Healthy again, EG explains why Sheldon Richardson is 'music to my ears'
Defensive end Everson Griffen pointed to defenses of Mike Zimmer’s past coaching jobs as examples of why a “dominant” three-technique defensive tackle is needed. Griffen, speaking to reporters Tuesday from the Vikings’ new Eagan headquarters, expects both problems to be in the past in 2018.
“It bothered me,” Griffen said. “If anybody has had a torn plantar fascia — I completely tore mine.”
Griffen had 10 sacks in eight games before the injury. He finished the year with a career-high 14 sacks in 17 games. Now he said the injury is behind him as Vikings players participated Tuesday in offseason workouts.
“It’s doing great,” Griffen said. “I feel good.”
The Vikings needed a full-time defensive tackle next to Linval Joseph, so they signed Sheldon Richardson to a one-year, $8 million contract in March.
With some refining, Richardson can free up Griffen to make more plays off the edge.
“Bringing in Sheldon Richardson is music to my ears,” Griffen said. “I love seeing that, because the fastest way to the quarterback is up the middle. If he’s getting pressure up the middle and push up the middle, that means we can use more speed and we’re not getting as many chips.”
http://www.startribune.com/healthy-again-everson-griffen-explains-why-sheldon-richardson-is-music-to-my-ears/480710001/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
“ is dominant,” Griffen said. “He’s got to learn how to pass rush a little bit, but that’s why we’ve got the best D-line coach in the NFL. is going to help him tremendously, because that’s what he does.”
Patterson deserves a big raise if he hasn't gotten one already. Truly a great position coach.
Richardson is going to amplify this defense. Glad to hear Griffen is doing much better. Patterson is an excellent coach. It's pretty obvious how much his players love him. He has the ability to have fun with his players and be focused and disciplined with them too.
Richardson’s potential impact cannot be understated...with no pocket to step up to, QBs will be sitting ducks for the edge guys...corners will have to cover for less time...that AA gap blitz look becomes more frightening...I expect Zim to use Richardson like he did Geno Atkins...
Have we heard if he had surgery to repair the tendon? Some reports suggest a complete tear is sometimes just left as is, but I really know nothing about this stuff.
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