In his seven NFL seasons Darrelle Revis has gone against the best of the best when it comes to NFL receivers. So he knows that of which he speaks when giving scouting reports of upcoming opponents.
According to New England's new No. 1 cornerback, he and his secondary teammates have to prepare for maybe the speediest of all challenges this week as they get ready to deal with Miami receiver Mike Wallace.
"He's probably the fastest receiver in the league," Revis said. "We all know that."
Wallace caught a career-high 73 passes for 930 yards and five touchdowns as a big-money free agent addition to the Dolphins last fall. While his catches were up, one more than any of his four seasons with the Steelers to open his career, Wallace's 12.7-yard average and five scores were both career lows. He did finish relatively strong, though, with four touchdowns in the final six games of the season and two 100-yard games in that stretch.
The 6-0, 200-pound deep threat has faced New England four times in his career. He has a pair of 100-yard games, including eight catches for 136 yards and two scores in his first meeting with the Patriots in 2010. He also hit Bill Belichick's defense for six catches for 105 yards in Miami's upset against New England last December, including a 39-yard score.
Revis says the familiarity that he has against Wallace – the Dolphins target had just four catches for 15 yards against Revis and the Bucs defense last fall – can certainly help in the preparation process, as video study of the playmaker's speed doesn't necessarily do him justice.
"Film can play tricks on your eyes sometimes when you watch it. Until you get out there, film speed and game speed is two totally different things," Revis said. "I played against him in the past. A lot of guys on this team have. And they know how fast he is."
While New England's new-look pass defense may face a solid test with Wallace, Charles Clay, Brian Hartline and the Dolphins aerial attack in the heat of Miami to open the year, it's a test that Revis says he and the entire group are excitedly looking forward to.
"We've been waiting for this for a while and now it's here," Revis admitted.
