Everson Griffen vs. the Chargers (6 Tackles, 4 QB Hits, 1.5 Sacks)

During the 2014 offseason, the Vikings gave Everson Griffen $8 million per year to replace the aging Jared Allen at DE. The deal was seen as a big overpay at the time, as Griffen, Allen’s backup in the previous few seasons, was a player with potential, but no proven production in the NFL. Once he got his chance to start, however, he proved his worth. He played excellently last year, notching 12 sacks on the season. This season, he’s looking to improve upon last year’s numbers, and he’s off to a great start, with 3 sacks in his first three games so far.

The Vikings’ game against the Chargers was Griffen’s best game of the young season. He was disruptive in the run game and consistently got pressure on Philip Rivers against King Dunlap, the Chargers’ LT. First we’ll take a look at Griffen’s impressive work rushing the passer, and then we’ll look at how he helped in the run game:

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Pass Rushing

1-10-SD 31 (Q2, 7:09) (No Huddle, Shotgun) P.Rivers pass short left to J.Phillips to SD 46 for 15 yards (E.Kendricks) (E.Griffen).

The Chargers didn’t throw the ball very much in the first quarter, and Griffen did nothing of note in the passing game. That’s ok for a DE, because you only need to impact a handful of passing plays to make a real difference in a single game. On this play, you can clearly see Griffen make an impact, with a little help from his teammate. Griffen is playing a pass rush game, also known as a stunt, with DT Sharrif Floyd at the bottom of the screen. Floyd’s job is to “crash” and Griffen’s job is to “loop” on this stunt. As you can see, this means that Floyd attacks #74, the LG, at the snap, then moves towards the LT, #77 King Dunlap. Griffen then loops behind Floyd, and through an open lane up the middle. The biggest problem with stunts in the passing game is that they take time to develop, so a smart QB can recognize them and get the ball out before the unblocked pass rusher arrives. Philip Rivers is pretty good at his job, and does just that. However, Griffen still affects the throw. Because Griffen is in his face, Rivers has to shorten his throwing motion, and his throw is off target. TE John Phillips bails him out with a great one-handed catch, but this play should be considered a positive for Griffen, who definitely affected the throw. #96 Brian Robison also did a very good job on this play, and was able to get a hand on Rivers from the back.

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3-7-SD 49 (Q2, 5:22) (Shotgun) P.Rivers pass incomplete short right to D.Woodhead (E.Griffen).

On this play, Griffen shows considerable power. Keep in mind that King Dunlap, who he’s facing one-on-one, is a large human being, even by offensive line standards. He’s listed at 6’9″ and 330 pounds. On this play, Griffen does what’s called “converting speed to power” very well. Off of the snap, he fires directly upfield for two steps. This is indicative of what’s called a “speed” rush, where the DE essentially tries to run a circle around the OT to get to the QB. If you watch Brian Robison on the previous play he does this, and he also tries it here, although he’s unsuccessful. Griffen, on the other hand, only shows the speed rush initially to set up his next move: a bull rush straight at Dunlap. Dunlap, who was trying to set up for the outside rush, is caught off guard by Griffen’s powerful burst inside. Griffen does an excellent job of getting low (notice that when they first make contact Griffen’s helmet is entirely below Dunlap’s, and driving upward and backwards. This puts Dunlap on skates, and Griffen is able to push him back towards Rivers, where he throws Dunlap to the side and hits the QB from behind. Once again, he affects the throw, and this time it’s enough for an incompletion as Rivers did not have time to complete his throwing motion.

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1-10-SD 20 (Q2, 2:42) (Shotgun) P.Rivers sacked at SD 12 for -8 yards (E.Griffen).

On this play, Griffen unleashes a devastating spin move to bring down Rivers. Once again, the spin move is set up by Griffen feigning the speed rush. On speed rushes, OTs are taught to use the DE’s momentum against him, and drive him further upfield so he can’t “turn the corner” and get to the QB. Everson’s spin on this play uses Dunlap’s teachings against him. He goes far enough upfield that Dunlap lowers his head and starts to try to drive him backwards, and then Griffen violently spins around, entirely out of Dunlap’s reach. Griffen’s spin move isn’t as deadly as Dwight Freeney’s was in his prime, but it’s among the best in the league. On this play, it puts him with a clear path to Rivers, and the QB has no choice but to take the sack.

