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In Search of Revis Island: Using Data to Find Shutdown NFL Cornerbacks
The Legend of Revis Island
The Year is 2009. Week 12 of the NFL Regular season. A young impressionable kid at the time, I finished my weekend chores just before gametime, and excitedly turned on my Carolina Panthers vs. New York Jets on the living room TV. I throw a bag of popcorn in the microwave, relax, and watch the opening kick off… 🍿 🏈 📺
… and within the first 4 minutes of play, Darrelle Revis intercepts Delhomme and returns it for a Touchdown. A Pick 6.
Revis would go on to hold Steve Smith, our star receiver, to 1 catch for 5 yards on 6 targets. The Jets would go on to win 17 to 6.
A Sunday ruined…
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My nightmarish memory of Darrelle Revis against my team that Sunday was less the exception, but the rule. Revis consistently dominated whomever he was matched up against, which was often future first-ballot HOFers like himself. 2009 Revis was the definition of a “Shutdown Corner.”
What is so amazing about Revis as a player is that through his career he made a name for himself for matching up against the best receivers in the league, and absolutely annihilating their offensive output. Playing man-to-man with no Safety help, he could hold receivers…
