Bucs May Not Miss Darrelle Revis
July 18th, 2014
Numbers show the Bucs may not be hurt much by the departure of Darrelle Revis.
Joe is on record saying he was anything but comfortable watching the Bucs wave goodbye to All-World cornerback Darrelle Revis. Though Joe has gotten over it (for now), it is against everything Joe knows about football to let the best corner of his generation just walk away in a pass-crazy league.
Yes, Joe knows why the Bucs did it. Still, if you are confident in your player evaluation skills, you find a way to keep a guy like Revis. It’s not like Revis broke the Bucs salary cap.
Joe has moved past this, and will so long as Revis is not missed.
Now the Bucs were damn good last year at takeaways. One of the NFL’s best, tied for third with the Bengals and Eagles. In fact, of the top five teams in takeaways last year, four made the playoffs. The lone team that didn’t? You got it: The Bucs, losing 12 games. This just demonstrates what a pathetic, embarrassing, worthless offense the Bucs had last year.
Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times decided to do a little math, and his results show that when it comes to interceptions, the Bucs may not miss Revis all that much.
Bucs defense tied for third in NFL with 21 interceptions last year. 18 were from players back in 2014 — only gone are Revis (2) and Watson. — Greg Auman (@gregauman) July 16, 2014
It was a little surprising to Joe to see Revis with so few picks, but there it is in black and white. Of course, few teams tested Revis.
One of the hallmarks of Bucs coach Lovie Smith is takeaways. The Bears were among the NFL’s best when he helmed the Monsters of the Midway. This is one main reason why Joe has few if any qualms about this year’s defense.
Lovie is starting with a foundation already known for forcing fumbles and picking off passes. If the Bucs can continue to get takeaways, and if the offense can be even close to average instead of the NFL’s basement, perhaps the Bucs will give Tampa-area residents something to cheer about for a change?
That way, Joe won’t have to cry himself to sleep at night at the loss of Revis.
July 18th, 2014 at 9:16 am
The boys WON’T miss strokin’ those ridiculous game checks for a guy who was damaged goods from the get-go.
July 18th, 2014 at 9:18 am
@joe
Think of me on August the 1st. This is an exciting day for me and will be the 1st time I can publicly share information.
July 18th, 2014 at 9:22 am
Skewed stat.
Naturally, you’re not going to get many options for INTs if the QB isn’t throwing at you.
With that being said, scheme alone should generate some more turnovers, specifically INTs.
July 18th, 2014 at 9:24 am
I’m a Revis fan. But he’s not worth the bucks. He’s ONE player. So he can neutralize the other team’s star receiver. What about their 2nd and 3rd and even 4th options. Who is going to stop them. I like the combo of Verner and Banks.
But the truth be told our pass defense is far more dependent on our DL and the ability to get a great four man pass rush without needing lots of gimmicks to get the QB on the ground. The best pass defense is a QB on his backside!
July 18th, 2014 at 9:25 am
What, are you under some court order not to speak to strangers? 🙂
July 18th, 2014 at 9:40 am
Renting Revis from the Jets for a 1st and 4th for one year makes me sick. If they could afford it then they should. I am not sold on any of the free agent acquisitions except for Verner and maybe Dietrich-Smith.
July 18th, 2014 at 9:42 am
Great player but never seemed to completely buy into the team. Seemed like he felt it would be a good place to do his 1st year of rehab. Verner I feel will “buy in” and be a committed Buccaneer….as Lovie would say “after all we are (were) a 4-12 team. (And that is WITH Revis).
July 18th, 2014 at 9:46 am
Revis was never a huge INT guy, 6 was his highest, and one year he had zero (played only 13 games that year).
Not including 2012, which he missed most of the season, his average coming to the Bucs was 3.6 INT/year, so coming to a new team off a major injury, 2 picks shouldn’t be too surprising.
July 18th, 2014 at 9:49 am
If you think about it, the Bucs gave away two picks and paid 16 million to a guy to come here for 1 year in a rehab stint not even close to performing at his best. That has to go down as the 2nd worst trade in the history of Football…just behind the Herschel Walker trade and just ahead of the Ricky Williams trade.
July 18th, 2014 at 9:52 am
Let me just say that stats like these can be skewed. Anyone who watched the Bucs last year knows that teams didn’t throw the ball Revis’ way. So his interception total isn’t going to be high when he is not getting tested. I actually believe our team interception total was so high because opposing QBs would try to throw the ball in places they shouldn’t because there first read who was locked down by Revis wasn’t open. I like the Verner and Johnson moves very much but seeing the best cover corner of our generation walk away for nothing still stings.
July 18th, 2014 at 9:55 am
Also it sucks because I was impressed with how well Revis played on a rehabbing knee. The year he becomes 100% healthy we let him walk away, to the PATRIOTS. Wish I would have seen how he plays every snap now that he is healthy. The fact that we traded so much for him just for a rehab year then let him walk makes my stomach hurt.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:03 am
@P’cola – IMO Revis was one of the many Vets who would talk to Schiano with his opinion to better the team. He probably got the “Oh yeah Revis. We will think about that. Thank you for passing by the office. Come back anytime Buddy!” by Schiano. Commander Schiano kept his game plan untouched.
