Darrelle Revis makes the tackle against Nebraska
Darrelle Revis is not going to have to wait long Sunday before he tastes his first NFL action. After a 20-day training camp holdout, the Jets' rookie cornerback has drawn high praise for both his play and his approach.
"Darrelle has done a good job not only of working with Mike [Westhoff], Bob [Sutton] and myself but also working with the veteran players," said head coach Eric Mangini. "It's not just the defensive backs. It could be Jonathan [Vilma], Eric Barton or Shaun Ellis, trying to pick their brains on the best way to study an opponent, the best way to get ready physically and the best way to condition. I like the way that he does that."
After dressing against the Vikings, Revis started in the Jets' final two preseason games against the Giants (five solo tackles, one PD) and the Eagles (three tackles). With the status of Andre Dyson (foot) uncertain, Revis could start again this weekend in a much different situation.
The Birds started a journeyman passer in A.J. Feeley and the Pats are led by a future Hall of Famer in Tom Brady. Literally and figuratively, summer and falls are worlds apart.
"He is a great quarterback. You have to compete against him," Revis said of Brady. "This is the NFL. This is not a kid's game, it's a man's game, so you have to go out there and play."
The Patriots fell just short of another Super Bowl appearance last season and attacked the off-season with vigor. They wanted to surround Brady with more talent, so they traded for Wes Welker and Randy Moss and also signed Donté Stallworth in free agency.
"I just think of receivers as receivers. It's nothing different than New York has a secondary," Revis said. "We are going to go out and run our schemes and do what we have to do to win. That's what we are going to do."
But the Jets know there are more options out there for the Pats. One of Revis' backfield mates, safety Kerry Rhodes, said the Green & White have to be prepared for everything.
"With the changes they made, they can do anything," said the playmaking Rhodes. "They can go five-wide, four-wide or with three tight ends. They can do whatever they want. We have to be ready for everything they can do, so that's what we are focusing on right now."
Brady, who is undefeated in six career starts at the Meadowlands, and the Patriots are familiar with the Jets' newcomer in the secondary.
"He's a pretty good corner. I know Coach Belichick thought a lot of him coming out of college," Brady said of Revis, the 5"11, 204-pounder Pittsburgh product. "From what I have seen in preseason, he looks like a big guy, he's got good speed and is very physical. He looks like he's going to be a great pick for those guys. Hopefully we will be able to make a few plays out there and hopefully be a little more successful in the passing game this year than we were last year."
