MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen, a
self-described “knucklehead” early in his career, has been a team
captain the past three years. Each year, he’s getting more
comfortable speaking up with a voice that doesn’t sugarcoat the
truth for his teammates.
So when Griffen was asked after Wednesday’s OTA practice whether
this year’s team resembles the 2015 edition that won 11 games and
the NFC North or the 2016 squad that finished 8-8 and missed the
playoffs, the eighth-year pro said: “I don’t know. We’re in the
process of figuring it out.”
Coach Mike Zimmer’s defense finished sixth in the league in points
allowed (19.2), but it allowed 20 or more points in four of the
final five games after allowing 20 or more only four times in the
first 11 games.
“Being straightforward, we probably ran out of a little steam, a
little momentum,” Griffen said. “But I think we just had a lot on
our plate as a defense.”
That was Griffen’s way of telling the offense it’s time to step it
up. Last year’s offense finished 23rd in scoring (20.4) while
losing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater before the season, Adrian
Peterson in Week 2, both starting tackles by Week 5 and offensive
coordinator Norv Turner by the midway point of the season.
“We were out there on the field a lot, to be quite honest,” Griffen
said of the defense. “It’s a team game and we’ve just got to find
different areas to step it up. Special teams has got to step up,
the offensive side of the ball needs to step it up a little more,
defense we’ve got to step it up. It all works together.”
Never was that more evident than Week 15. The Vikings were 7-6,
still in the playoff hunt and facing a struggling Indianapolis
Colts team at home. The offense scored a season-low six points
while the defense gave up season highs in yards (411) and points
(36).
The Vikings, of course, have restocked their offense. They picked
up two new starting tackles (Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers) and a
running back (Latavius Murray) in free agency, took a chance on
embattled big receiver Michael Floyd and used their top two draft
picks on a running back (Dalvin Cook) and an interior offensive
lineman (Pat Elflein) who probably will start at center or guard
this season.
Count Griffen among those who believe Minnesota will be better on
offense, which in turn will make the Vikings’ defense better. And
fresher longer.
“I’m a true believer that iron sharpens iron, like coach (Mike)
Zimmer says,” Griffen said. “That’s what we’re doing out here each
and every day (in OTAs). It’s not about being physical, it’s about
making the guy next to you better. Competing each and every down,
learning how to compete, learning how to work hard. You’ve got to
create good habits. Once you create good habits, they stick for the
long run.”
###