I would not buy into his game plans either. I had to be frustrating for Revis to see this College Coach being so full of himself.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:16 am
No brainer, edge rusher, solid UT and an all pro CB to replace Revis. T2 is a system based on key players and we already have LVD and GMC in place. Being able to sign Johnson was the missing piece.
Joe, maybe you are discounting the importance of having some cap room? We have options to sign FA’s cut loose or trade when the final cuts come.
If disgruntled players are unhappy with their contract and want to play for the Lover coach, we can be in most any discussion now.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:22 am
Not at all. Professional confidentiality.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:27 am
There a reason he only wants to play in the AFC east. Soooo many all-pro receivers in that division. Revis got burnt more last year than micheal Jackson in a Pepsi commercial. He had a terrible attitude and had less than half the ints than our lb. Megatron trolled his ass all game until Banks stepped in a shut him down. Not to mentioned we paid him $500k per int. What is there to miss?
Go back to the AFC east and cover Eric Decker, I’m sure he’ll make you look like an all-pro again chump!
July 18th, 2014 at 10:28 am
Uh, huh. 🙁
July 18th, 2014 at 10:30 am
Click the link on the cap space.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:38 am
@BFFL- Revis was not signed to a 1 year deal if you remember. Had he not been cut, he’d still be a Buc.
Also, I still don’t get the Revis hate. The Bucs brought him in to fill a HUGE hole and he did, even at 75-80%. We cut him and all of a sudden he’s a disgruntled mercenary?!
Buc fans are a trip sometimes!
July 18th, 2014 at 10:41 am
It’s not that they couldn’t afford Revis, they COULD have gotten him and all their signings in as well. What they apparently didn’t want to do was leverage their future cap by going all in with prorated signing bonuses that would kill their ability to sign players down the road. The Saints have been playing that game for years, successfully. The Panthers are as well. I’m not so sure the Bucs wouldn’t have been able to have their cake and eat it too, but we’ll never know.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:43 am
One thing to add to the above – I think they didn’t go all-in like that because they obviously don’t have a franchise QB like the kitty cats “think” they do, and the Saints obviously do.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:46 am
Yeah the offense stink stank stunk up the place last year. Some say we played tough top defenses, that had to be a factor in so few wins. Sure worthless, pathetic and embarrassing were the offensive results. But we Buc fans have been hanging on to the prospects of a better future forever it seems. New players, new coaching, new outlook and new promise is quickly approaching. Is’nt it great to be a Bucs fan? Go Bucs!
July 18th, 2014 at 10:54 am
@Buccfan37 – You could say we significantly helped those defenses earn their top ratings by playing such rotten offense when we played them. I’m sure the Panthers and Saints DC’s sent us gift baskets for Xmas, along with a few others.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:59 am
As big of a Revis fan as I was (still am) this team had too many holes to pay one non QB 16 mil. Maybe if the team was more stacked with talent and Revis was the missing piece like Dom & Schiano hoped I could see him getting 16mil. But I’m confident in the talent they got for Revis’s salary.
GO BUCS!!!
July 18th, 2014 at 10:59 am
Nicks is making $7 million. Can he actually run yet?
July 18th, 2014 at 11:04 am
Find out shortly.
July 18th, 2014 at 12:03 pm
ATV will star in this defense. I got over Revis the minute he was signed.
July 18th, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Nicks coming back will be more of a surprise than Tedford’s offense.
July 18th, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Buccfan37 Says:
July 18th, 2014 at 10:46 am
Yeah the offense stink stank stunk up the place last year. Some say we played tough top defenses, that had to be a factor in so few wins. Sure worthless, pathetic and embarrassing were the offensive results. But we Buc fans have been hanging on to the prospects of a better future forever it seems. New players, new coaching, new outlook and new promise is quickly approaching. Is’nt it great to be a Bucs fan? Go Bucs!
Louis Friend Says:
July 18th, 2014 at 10:54 am
@Buccfan37 – You could say we significantly helped those defenses earn their top ratings by playing such rotten offense when we played them. I’m sure the Panthers and Saints DC’s sent us gift baskets for Xmas, along with a few others.
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Most would acknowledge Matt Ryan as a “franchise QB”, yet he and the Falcons went 0-6 last year against those same TOP FOUR defenses last year (Sea,Car,SF, and NO). Maybe the Falcons got gift baskets too. I still say it matters a great deal WHO your opponent is, and how they are playing when you meet them.
tickrdr
July 18th, 2014 at 12:19 pm
Joe, you must’ve missed my comment on the ‘Playing With Matches’ article if you didn’t know Revis only had 2 picks last year so I’ll re-post(which I hardly ever do but the comment is relevant to this thread also).
Trust me, I like Revis but it’s not like we got ‘Revis Island’ Darrelle Revis last year. 50 tackles, 11 passes defensed, 1 sack, 2 INT in 16 games are decent numbers, but not “All World CB” numbers. If Verner can put up similar or better numbers and Johnson can produce 8 or more sacks, it’s well worth the tradeoff to me.
