Julian Edelman, Welcome to Revis Island
Julian Edelman has been a busy man early on this season. Injuries to Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski have combined with the rookie struggles of Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson to make the fifth year man Tom Brady's number one receiver by default. As a result, Edelman is tied with Andre Johnson for the league lead in receptions (20) and is second only to Johnson in targets (27). To put that in perspective, Edelman's 20 receptions nearly doubles the output of the rest of the team's healthy options (11).
That production seems likely to draw the attention of the league's best cornerback Sunday. In case you live under a rock, the Bucs come into town with old Patriots nemesis Darrelle Revis, who made his name as the league's premier shutdown corner with the hated Jets under the hated Rex Ryan.
Brady has occasionally attacked Revis in their past battles, but that was when throwing to guys like Randy Moss and Wes Welker. If Revis can take away Edelman (an assignment the bigger and faster corner should be able to handle), Brady will be forced to turn to the likes of Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson and perhaps a returning Zach Sudfeld in the passing game.
When asked about the prospect of getting the Revis treatment, Edelman kept his focus on executing the offense. Via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald:
"I don't know. I'm expecting to go out there and try to do my job, whoever is on me, whatever coverage we see. Ultimately, right now, we're just thinking about going out there, getting these practices down and trying to take the stuff from the classroom to the grass."It's important to note that Revis is being used a bit differently in Tampa than he was in New York. With the Jets, Revis was usually left in man coverage to handle team's top receivers one-on-one (hence the "island" moniker). In Tampa, Greg Schiano has mixed in a healthy dose of zone coverage, reportedly to the star corner's discontent.
"You don't necessarily know what this team is going to do, so you've got to practice what you see on the tape and go from there and try to execute."
No matter what coverage he's in, throwing at Revis is something to be done at your own peril. One of the storylines of the game will be whether the Revis factor outweighs Brady's trust in Edelman (and his distrust in every other healthy receiver on the team). Last week, many were wondering if the defense could hold its weight and carry the offense to a win. This week, if the Bucs can shut down the run and take away Edelman, it will be the rookie receivers who will be forced to step up and make a difference for this team.
“I
don’t know,” Edelman said yesterday when asked if he expects to get the
Revis treatment. “I’m expecting to go out there and try to do my job,
whoever is on me, whatever coverage we see. Ultimately, right now, we’re
just thinking about going out there, getting these practices down and
trying to take the stuff from the classroom to the grass.
“You don’t necessarily know what this team is going to do, so you’ve got to practice what you see on the tape and go from there and try to execute.”
- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/09/notebook_julian_edelman_in_darrelle_revis_sights#sthash.r5cY10uv.dpuf
“You don’t necessarily know what this team is going to do, so you’ve got to practice what you see on the tape and go from there and try to execute.”
- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/09/notebook_julian_edelman_in_darrelle_revis_sights#sthash.r5cY10uv.dpuf
“I
don’t know,” Edelman said yesterday when asked if he expects to get the
Revis treatment. “I’m expecting to go out there and try to do my job,
whoever is on me, whatever coverage we see. Ultimately, right now, we’re
just thinking about going out there, getting these practices down and
trying to take the stuff from the classroom to the grass.
“You don’t necessarily know what this team is going to do, so you’ve got to practice what you see on the tape and go from there and try to execute.”
- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/09/notebook_julian_edelman_in_darrelle_revis_sights#sthash.r5cY10uv.dpuf
“You don’t necessarily know what this team is going to do, so you’ve got to practice what you see on the tape and go from there and try to execute.”
- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/09/notebook_julian_edelman_in_darrelle_revis_sights#sthash.r5cY10uv.dpuf
“I
don’t know,” Edelman said yesterday when asked if he expects to get the
Revis treatment. “I’m expecting to go out there and try to do my job,
whoever is on me, whatever coverage we see. Ultimately, right now, we’re
just thinking about going out there, getting these practices down and
trying to take the stuff from the classroom to the grass.
“You don’t necessarily know what this team is going to do, so you’ve got to practice what you see on the tape and go from there and try to execute.”
- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/09/notebook_julian_edelman_in_darrelle_revis_sights#sthash.r5cY10uv.dpuf
“You don’t necessarily know what this team is going to do, so you’ve got to practice what you see on the tape and go from there and try to execute.”
- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/09/notebook_julian_edelman_in_darrelle_revis_sights#sthash.r5cY10uv.dpuf
