The Seattle Seahawks may not have the infamous Legion of Boom at their disposal anymore, but the guy who replaced Richard Sherman on the right side, Shaquill Griffin, has quietly put together an excellent third NFL season.
“He continues to play really well,” coach Pete Carroll said on Monday afternoon. “His numbers are starting to add up about his passes defensed and all. He’d been very consistent.”
Griffin has yet to record an interception this season, but he does have 25 combined tackles and six passes defended, nearly reaching the eight that he had all of last year.
Additionally, Griffin has earned a coverage grade of 83.5 from Pro Football Focus, which ranks sixth among all cornerbacks through the first six weeks of the season.
Griffin had a very good rookie year, but took a pretty big step backward in 2018. He was trying too hard to make plays, and the pressure he put on himself resulted in an uneven campaign.
However, Griffin came into 2019 with a refreshed mindset, and his skills are on full display through the first third of the season.
“Shaq has just been playing great football,” Carroll continued. “The jump where he went year one to year two, which really didn’t happen, honestly, it just didn’t show as much, is now totally visible. He’s banking on all the two years that he’s had. Fit and strong and confident.”
Griffin will be counted on in a big way in Week 7, when the Seahawks host the Ravens and star quarterback Lamar Jackson at CenturyLink Field.
