Patrick Peterson/Darrelle Revis Week 1 Rookie Comparison

by Joe Zuppa on Sep 14, 2011 4:00 PM MDT in NFL Regular Season

Since being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals as the ﬁfth overall pick, there have been high expectations of Patrick Peterson, the cornerback out of LSU. He has been considered the "next great shutdown corner" and compared to New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Hit the jump to see how they compared in week one of each of their rookie seasons.

In week one of Peterson's rookie season, he faced a rookie quarterback coming off a Heisman Trophy/National Championship college season in Cam Newton. His assignment was to cover receiver Steve Smith who was coming off the worst season season he's had, other than his rookie season, in his ten year career. Smith was listed as the number one receiver on the Carolina depth chart. The Carolina Panthers were the worst team in the NFL last season (emphasis on last season).

Revis faced a very different opponent in week one of his rookie season in the 2007 New England Patriots. The Patriots were led by, four time Pro Bowler, three time Super Bowl Champion, and two time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady. (Those were the accomplishments at that time) Revis was slated to cover a slot receiver who was newly
acquired from Miami for a second round pick, Wes Welker.

On September 11, 2011, Steve Smith had eight receptions for 178 yards (32 percent of last year's receiving yards) and two touchdowns (equals his total receiving touchdowns from last year) against the Cardinals. Peterson was not responsible for the 77 yard touchdown pass to Smith as he was sent on a blitz. He was however picked on for
most of the afternoon by the rookie quarterback who was supposed to be "inaccurate".

Eventually the fourth quarter came and Patrick Peterson hit a home run with an 89 yard punt return for a touchdown which would give the Cardinals a 28-21 lead and became the eventual ﬁnal score.

Revis, in 2007, held Wes Welker to 6 catches, 61 yards and no touchdowns in an eventual loss to a team at would go undefeated until losing in the Super Bowl. He also recorded seven tackles to Peterson's ﬁve. The Jets lost that game 38-14.

On the surface it may look like Peterson doesn't match up to Revis, but let's not forget, Coach Whisenhunt game planned to stop the run putting Patrick in man coverage with no help for most of the game. The Cards won and it worked. The Jets likely game-planned to try and slow down Brady and the passing game. They lost and it didn't work.

There are literally thousands of variables that go into how a player performs and realistically it is very difﬁcult to compare or predict how good a player will be based on their opening week performance. If that were the case, we would guess that Cam Newton will be the best quarterback of all time seeing as he statistically had the best
performance ever for a quarterback during his ﬁrst start.

I don't think any of us believe that will happen.

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Comments

Peterson actually looked very good in man coverage (Though the TD he gave up was in man), it was the zone coverage he struggled with, he often played too soft and left too big of a cushion between himself and the recevier. The 13 yard Receptions he allowed to Lafell on a 3rd and 12, we have good pressure on that play too, Peterson was jsut playing too soft in coverage. There is at least one other play we got good pressure, but Peterson allowed the ball to be completed in fornt of him because he coverage was so soft.

He looked fine in Man to Man coverage being able to use his size, athletic ability and technique to cover well, but when he was in zone coverage he struggled, that is something that comes with time, and it is something that leads me to beleive his ceiling is elite.

by khodder on Sep 14, 2011 4:41 PM MDT reply actions

Agreed

This article was written yesterday afternoon before I watched the replay and did notice good coverage on some man coverage plays. I actually feel like the game plan had him playing so soft too. Curious to see what changes next week.

by Joe Zuppa on Sep 14, 2011 5:55 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

And

on the touchdown play he actually had great coverage. It was just a great catch by an elite reciever with a hand in his face.

by Suns Fan For Life on Sep 15, 2011 11:13 AM MDT up reply actions

Not to be overly critical

but what is the point in titling an article as a Player A to Player B comparison, if the conclusion is going to be
There are literally thousands of variables that go into how a player performs and realistically it is very difﬁcult to compare or predict how good a player will be based on their opening week performance.

by MinnePhil on Sep 14, 2011 5:36 PM MDT reply actions

To spark thought...

and strike conversation of the players. And that’s it.

by DustGrazer on Sep 14, 2011 5:44 PM MDT up reply actions

That last sentence was written so people didn’t think that I actually feel like peterson can’t be an elite CB just because he gave up a lot more yards than Revis in his very first game. The comparison was for fun.

by Joe Zuppa on Sep 14, 2011 5:45 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

well to be completely honest

you had me reading the article eagerly and and paying close attention only to be disappointed at the end thinking it was a waste of time. Maybe its just me, but I think you lost your readers with the conclusion.

But thanks for the articles. The content is what makes me come back to ROTB everyday, even though I’m just a lurk with the odd disparaging critique :)

by MinnePhil on Sep 14, 2011 10:45 PM MDT up reply actions