucDan,

    Freeman might be the least desired QB option in the NFC South? Who knows? If we can get Freeman to hone it in, consistently, then we will be alright.

    Freeman was the 10th rated QB under 25, that isn’t saying much.

    I can agree wholeheartedly that Freeman possesses elite physical gifts, but we need to see them materialize into a successful, consistent leader of this team. That remains to be seen.

    I would argue that we could have a better chance at a SB run paying a 3rd round salary at QB, and using the 10-12 million on Free Agent Studs…

  20. robert Says:

    nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

    Calvin Coolidge

    this is my point against jfro guys. the guy has the tools, but he fails…..and then giggles and throws his hands up!!!!!!!!!!!!!, which IMO makes him worse than a less skilled QB with more heart.

  21. BucDan Says:

    Okay here, lot to process…

    @robert

    I did miss that comment, but he’s right. Nitpick all you want.

    @stevek

    “Freeman might be the least desired QB option in the NFC South? Who knows? If we can get Freeman to hone it in, consistently, then we will be alright.”

    ALL BUCS FANS TAKE NOTE!

    THAT IS A REALISTIC TAKE ON #5 (Although I still prefer Josh over Cam. All day. Every day.)

    Those media ratings are garbage. I like to see our players ranked high and get recognition too, but the Bucs are still proving that they are back in the game and we dont really see it.

    “I can agree wholeheartedly that Freeman possesses elite physical gifts, but we need to see them materialize into a successful, consistent leader of this team. That remains to be seen.”

    I agree. I would like to see him roam the sidelines talking to the lineman, go to the wide receiver group, etc. ala the true greats in this league. That’s the spark that brings greatness out of the teammates around you.

    “I would argue that we could have a better chance at a SB run paying a 3rd round salary at QB, and using the 10-12 million on Free Agent Studs…”

    That could happen. Thing is, it’s not going to. Don’t you think every beat writer would be hawking Glennon if he was looking like a stud? Now it’s of my opinion that that means he’s worse than #5, no matter how good/bad we think Josh is. Why? Because there is no QB controversy. As of now, #5 is our best bet at QB. Now, I would hope that Glennon turns into a stud. I hope that every other one of the Bucs draft picks does the same.

    I just took a look at a Glennon 2012 highlight reel and his throws look real nice. A lot of deep throws. The way he stood in the pocket and launched the long ball looked, shall I say, Freeman-like….

  22. WestCoastBucsFan Says:

    I just have to re-post this comment from BamBamBuc the other day. I feel like it works here.

    BamBamBuc Says:

    June 23rd, 2013 at 12:04 am

    As an acknowledged Freeman apologist I feel I must do this…

    I’m sorry Freeman and his offense were

    9th best in the NFL in 1st quarter scoring

    8th best in 3rd quarter scoring

    7th best in 4th quarter scoring

    (only the 2nd quarter was bad, at 29th)

    Exactly in the middle of the league in terms of time of possession at 30:00

    12th best scoring offense

    8th best red zone TD %

    10th best passing yards per game

    2nd best passing yards per completion

    12th in passing yards per attempt

    13th best passing 1st down %

    Tied for 6th best in yards per play

    I’m sorry we Buccaneer fans had to endure such a thing. And I didn’t even add in how sorry I am for Doug Martin’s production. To think Martin had the 7th most rushing yards and 7th most rushing TDs in the league, I’m really sorry about that.

    Now that the sarcasm is over… I’d like to be truly sorry for the defense that produced sacks at the 2nd worst rate in the league, gave up the 2nd most passing yards per attempt, gave up 1st downs through the air at a rate higher than any team in the NFL, and the 2nd worst pass D in almost 100 years of NFL. If we had broken that record, the Bucs would hold two of the most difficult records to break in the NFL. I’d rather not see us come anywhere near either of those records anytime soon.

    https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=90405&cpage=2#comment-3282097

  23. WestCoastBucsFan Says:

    ^^Just for the people that think the offense might have been holding this team back.

  24. BucDan Says:

    But a Freeman’s completion percentage is less than 60%!!!!!!

    And he threw 10 ints in 3 games!!!!!!

    How can we win????

    Great post by BamBam and way to bring it back.

  25. scubog Says:

    I’m going to have to show some compassion for poor Robert being wed to a J…E…T…S fan. Can’t you just hear the conversations about which of them has the worst QB, J’Fro or Sanchez? Worst part for Robert is that he loses that battle because we all know which # 5 is the worst. So to feel better, Robert comes on here to attempt to gain some dignity by bringing our QB into every on-line conversation.