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2-18-SD 12 (Q2, 2:03) (Shotgun) P.Rivers pass incomplete short left to S.Johnson (E.Griffen).

Sometimes, being a pass rusher isn’t about trying to tackle the QB. NFL teams employ a variety of quick passes, such as screens, to neutralize a pass rush. You can’t sack the QB if the ball has already left his hands. On this play, the Chargers are trying just that. Griffen recognizes the screen, and reacts really quickly. He is able to bat Philip Rivers’ pass down before it gets to Stevie Johnson, the intended target. King Dunlap’s movements were what tipped Griffen off. Notice that at the snap he immediately goes forward and to the left, ignoring Griffen. Griffen knows the offense wouldn’t just leave him with an unblocked shot at the QB, so he realizes something is up and is able to react very quickly to it.

I should also note that Griffen jumps offside before the ball is snapped on this play. He has a tendency to do that. However, on this play he does a very nice job of getting back onside before the ball is snapped to avoid being called for a penalty.

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2-10-MIN 34 (Q2, 1:25) (Shotgun) P.Rivers pass deep left to K.Allen for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN. MIN-X.Rhodes was injured during the play.

On this play, I’ve chosen show just the first half of it because this article is focusing on Griffen, and also because Xavier Rhodes took a pretty nasty hit that looked like it was a severe concussion on this play and I don’t want to see it any more than I have to. This play did result in a TD for the Chargers, but it was a coverage breakdown and I think the Vikings’ pass rush did a good job. Once again on this play, Griffen displays his power and pushes Dunlap back into Rivers. If Allen hadn’t been open, this likely would have been a shared sack between Griffen and Robison, because Rivers would not have had time to find another target.

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3-10-MIN 14 (Q4, 14:17) (Shotgun) P.Rivers pass short middle intended for S.Johnson INTERCEPTED by C.Greenway at MIN 9. C.Greenway for 91 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Here we see a third strong example of Griffen’s bull rush. He just puts Dunlap on skates back to Rivers, pushing him so far that the big LT actually collides with his QB. This causes the throw to be high, which causes even bigger problems for the Chargers as the ball is tipped in the air and Chad Greenway intercepts it. The play isn’t over for Griffen, however. He could have rested on his laurels or jogged back towards Greenway’s return, because he didn’t really have a chance to affect the play. However, he hustled all the way downfield, and finally reappears on screen when Greenway is at about the 10 yard line. That shows great hustle from Griffen, and really the entire Vikings defense should be commended on this play for rallying to the ball and giving Greenway a convoy down the field for the return TD.

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4-6-SD 49 (Q4, 10:30) (Shotgun) P.Rivers sacked at SD 45 for -4 yards (sack split by S.Floyd and E.Griffen).

This is the .5 in Griffen’s sack stats, and it’s an effort sack. Joe Barksdale is in at LT and the Chargers have the TE chip Griffen before he goes out to run his route. This pushes Griffen too far upfield, and Barksdale has a good angle to stop him from getting to Rivers. Unfortunately for Barksdale, Rivers has been forced to move in the pocket, and tried to go to the spot that the TE left vacant. Sharrif Floyd gets most of the credit for this sack, but Griffen was there to hit Rivers from the back and make sure he went down.

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1-10-SD 37 (Q4, 5:58) (Shotgun) K.Clemens pass incomplete deep left to K.Allen.

Here’s an example of a play where Griffen affects the throw, but doesn’t lay a hand on the QB. He’s facing Barksdale again, and this time he’s able to get around the edge. His pass rush forces Kellen Clemens (who was substituted in for Rivers) to have step ever so slightly up and to his left. It also forces him to rush the throw a little, and it causes an overthrow to Keenan Allen.

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Run Defense

2-10-SD 6 (12:13) M.Gordon right guard to SD 8 for 2 yards (L.Joseph, E.Griffen).

