Inside the Numbers – The 2009 Darrelle Revis Story!

Fans, writers, pundits and analysts look at one thing. Coaches, coordinators and game planners look at another. For the former, statistics are the end all be all. “Look as his numbers” they will say. Sometimes, not always but in some instances, numbers don’t tell the whole story as may be the case here. For 2009 Charles Woodson has won the Defensive Player of the Year. Statistically he had a better season than Darrelle Revis who finished 2nd in the voting, both ahead of Elvis Dumervil who led the NFL in Sacks and finished 3rd. Let’s take a closer look, inside the numbers to see if perhaps Revis deserved the award, regardless of the numbers.

Charles Woodson statistically had, 4 forced fumbles – 9 Interceptions – 74 tackles – 3 Defensive Touchdowns – 3 sacks – started all 16 games. Now let’s look at Darrelle Revis’ line, 0 forced fumbles – 6 Interceptions – 54 tackles – 1 Defensive Touchdowns – 0 sacks – started in 15 games.

On the surface, the casual fan and sports pundit or writer will say, yes Woodson had the better season and will get my vote for DPOY. Let’s dig deeper!

Darrelle Revis was thrown at 98 times and allowed 37 receptions, that is 37.8% completion percentage. He allowed 381 yards at 10.3 yards per catch. After the catch, Revis gave up 141 Yards and gave up only 2 TD’s. He had 22 passes defensed and had held QB’s to to a paltry 31.0 QB rating. Charles Woodson on the other hand was thrown at 63 times and allowed 34 receptions, that is a 54.0% completion percentage. He allowed 398 yards at 11.7 yards per catch. After the catch, Woodson gave up 158 Yards and gave up 5 TD’s. He had 21 passes defensed, that is a 60.3 QB rating.

So, as you can see Revis was thrown at more and held his opponents to less. This is what the Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan had to say…

“I would like to congratulate the people who voted for Darrelle Revis,” he said. “These guys obviously really know the game. A number that I think would be interesting would be eight, and no, that’s not the amount of touchdown passes that Green Bay gave up against Arizona. That is the number of touchdown passes we gave up all season, and the biggest reason for that is Darrelle Revis.
“There’s plenty of things to look at. No. 1 defense in the National Football League by 35 yards a game. No. 1 in scoring, even though we gave up seven returns when the defense wasn’t on the field. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”

If you can read through the sarcasm you get the point of what Ryan is trying to make, that Revis didn’t just pile up numbers, he shut folks down! Let’s go Week by Week!

Week 1 – faced Andre Johnson one of the best WR in football.
Johnson – 4 catches for 35 yards and 0 TD’s

Week 2 – faced Randy Moss one of the best WR in football.
Moss – 4 catches for 24 yards and 0 TD’s

Week 4 – faced Marques Colston
Colston – 2 catches for 33 yards and 0 TD’s

Week 6 – faced Terrell Owens
Owens – 3 catches for 13 yards and 0 TD’s

Week 11 – faced Randy Moss
Moss – 5 catches for 34 yards and 1 TD

Week 12 – faced Steve Smith
Smith – 1 catch for 5 yards and 0 TD’s

Week 15 – faced Roddy White
White – 4 catches for 33 yards and 0 TD’s

Week 16 – faced Reggie Wayne
Wayne – 3 catches for 33 yards and 0 TD’s (Editors note: Colts starters only played half the game)

Week 17 – faced Chad OchoCinco
Ocho – 0 catches for 0 yards and 0 TD’s

So as you can clearly see against the best WR’s in the league, Revis shut them down. NFL offenses are going to try over and over to get the ball into their best players hands. That is the reason for his high thrown at rate and the fact that Revis is on an island! He didn’t get safety help and most NFL QB’s are taught that when your best WR is one on one, you throw it to them. The numbers from above showed that didn’t work!

Often times in sports the numbers don’t tell the whole story. We feel that Darrelle Revis is not only the best Defensive player in the game but also one of the best in the league period. He is a young talent that will soon see balls come his way on a more and more limited basis as teams will shy away from him as Champ Bailey and Nnamdi Asomugha has experienced after their success.

Not to take anything away from Charles Woodson who did have a great season and we tip our cap to him. Woodson made big plays when the Packers needed it. He was constantly around the ball and made things happen. Instead we want to bring to light the other side of football. The side that some sports writers don’t mention. The fact that Darrelle Revis changes the way that teams have to attack the Jets. The fact that the best player on the best Defense in the league shut down the oppositions best players…sometimes it’s not just about numbers, but it’s about being out on that Island and owning the land!