Man-To-Man Or Zone? Doesn't Matter To Revis As Long As Patriots Win
BOSTON (CBS) -- Darrelle Revis has made a name for himself in the NFL over the years by shutting down some of the best receivers in the game.
But this season, his first in New England, the All Pro corner hasn't had the opportunity to go man-to-man on just one receiver, with the Patriots' zone defense causing "Revis Island" to shift all over the field.
With the Cincinnati Bengals and receiver A.J. Green on tap for Sunday night, we may get to see Revis up to his old tricks. And if he wants the assignment of shadowing one of the NFL's best pass-catchers, Revis would have no problem going to Bill Belichick and making the request.
"I feel comfortable approaching Bill about anything, whether it's on the field or an issue off the field,"Revis said Thursday in the Patriots locker room. "Bill is very open to players coming up to him to talk about things on or off the field."
Revis said that he has made such requests in the past for "a bunch of receivers," but wouldn't give any names. He also wouldn't say if he's requested covering Green this weekend.
"It's a team effort on defense. It's not one individual on defense, and that's how you've got to look at it," he said. "Whatever is best for the defense game planning-wise to help us win, that's what we're going to do. The goal out of this is getting a win. It doesn't matter if I'm inside, outside, if I'm coming off the edge. We're just trying to get a W."
Revis said it doesn't matter who he lines up against on any given week. But it may be time for him to cover just one man, with corner Brandon Browner returning to the field following a four-game suspension.
"We are excited to have him back, it's been too long," Revis said of Browner. "He brings a lot of physicality to our defense. We are looking forward to that from him and being aggressive and bring that physicality to the D."
The Patriots are off to a 2-2 start, and it's been a lot of "doom and gloom" in New England following their 41-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. But Revis said everyone in the locker room has remained positive.
"I think we're very upbeat," Revis said. "It's been a short week this week and we made the corrections and we moved on to Cincinnati. It was a terrible loss for us, but at the same time, it's a short week and we had to move on. I feel like the team is upbeat and we're looking forward to this matchup against Cincinnati on Sunday."
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