Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) returns an interception past Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) in the third quarter in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
By Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
PHOENIX — St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher knows a thing or two about good defensive backs. His earliest clues came when he played defensive back himself at the University of Southern California from 1977 to 1980.
However, those clues not necessarily came from watching himself on game films, but more from focusing on the entire unit.
Fisher is sometimes referred to as the “other defensive back” in a group that included Dennis Smith, Joey Browner and Ronnie Lott — arguably the best defensive backfield in college history.
“Yeah, with or without me, you might say that was a pretty darn good group,” Fisher responded with a polite understatement.
After a broken leg realistically ended his brief pro career, Fisher began honing his skills while on injured reserve as a quasi-player/coach for the Chicago Bears’ great defense in 1985. And now he is well known and respected for his 17 years as head coach with the Houston/Tennessee franchise and the last three seasons with the Rams.
It is against that impressive background that Fisher was asked to weigh in on the discussion about this season’s two All-Pro cornerbacks — Seattle’s Richard Sherman and New England’s Darrelle Revis — each of whom has been tagged at times as the best in the business.
Their respective play will be a key factor when they face off Sunday during Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale.
Sherman, at 6 feet 3, 195 pounds, was Seattle’s fifth-round pick out of Stanford in 2011. He combines height, aggressive play and mad ball skills acquired while playing wide receiver to be an outrageously impactful player, evidenced by 24 interceptions in 64 regular-season games and another two picks in nine postseason games.
For those who missed some of his highlights, he is willing to discuss them, often to the consternation of his opponents.
Revis, at 5-11, 198, was drafted out of Pittsburgh in 2007 by the New York Jets in the first round (No. 14 overall). He quickly lived up to his draft hype with his coat-of-paint coverage that earned him a reputation as the best shutdown cornerback in the NFL. He was nicknamed Revis Island — a commentary on how he isolated receivers from the game.
Despite a knee injury in 2012, Revis regained that rep over the last two seasons. But, unlike Sherman, Revis has played for multiple teams as he became a Back for Hire after 2012 and signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay in 2013 and then with the Patriots in 2014.
In all, he has 23 interceptions in eight years and none in nine postseason games.
When Sherman burst onto the scene and began to make noise as a cornerback — literally and figuratively — the two argued the merit of their respective reputations in an infamous Twitter feud. But as they prepared this week for the Super Bowl, they seemed to bury the hatchet. . . . for now.
“Sherman plays the left corner and he does great,” Revis offered when asked to compare. “He’s great at what he does. I’m not really knocking him. He’s a playmaker and that is what he does for his team.”
Sherman, always opinionated and talkative, says they share a common bond in playing what both agree is the toughest position in football and they actually have significant respect for each other. He doesn’t care who thinks what regarding which of them is better.
“It doesn’t bother me too much, honestly,” Sherman said. “I kind of go to the beat of my own drum. … I have my own way of doing things and it might not align with everybody, but I’m going to keep it that way.”
So, with the issue at a diplomatic standstill, Fisher was called on to add perspective, maybe even settle the argument of who is better. Fisher knows both players well, particularly Sherman, whose Seahawks played the Rams play twice a year. The Rams are one of only four teams to beat the Seahawks this season.
“Obviously, they are both great, great players,” Fisher said. “They are asked to play different roles in each of their defensive schemes.
“Sherman plays left corner and stays on that side. He works that side in coordination with safety Earl Thomas and he knows Thomas has his back, so he uses his great size and athleticism to take gambles that pay off. It is great teamwork as well as physical ability.”
Revis, however, usually plays against a specific receiver, normally the opponent’s best, regardless of where that is. He will line up left, right, outside or in the slot.
“In that regard, Revis may be considered more of a classic shut-down corner who goes all over the field and is often in one-one-one coverage,” Fisher said.
In the last two seasons, while Sherman built his reputation on only the left side, Revis has been all over the field. One scouting report that kept track shows this breakdown:
–Wide left 522 times.
–Wide right 271 times.
–Slot left 125 times.
–Slot right 155 times.
Some argue that Revis’ ability to play anywhere on the field and take on difficult man coverage without a safety net makes him more versatile and able to work in any defense. This is one reason he is so highly valued on the free agent market, where he sold himself each of the last two seasons.
Fisher isn’t buying that whole pitch, especially if it is supposed to prove Revis is the better player.
“Can either of them do what the other does?” Fisher asked. “I can’t say one way or the other. They are both outstanding
“Tom (Patriots quarterback Tom Brady) will need to be patient and take the quick underneath or check-down passes and be cautious of the zones and Sherman along that side,” Fisher said. “Russell (Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson) must make sure he knows where Revis is and respect that.
“End of the day, they are both great shutdown corners in their own way and offenses must respect them at all times or wind up paying a big price.”
–Frank Cooney, founder and publisher of The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com, covered the NFL and the draft since the 1960s and is a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
