Fennelly: Revis wasn’t 100% but made Bucs’ D better 
A Bucs defense that was a joke last season seemed encouraging at times, far from ghastly. Darrelle Revis (24) is a reason why. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTOS By Martin Fennelly | Tribune Staff Published: December 26, 2013 at 10:58 PMTAMPA — He is the highest-paid defensive player in the National Football League.His team has four wins.A waste?That’s not on Darrelle Revis.The Bucs have gotten bang for their 16 million bucks — a defense that was a joke last season seemed encouraging at times, far from ghastly. Revis is a reason why.He has changed a secondary that helped surrender near-record passing yards in 2012. His confidence permeated this defense, which has gone from 29th in total defense to 13th. Last season, the Bucs gave up an extraordinary 69 pass plays of 20 yards or more. Through 15 games, that number is 40, though Drew Brees and the Saints should chime in Sunday.Pro Bowl selections will be announced Friday night, and Revis will probably not get a fifth selection. But he has made a difference, even while operating at less than 100 percent.He sees light, not darkness, for this defense.“A couple of pieces away, it really is,” Revis said. “At this point, we seem to be trying to look a little bit ahead. We have one more (game) left. But to answer your question, we are a couple pieces away, (from) getting some new talent in here and being an awesome defense.“Yeah, I think the players are fine, it is cool. I think we do need to change some things this offseason as we move forward as players and as coaches and figure things out and try to turn the win-loss column to more wins. There are some adjustments we’ve got to make in the offseason, but we will.”He wasn’t specific, but use your imagination: schemes, personnel, coaches included — what shouldn’t be on the table, really? Revis expects to have input.“This is my seventh year,” Revis said. “After every year I’ve talked to coaches and players and tried to figure out a way how we can be better the next year. I’m sure the coaches are going to be very open to that and players are going to be very open to talking and try to figure out what was the problem and what we need to fix moving forward to be a better team next year.”Revis has looked quite human at times — the double-move touchdown by Larry Fitzgerald, Ted Ginn beating him for a touchdown in Carolina, and where was Revis on that double reverse last Sunday in St. Louis? Is he still all in? But for every moment like that, there were a dozen snaps where teams didn’t even try to mess with the Island, little or no action his way, at least passes.“I think that’s been the case most of the year,” Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said.It’s been a trial by fire for rookie corner Johnthan Banks, and second-year safety Mark Barron, who felt the brunt of teams playing away from Revis. But they’ll be better for it in 2014. The 2014 Revis should be better, even if he never catches up to his old self.“Yeah, it has been a tough year for me individually, coming off of the ACL and just trying to get back into football shape,” Revis said, “and just trying to get back into the football mode — because I was out of it practically the whole year last year.“Being away from football that long, it does take a toll on you physically and mentally. This year was physical and mental at the same time, just trying to get back and also being traded and being with a new team. And trying to get comfortable with this defensive scheme because it was totally different than what I came from. So, it has been a rough year. But at the same time, things happen like that, and you have to take your bumps and keep on pushing.”It’s easy to think this whole season was a waste — Revis was supposed to be a finishing touch, and probably would have been if the Bucs offense had not evaporated to the extent that it did. In a sense, bringing in Revis made no sense if the Bucs didn’t believe in Josh Freeman anymore, and apparently Greg Schiano didn’t. He might not get to see the 2014 Revis.
I've said this from the start. Sure he's a good player and makes this team better but unless this team can contend in the next few years ( unlikely without a franchise QB), then it was a waste of two draft picks.
It was absolutely 100% not a wasted move. I keep saying this, but if used properly, he changes the game on that side of the ball. He doesn't only lock down a specific receiver. It's not that simple. It changes how you can role coverage, who you can double, different pressure schemes, and so on. He is a once in a generation type defensive back. Add him to the best DT in the league right now in McCoy and the best LB in the league right now in David and this defense has the makings of something damn special. If they get Sheridan's and Schiano's collective dumb asses out of town and bring in a REAL defensive coordinator, this team will have a top 5 defense, I guarantee it. There is no doubt in my mind. The coaches are holding this team back defensively. There are definitely holes on offense, but this defense will be championship caliber with the right scheme. I am positive about that.
Not saying Revis isn't any good. But he only gives us a 4-5 year window. If we can't contend within that time then we would have been better served with drafting a couple of guys that could have been here for the next 10 years.