Sacks are what make the highlight reel and what get edge rushers paid, but run defense is very important as well. In this game, Griffen also played well against the run. On the Chargers’ second play from scrimmage, Griffen already made an impact. He has no right to make this tackle, but he gets down the line so quickly that he’s able to join a pile of defenders to bring Gordon down. It starts right from the snap, where you see the entire OL move to their right. Griffen is lined up heads up against the TE on the right side (from this perspective). You can see that the first thing he does when the TE engages him is execute a swim move by bringing his arm over the TE’s head. He then enters a mess of bodies that makes it hard to keep track of him, but he flows well with the line and eventually ends up on top of the ballcarrier for an assisted tackle.

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1-10-SD 47 (7:52) (No Huddle) M.Gordon up the middle to SD 47 for no gain (X.Rhodes, G.Hodges).

Although he doesn’t get a tackle on this play, Griffen is key to stopping it. Run plays are designed to go to one side, but also prevent a cutback lane if that side is closed. This play is designed to be run to the right side of the offensive line (or, from the perspective of the gif, the left), but you can see Linval Joseph beat the center and get in the way. Therefore, Gordon decides to cut the run back. The cutback lane should be between DT Floyd and Griffen, but Everson has spoiled that. He dominates the TE, and forces him down the line of scrimmage, closing the cutback lane. Gordon has to try to kick the run one gap further to the outside, where Xavier Rhodes is waiting unblocked to make the tackle.

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3-2-MIN 45 (Q1, 6:39) M.Gordon up the middle to MIN 44 for 1 yard (E.Griffen).

On this play, you’ll notice Griffen flow down the line once again. This time, unlike the play before, that’s how the blocking is designed by the offense. They want Griffen flowing in that direction too to allow Gordon a spot to cutback. Griffen, however, is alert, and recognizes the cutback. When Gordon tries it, Griffen abruptly stops moving in that direction and throws the TE off of him. Then he, along with safety Harrison Smith, brings Gordon to the ground.

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1-10-SD 46 (Q2, 6:47) (No Huddle) D.Woodhead left tackle to SD 47 for 1 yard (A.Barr, S.Floyd).

On the first three run plays, the runs were designed to be away from Griffen. On this play, the run is directly at him. This makes his responsibility on the play different. When you’re on the front side of the run as a DE, your job is typically to contain the edge, which should force the runner inside towards the linebackers, who are theoretically waiting to make a tackle. On this play, Griffen doesn’t do a stellar job, but he gets it done. It takes a little while, but he forces King Dunlap perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, which is what you want to do. This means that Woodhead can’t kick the run outside, because Griffen would be able to come free and tackle him in the backfield. Instead, Woodhead has to settle for a run inside, where there isn’t much room and he only gets a yard.

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2-1-SD 42 (Q3, 1:48) M.Gordon right guard to SD 40 for -2 yards (E.Griffen).

This play doesn’t show particularly great technique by Griffen, but it does show hustle. He’s unsuccessful at moving King Dunlap, although he also doesn’t let himself get moved, which is a positive. Gordon gets stuffed, but not brought down. Once Griffen sees this, he disengages and rushes towards Gordon, reaching him for the tackle.

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2-7-SD 14 (Q4, 7:58) (Shotgun) B.Oliver left end to SD 17 for 3 yards (E.Griffen, S.Stephen).

On this play Griffen does a good job of recovering after getting fooled, and hustles to make the tackle. The Chargers are running a draw play. On a draw play, you have the offensive line block like it’s a pass play, and then wait until the pass rushers are upfield some to hand the ball off. Theoretically, this takes the defensive line out of the play and gives the runner a free lane into the LBs and secondary. On this play, it almost works. Griffen gets too far upfield, and Oliver is able to run through the hole that Griffen vacated. The Vikings defense in general did a good job defending this play. Anthony Barr was able to get into the backfield and dive at Oliver’s legs, which slowed him up even though it didn’t bring him down. Gerald Hodges did a good job of getting in front of the LB to block Oliver’s forward path. Shamar Stephen and Everson Griffen did a good job of catching up to Oliver and making the tackle.

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Last Sunday, Everson Griffen was one of, if not the most impressive defender on the Vikings. He created havoc in the pocket on passing downs, and helped put a stop to a number of running plays. He appears to be following up his burst onto the scene in 2014 with another stellar performance in 2015. Time will tell if he can keep up this level of play.