Cornelius Griffin: Do You Feel He's Not A Force Anymore?

[12thMan]

I've been wondering about Griffin for some time now. Not to be reaching or just trying to start another thread, but is it me or is it that he's just not that much of a force in the middle any longer? No, I'm suggesting the Griffin is horrible, but he's not making his presence known in the middle it seems.

He's probably still regarded as our most steady defensive lineman, but I often feel like teams tend exploit us up the middle or to the left side of their line.

Thoughts?

[MTK]

I really haven't noticed his play being an issue to be honest. The run D has been pretty stout all year, I'm sure he's had something to do with that.

[12thMan]

And that's why I'm not really too sure because our defense has been stout. I guess, I just want to see more tackles for losses and that sort of thing. But all in all, I'm sure he's doing what he's supposed to.

[BrunellMVP?]

I think you have to give credit to the D this year which includes Griff...run wise, we've been pretty good up the middle, plus there are always the intangibles...bottom line, i'm not sure, but i'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[SouperMeister]

Grif and Montgomery occupying blockers at the line of scrimmage has allowed our LBs to fly to the ball without having to shed blockers. I am surprised at how well the DL has played as a unit. Gotta give Greg Blache credit for improving that part of the D with essentially the same cast as last year.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Grif and Montgomery occupying blockers at the line of scrimmage has allowed our LBs to fly to the ball without having to shed blockers. I am surprised at how well the DL has played as a unit. Gotta give Greg Blache credit for improving that part of the D with essentially the same cast as last year.

Very good points and most people over look this as the reason LB's can have such great stats.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I dunno. Griff is our best all-around d-lineman. He can play the pass or the run. Moreover, he's getting pressure up the middle that is preventing QBs from stepping up to avoid Andre Carter's outside pressure. I have to think that Griffin's play is part of the reason why Carter is having success. Moreover, we've been stopping the run and getting decent (but not excellent) pressure with our front four and Griff is still the biggest part of that unit IMO.

On an unrelated note, is it just me or does Andre Carter look like he's added even more muscle? He just looks bigger this year.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I dunno. Griff is our best all-around d-lineman. He can play the pass or the run. Moreover, he's getting pressure up the middle that is preventing QBs from stepping up to avoid Andre Carter's outside pressure. I have to think that Griffin's play is part of the reason why Carter is having success. Moreover, we've been stopping the run and getting decent (but not excellent) pressure with our front four and Griff is still the biggest part of that unit IMO.

On an unrelated note, is it just me or does Andre Carter look like he's added even more muscle? He just looks bigger this year.

Carter? I think he's more cut up this year. If that's possible.

[T.O.Killa]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I dunno. Griff is our best all-around d-lineman. He can play the pass or the run. Moreover, he's getting pressure up the middle that is preventing QBs from stepping up to avoid Andre Carter's outside pressure. I have to think that Griffin's play is part of the reason why Carter is having success. Moreover, we've been stopping the run and getting decent (but not excellent) pressure with our front four and Griff is still the biggest part of that unit IMO.

On an unrelated note, is it just me or does Andre Carter look like he's added even more muscle? He just looks bigger this year.

Hey, I think that Griffin has put very little, to no pressure and has not collapsed the middle. I think that is the part of his game that has gotten weak. He is no longer the pass rusher he used to be. I think Carter would have a couple more sacks, if he was collapsing the pocket the way he used to.

[JWsleep]

Griff is having a great year, IMO. He's one of the main reasons (along with Montgomery), that we can rush 4 and survive. He's getting good push on the pocket, occupying blockers (frees up London), and stopping the run himself. Hope he stays healthy! (In other words, what the Sheriff said!)

[Rajmahal33]

I think as long as we don't hear about him and we are stopping the run, he is doing a good job. DT's may be able to get sacks but i'd rather not have him wear himself out against double teams to get the QB. I think as long as he's collapsing the pocket like he does and we are getting sacks as an overall unit, i'd say he's fine.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[saden1]

He is getting double teamed all the time. He is playing great against the run (standing up O-linemen all the time). He's not really getting to the passer much though (can't blame him with two guys on him all the time).

[MTK]

AC is a freak, I swear I could work out 24/7 for a year and not looking anything like that. The man has some great genes in the muscle category, looks like he was carved out of stone.

[GTripp0012]

The only measuring stick I have for Griffin is that he hasn't been as dominant on the interior this season as Montgomery has been. I hope and feel that this is because Montgomery has been so good, but it's also possibly due to Griffin falling off the face of the earth. The former is far more likely.

At age 30, he's definately a step slower, but defensive linemen tend to decline slower than most positions after the age of 30 (see: Sapp, Warren), so I think his immediate future as a contributor to this team is safe.

He could become a cap casulty in the future if we feel we can replace him cheaper.

[GTripp0012]

I'm going to open a new thread for this when the article comes out, but I'd thought I would mention this here:

Due in part to poor defensive performances from Pittsburgh and Tennessee, the Redskins rank No. 1 in Football Outsiders' defensive DVOA through the first 7 weeks.

This of course means that this week's game will feature the No. 1 offense vs. the No. 1 defense. Quite a turn around from last season for both these units, though the Redskins far moreso than the Pats.

EDIT: The Pats actually slipped behind the Colts in offense. Makes sense, since Manning just put a 29 spot up on Jacksonville, and the Colts clearly have the best running game in the NFL. So...No. 1 D vs. No. 1a offense. I love these kinds of games.