July 18th, 2014 at 1:00 pm
The TWO most overrated NFL players are REVIS and SHERMAN! I consider Verner an upgrade over Revis. After this year is over, Revis Island will be a long forgotten small piece of parcel.
L&L know exactly what they are doing. If Revis’s performance was worth the money, he would still be a BUC. I think the lack of confidence on JoeBucs stems from the last two coaches who have failed miserably and I dont blame you for being down on the changes. However, I dont see that happening a third time with Lovie, who’s coaching methods are proven.
July 18th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
@Tick
Most would acknowledge Matt Ryan as a “franchise QB”, yet he and the Falcons went 0-6 last year against those same TOP FOUR defenses last year (Sea,Car,SF, and NO). Maybe the Falcons got gift baskets too. I still say it matters a great deal WHO your opponent is, and how they are playing when you meet them.
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I agree. Our fluke 10-6 season is a perfect example of this statement. We were much worse than our record shows that year.
July 18th, 2014 at 1:51 pm
Yea few people tested sherman the best corner in the NFL, and he still had 8 ints. I can also recall a few missed oppurtunities that MR. Revis let slip through his fingers. I really doubt we miss him that much, I’d rather have Michael Johnson, Verner, and Clinton McDonald
July 18th, 2014 at 1:53 pm
BUM
July 18th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
Bucs are BANKING on Jonathan and Verner. I was stoked when I heard they got him from Tennessee. Banks seemed to be coming along as he played more and more. And like we’ve been saying all offseason if anyone can get the most out of any defensive player it is Lovie.
July 18th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
I don’t miss Revis at all. Way too expensive and although a top CB, his skill set was not the best fit for the Tampa 2 scheme we run. I think Verner will be a much better (and more affordable) fit for us. I look for the Bucs to be a top 10 D this year!
July 18th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
Our defense may have been decent at int’s but as a defense we were at the rear statistically. Our defense gave up to many winning drives in the waning minutes of too many games when our offense had us ahead. It’s so easy for Joe to pile on our offense because he doesn’t care for Glennon that he disregards the actual truth about our dreadful defense. …and by the way people’s Revis never covered the other teams #1 receiver unless he happened to line-up on Revis’s side of the field. Revis normally covered the #2 wr.
Personally, I will take M.Johnson and A.Verner over Revis’s million dollar a game salary all day long.
July 18th, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Couch Fan Says:
July 18th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
@Tick
Most would acknowledge Matt Ryan as a “franchise QB”, yet he and the Falcons went 0-6 last year against those same TOP FOUR defenses last year (Sea,Car,SF, and NO). Maybe the Falcons got gift baskets too. I still say it matters a great deal WHO your opponent is, and how they are playing when you meet them.
——————————-
I agree. Our fluke 10-6 season is a perfect example of this statement. We were much worse than our record shows that year.
_________________________________________
Even Peyton Manning, who AVERAGED more than 3 TD passes per game last year, was 0-1 against that Seattle defense.
And I agree it works the other way as well. Many players and teams put up big numbers against inferior competition. I’m not a fantasy football guy, but many coaches do “fine-tune” their rosters based on the game matchups for the day.
tickrdr
tickrdr
July 18th, 2014 at 9:09 pm
Wasn’t happy with the Revis signing,..never was.
July 18th, 2014 at 10:42 pm
How can anyone say Revis was not worth the loot? He gave up the fewest receiving yards in the NFL. So anyone who say dumb comments like he got burnt like Micheal Jackson certainly did not watch the same Bucs games i saw.
July 19th, 2014 at 5:51 am
Joe Says:
July 18th, 2014 at 10:28 am
The year he becomes 100% healthy we let him walk away, to the PATRIOTS.
Uh, huh. 🙁
——————
It’s unlikely he’ll ever be the same player he was pre-injury.
July 19th, 2014 at 8:50 am
@ DB55
Revis had a bad attitude? How is that?? I was also at that Lions game first row 50 yard line and very focused on Johnson Revis match up, didn’t see Johnson owning him?
July 19th, 2014 at 11:10 am
Revis is over rated and the Pop Star over paid for him to the detriment of the team. Revis said he took a pay cut to play for the Pats because they’re a contender. B.S.
July 19th, 2014 at 11:47 am
@bj n @ Canadian
Bad attitude = not wanting to play zone. I get he’s a cover corner but you have to play team football if you want to win. Furthermore after he gave up 4 catches for 61 tds to Calvin Johnson in the first half then he quit cuz his injury. Check out the highlights on NFL.com. It’s pretty pathetic for the highest paid #1 corner in the league, psst. And as for getting burnt see the Carolina, cardinals, and both saints highlights just to name a few. In one A saints receiver jogs into the end zone n Revis doesn’t even try to catch him just gives up on the play.
July 19th, 2014 at 8:20 pm
BYE BYE MEVIS, YOU NEVER WERE A TRUE BUCCANEER, JUST IN IT FOR THE MONEY