Film Breakdown: Shaquill Griffin Becoming Latest Seahawks Shutdown Cornerback

Frustrated by a disappointing second season, Griffin adopted a new training and nutrition program this offseason. The result? He’s no longer chasing Richard Sherman’s shadow and looks the part of a Pro Bowl cornerback.

By all accounts, Shaquill Griffin endured a challenging second season for the Seahawks after taking over as the new starting left cornerback in place of long-time star Richard Sherman.

As Griffin has referenced numerous times over the past several months, he felt he put too much stock into individual stats and trying to replicate Sherman’s production. Pressing on the field, he struggled with inconsistent performance in coverage and as a tackler, earning one of the lowest grades (54.7) for a qualified cornerback from Pro Football Focus.

Giving himself a “D grade” for 2018, Griffin went back to the drawing board this offseason and overhauled everything from his nutritional program to film study habits. He arrived at training camp at 194 pounds, 12 pounds lighter than his playing weight from the previous season.

So far, his revamped approach has paid dividends on the field for the Seahawks. Through six games, Griffin has made the leap coach Pete Carroll hoped to see from the young defender last year, producing 25 tackles and six passes defensed.

"Shaq has just been playing great football." Carroll said on Monday. "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 continued his stellar play with one of the best games of his career against the Browns last Sunday. Quarterback Baker Mayfield rarely tested him in coverage, but when he did, the young cornerback made him pay.

Mayfield targeted Griffin five times and completed two passes for just 14 yards. He deflected two of those passes, including getting his hand on the ball as Mayfield tried to squeeze a throw to Jarvis Landry in the end zone, allowing teammate Tedric Thompson to make a diving interception.

"He continues to play really well. His numbers are starting to add up about his passes defensed and all." Carroll commented. "He’d been very consistent. A huge play on the goal line. It was a great break on the ball. It was a great job of getting the ball tipped up so Tedric could make his play."

For his efforts, Pro Football Focus rewarded Griffin with an 83.0 game grade, the highest for any Seahawks defender in the 32-28 win. Through six weeks of the season, he has an 80.6 grade, which ranks among the top 10 players at his position.

What has allowed Griffin to make such substantial improvements in his third NFL season? Check out my latest film breakdown as I review his outstanding performance in coverage and as a run defender against the Browns last weekend.