Minnesota Vikings: How Michael Griffin Fits With the Team
By John Laird
The Minnesota Vikings have recently completed a deal that brings former Tennessee Titans safety Michael Griffin to the team. Although it’s not a flashy signing, this deal could prove to be a solid addition for the defensive backfield.
The Minnesota Vikings were able to lure Michael Griffin to bolster their defense after being cut by the Tennessee Titans. Griffin had a solid 9 year tenure in Nashville and can excel if the right kind of talent is surrounding him.
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Griffin came out of Texas University as a ball hawking safety. He proved to be that during the early stages in his career. Later in his career however, his play started teetering a bit. He wasn’t the same player he was in the early stages of his career and that can be blamed on a couple of things, most notably the talent around him.
When the talent on the Titans defense started to slowly get worst and worst, Griffin’s production suffered as well. When the Titans defense had players like Keith Bulluck, Cortland Finnegan, Chris Hope, and Albert Haynesworth that’s when Griffin played his best. That might seem a pretty obvious thing to say, but take a closer look at what I’m saying here.
Too often the 9-year pro was asked to do too much, which didn’t tailor to his strengths. The Titans took a natural ball hawk and turned him into a strong safety more or less. Griffin does best when he isn’t the expected to be the best player in the secondary. Don’t mistaken that for him lacking in leadership because that’s never been a question for him. When Griffin isn’t asked to make up for the lack of talent in the secondary, it just allows him to play to where he’s more of a natural fit.
You add that to a solid Minnesota defense and it could be a rebirth for the former Pro-Bowler. I’m not saying he’ll wind up back in the Pro Bowl, but will be a great player to have as a swing safety to back up both Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendajo.
Along with those safeties, the Vikings have good defensive talent in Anthony Barr, Everson Griffin, Xhavier Rhodes, among others. That automatically takes the pressure off of Griffin unlike the situation he was forced to deal with in Tennessee. All that talent allows him to be the natural player he is, something he hasn’t had in years.
Griffin also brings durability to the table. Missing only 3 games over the course of 9 seasons. As a veteran safety, Griffin has continued to keep getting better in the tackling department as well, racking up 101 tackles in 2015.
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I understand most Minnesota Vikings fans don’t have a great feel for who Michael Griffin exactly is, and that’s ok. You’ll witness the heart he brings to the game and easily grow a love for #33 with the dreads flowing out of the helmet.