Bell: Darrelle Revis' tough play honors blue-collar roots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Darrelle Revis was clearly the man of the hour in the New England Patriots locker room Wednesday, judging by the traffic jam. More than 40 media members camped out at his stall at about lunchtime, awaiting his arrival.
As the clock ticked, who better to get a few words of perspective from than Ty Law? The former Patriots cornerback has been where Revis is, in more ways than one.
And it's so natural to compare Revis to Law, who typically raised his game this time of year as one of the stars of three Super Bowl championship teams.
Revis, No. 24, is only the best cornerback the Patriots have had since Law, who also wore No. 24. A shutdown corner with uncanny instincts and a nickname, "Revis Island," that reflects the manner in which he leaves receivers stranded with his man-to-man coverage, he's a key cog on the best defense Bill Belichick has had since those Super Bowl-winning units a decade ago.
"This is not a Ty Law thing," Law grumbled to Paste BN Sports. "We call it an Aliquippa thing."
Aliquippa is a rugged little town (pop. 9,438) in western Pennsylvania, about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. It used to be home to one of the nation's largest steel mills, and it still has a blue-collar toughness.
Every football player I've ever met from Aliquippa is immensely proud of his hometown. Like Revis and Law, Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett and Mike Ditka are from Aliquippa. So is Revis' uncle, former All-Pro defensive lineman Sean Gilbert.
Law is excited for Revis, who is finally in the mix for a Super Bowl chase again. After a trying season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and some rough campaigns with the New York Jets, this has been a long time coming.
"This is what he came here for," Law said. "It's huge for him, but he's up for the challenge."
Law added, "I'm living through Darrelle right now. Make sure you tell him he's got to represent Quip Town."
A few minutes later, I asked Revis to reveal the best advice he had received from Law.
"You're from Quip," he said. "Play ball."
Guess this is like never forgetting where you came from.
Gilbert said that, in addition to appreciating a tradition for winning, Aliquippa is about work ethic.
Revis, 29, won't argue that, especially while explaining why he has developed into arguably the NFL's best cornerback. He's a film room junkie. Since coming aboard on what is essentially a one-year, $12 million contract, he has impressed the Patriots with his tireless approach to preparation and study.
"I'm predicated all on technique," Revis said. "That's what gets me by. I'm not fast."
From the next locker, safety Devin McCourty chimed in, "You are!"
Revis continued, "I don't run a 4.1. I just work on technique. That's what keeps me around."
In Saturday's divisional playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, Revis could draw the assignment of shadowing their top receiver, Steve Smith Sr.
As New England's defense, which has gone six games since allowing a second-half touchdown, has evolved this season, it has leaned more on the option of putting Revis in single coverage while using the opposite corner, Brandon Browner, in tandem with a safety.
Of course, the Patriots mix coverages, too, which can result in Revis playing occasional zones or switching off in situations, as was the case vs. the Detroit Lions when he lined up against Golden Tate for the bulk of the game and then switched to cover Calvin Johnson in the red zone.
The schemes don't work, though, without production. Revis has been exactly as advertised, while teaming with Browner to employ a physical brand of coverage that changed the personality of the secondary. And with Revis shutting down the top threat, it allows more strategy options for a defense that is more versatile than it has been in years.
Law said the Patriots are better able to disguise their intent, which sometimes includes a safety peeling away after originally appearing to team with Revis for double coverage.
This coincides with a mark of Revis' greatness — his knack for fooling opponents into thinking they have him beaten.
He flashed a wide grin when someone asked about baiting receivers and quarterbacks.
"It's a chess game out there," he said.
Revis knows what time it is. He went to back-to-back AFC title games with the Jets but hasn't been in a playoff game in four years.
If he's ecstatic about this, you might not see it. Revis is probably one of the most mellow players in the NFL. As bad as he wants a Super Bowl ring, he's a complete bore when expressing his thoughts about the mission. He downplays the hype, another reason he fits into the Patriot Way.
"You've got to take it one week at a time and not get too far ahead," he said. "Just focus on the week ahead, and you'll be fine. We'll see the results."
Gilbert, though, knows how this hits home for his nephew.
"I think it's a critical moment," Gilbert told Paste BN Sports. "For him to be teamed up with one of the NFL's greatest coaches and with one of the best quarterbacks of all time, it's right there for him. It's a bit premature to talk about the Super Bowl. But knowing him, he'll take all of that in stride."
And somewhere along the way, he'll give a shout-out to Quip Town.
Follow columnist Jarrett Bell on Twitter @JarrettBell.
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