I've had the most fun watching the defense this season, and that wouldn't be possible without Revis.
In my skewed view of the world, building a more talented team is never a bad thing. Apparently, I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
Not saying Revis isn't any good. But he only gives us a 4-5 year window. If we can't contend within that time then we would have been better served with drafting a couple of guys that could have been here for the next 10 years.
Him in the right scheme makes this defense elite and championship caliber for the next 4 to 5 years. There is a .01% chance that a player taken with the pick traded for Revis would be as good as him.
In my skewed view, building a more talented roster to lose 3 more games than you did with the less talented roster is just kind of pointless. And again we are facing a very questionable future because if the question mark at QB. Unless Glennon is our Tom Brady or we find our Russell Wilson in this upcoming draft then yeah it was pointless to go all in trading a 1st and a 3rd for a franchise CB.
In my skewed view, building a more talented roster to lose 3 more games than you did with the less talented roster is just kind of pointless. And again we are facing a very questionable future because if the question mark at QB. Unless Glennon is our Tom Brady or we find our Russell Wilson in this upcoming draft then yeah it was pointless to go all in trading a 1st and a 3rd for a franchise CB.
More talent = bad. Got it.No one and I mean no one, predicted the collasal flop put on by Freeman this year. It was an epic failure, even for Freeman. Looking at last season, you could have logically said that Revis could have won us another two games last year. That puts us in the playoffs and Revis a good sign. Freeman turned out terrible and in hindsight was an extreme weakness. But go ahead and use that 20/20 hindsight brother, it makes you look oh so smart.
Didn't say more talent =bad. I said it is pointless if in 4 years we have nothing to show for it. Because those draftees would most likely still be here. No hindsight involved.
It was a win now move and they went 4-12. Bombinik goes out with another bomb. The Jets were in a no win situation because they couldn't tag him and they got a miracle at our expense. Giving up a #1 and #3 to pay a non-QB MVP QB money is one of the reasons were a bottom of the barrel franchise. Hopefully the next GM comes in, converts some of that money into a roster bonus to make that contract tradeable and we get something for him.
In my skewed view, building a more talented roster to lose 3 more games than you did with the less talented roster is just kind of pointless. And again we are facing a very questionable future because if the question mark at QB. Unless Glennon is our Tom Brady or we find our Russell Wilson in this upcoming draft then yeah it was pointless to go all in trading a 1st and a 3rd for a franchise CB.
More talent = bad. Got it.No one and I mean no one, predicted the collasal flop put on by Freeman this year. It was an epic failure, even for Freeman. Looking at last season, you could have logically said that Revis could have won us another two games last year. That puts us in the playoffs and Revis a good sign. Freeman turned out terrible and in hindsight was an extreme weakness. But go ahead and use that 20/20 hindsight brother, it makes you look oh so smart.
It should be obvious Schiano was expecting Freeman to flop. That's why they didn't give him a contract extension and drafted Glennon.
Less obvious Dom thought he would flop
Getting Revis this year was insurance he would be 100% recovered NEXT year, after the new QB had a year under is belt. I have to think our staff knew Revis would take to to get all the way back. Makes perfect sense to me. It also gave him a year to help our younger DBs develop and get accustomed to woring with him before next year. As I keep saying, NEXT year we will be making our playoff run in earnest. Ths year was a build and develop year...
Getting Revis made no sense...whether we believed in Freeman or not. Paying a single CB $16 million in FA would be bad enough, just overpaying for a guy. Trading those picks made it an epic waste.
It was absolutely 100% not a wasted move. I keep saying this, but if used properly, he changes the game on that side of the ball. He doesn't only lock down a specific receiver. It's not that simple. It changes how you can role coverage, who you can double, different pressure schemes, and so on. He is a once in a generation type defensive back. Add him to the best DT in the league right now in McCoy and the best LB in the league right now in David and this defense has the makings of something damn special. If they get Sheridan's and Schiano's collective dumb asses out of town and bring in a REAL defensive coordinator, this team will have a top 5 defense, I guarantee it. There is no doubt in my mind. The coaches are holding this team back defensively. There are definitely holes on offense, but this defense will be championship caliber with the right scheme. I am positive about that.
The '80s are calling and they want their parachute pants back.Game has changed, one CB, no matter how good he is, does not make the impact you think he does.
