REBUILDING REVIS ISLAND
The News’ inside look at how former Jet great remade himself after disastrous 2016 season
work like the guys that he had been paid to stop all these years. He wanted him to run routes like a wide receiver. It was a smart and innovative way to push the seven-time Pro Bowler.
Revis started running comeback routes and post-corner routes as if he were A.J. Green, Julio Jones or Antonio Brown. It was a proactive approach designed to give Revis a fuller picture of each play.
“If you’re in trail position on the receiver, you have to run the route better than the receiver to get your hands on the ball,” Villani said. “If you run it like a DB, you’re playing catch up. That’s what DBs are used to: Reacting and playing catch up. Sometimes I wanted him to do the same exact pattern like a receiver. Then he’d run the drill again like a DB.”
Boldin, one of the most physical receivers in the past 15 years, offered sage advice to help Revis better understand the psychology of a wideout. He gave the cornerback tells on various routes and broke down how pass catchers of different sizes and strength liked to leverage their bodies on various patterns on different spots on the field.
“I’m not sure if he’s ever worked out with a receiver who’s been able to give him different tips and different ways that you can tell what’s coming,” Boldin said. “Those are the types of things that we discussed that he felt would be helpful. I’m pretty sure he’ll implement them in his game.” Villani also enlisted professional MMA trainers to help sharpen Revis’ repertoire at the line of scrimmage. Revis didn’t have to float like a butterfly or sting like a bee, but the cross-training was beneficial. “We didn’t need to teach this guy how to fight,” Villani said. “We needed to teach him how to left jab with his left foot forward and right jab with his right foot forward. Make him ambidextrous at the line. When you really study UFC fighters and boxers, the footwork that they use is so similar to the footwork Revis will use on the line of scrimmage. When he goes up and jams somebody, he’s in a fight. “He’s going to throw a punch and he’s going to keep somebody in front of him. That’s like cutting off the ring from someone. He doesn’t turn into a DB until that receiver clears his hips. Once the receiver clears his hips and gets out of the fight zone with Revis, then that’s when what I do comes in.”
Boldin knew Revis was on the right path after playing pickup hoops with him during their training sessions.
“One of the tell-tale signs whether or not you’re back is getting on the basketball court,” Boldin said. “It’s all reaction on the court. How do you cut? You see exactly how a guy moves… and he was real fluid.”
Revis came out of hibernation last week looking like a new man. His face was noticeably thinner. He might be sufficiently prepared, but one lingering question remains.