Film Room: Everson Griffen finally proving he can be a complete pass rusher
Everson Griffen rushed towards the line of scrimmage hard from the left side. Unblocked, he tried to figure out the Washington Redskins offensive play call. It looked like a zone stretch until a tight end zipped past him, indicating a play-action pass.
Griffen pivoted, turned to his right into the backfield and ran directly after the quarterback, who pump faked and scrambled toward the middle. Griffen stretched out his left arm and missed. Instead of slumping, he picked up his pace and hustled again after the zig-zagging quarterback. Eventually, he wrapped his arms around the quarterback’s hips at the line, notching his first sack of the game.
In college, Griffen was a startling talent, he was athletic, fast, quick and explosive all at once. In his junior year - his last at USC - he logged seven sacks. Scouts were curious why he didn’t have more. When they rolled the tape, they immediately knew why. He was lackadaisical. He seemed disinterested at times, despite being capable of demolishing left tackles. In truth, he could have done whatever he wanted with any blocker. A shoddy work ethic, and a turf toe injury, held him back.
Still, the Minnesota VIkings liked him, and four rounds into the 2010 NFL Draft, they selected him. He was going to be their project. It was risky, considering fourth rounders were expected to contribute and start sooner rather than later. The reward, however, has been big.
After four seasons of developing, both as a person and player, the Vikings rewarded him with a five-year deal, totaling $20 million in guarantees. It also included a $100,000 workout bonus. Another risky investment after 17.5 sacks in those first four seasons, with a possibility of him reverting back to his lazy ways like so many others do once they were paid. He earned the money, though, and, through development, a chance to start after longtime defensive end Jared Allen left in the 2014 offseason.
Griffen has developed since becoming a starter, let alone his USC days. Watch him and he’ll throw several different moves at blockers. Spins, clubs, rips, hand swats, speed rushes. His athleticism and quickness enable him to perform them.
Against the Redskins in Week 9, he made two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams look silly. The commentators had just finished raving about Williams, saying he was one of the best at his position, when Griffen kick-started with his staggered left leg and rushed wide with two long steps, the second a hard cut that forced Williams to widen his legs and slide out.
When he did, Griffen took a third, short step and threw a flying left elbow, turned his back and then threw a flying right. The second embarrassed Williams, folded him and dropped his head like a child does after being slapped by a father. All he could do was drive his right shoulder into Griffen, who, had the left guard not slid over to help Williams, would have shredded the pocket and drilled the quarterback.
Pass-rushing artistry goes beyond athleticism as Griffen has learned. He can’t blow by NFL left tackles like he did in college because almost everyone in the NFL is athletic. It goes beyond all natural talent and delves into technique, which many struggle with. Griffen once did, too, until he honed his craft, improving the little things that separate the league’s best from everyone else.
A minute after spinning past Williams, Griffen toyed with him again. He took two steps straight and a third inside, a heavy left stamp that made Williams stop for a moment and extend his arms to contact him. Griffen slapped them away, raised his arms up, and squared his hips to face the quarterback.
By squaring his hips, he had a direct path to the quarterback, who was hitting the top of his drop as Griffen closed in. Griffen lowered his inside shoulder as Williams ran after him, who hoped to push him wide of the pocket, and forced a throw-away through the back of the endzone.
He’s most dangerous when he combines his technique with his athleticism. It’s what he’s worked toward since being drafted. It really shows when a left tackle gets his hands on him. He is neither shut down nor shut out. He stays active, placing his hands in different areas of the tackle’s breast plate to create separation. Once he distances himself, he shows off crafty handwork.
With more than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Griffen hurried past Williams, who set short. Williams was expecting an inside move at a time when Griffen showed no inkling of it. Who could blame Williams, though? He’d seen everything up to this point. A simple speed rush seemed, well, too simple. But that’s what it was.
As Griffen torqued his body around the corner, Williams tried to jab him in the chest with a long left. When he did, Griffen used the arm against Williams by grabbing it with his right hand as leverage and uppercutting it with his left, freeing himself. At the last second, the quarterback threw the ball, causing Griffen to be a step short of his second sack.
It was one of five hurries he recorded on the afternoon. He has 19 pressures this season, 11th best among 4-3 defensive ends, per Pro Football Focus. He also has nine sacks, which is the most among ends and tied for second in the NFL. Tackles are struggling to match his athleticism, arsenal, and, yes, even his relentless motor.