Like any team, the Seattle Seahawks always strive to improve the team, whether by trade or through free agency. Their latest acquisition might not be the biggest name, but he was certainly the best choice available.
As all good 12s know, the "Always Compete" sign is no longer in place at the VMAC facility. That doesn't mean the Seahawks have abandoned the concept. That's just as true when it comes to their personnel as on game day. They might not all be splashy names like DeMarcus Lawrence, but the right player matters, no matter what their role will be.
This player will certainly compete for a starting role. Whether he takes that spot or not is almost immaterial. What matters is that he's the right choice, not only as a position player but as a teammate. He brings a lot more to the table than leadership, but it can't be discounted, either.
Shaquill Griffin was by far the best choice for the Seahawks
John Schneider may have taken a while to pull the trigger on this deal, but former Seahawks star Shaquill Griffin is back in the fold once more. He may not be a threat to displace Devon Witherspoon - okay, we know he isn't - but even Riq Woolen knows he'll need to be on his A-game to hold his starting gig. That is, of course, the entire idea. Not necessarily to displace Woolen or Jobe, but to push them to be their best.
It's far more likely that Griffin will force out other players, like veterans Tyler Hall and Shemar Jean-Charles. I believe two undrafted free agent rookie defensive backs will make the roster. Yes, I'm probably crazy, but what else is new? After all, I thought Eddie Lacy was a good addition to the team. So I'm not exactly infallible.
As for Griffin, though, I have zero doubts that I've got this one right. FanSided's excellent Las Vegas Raiders site, Just Blog Baby, had a recent observation about another free agent cornerback who is still on the market. I agree, Jack Jones does deserve a training camp invite. Just not in Seattle.
Jones had what can only be termed a miserable season in Las Vegas last year. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him 102nd of all corners. Yes, they actually rated Josh Jobe below him. Which is pretty odd when you look at their stats. I'll throw in Griffin's as well. Let's get mathy!
Player | Rcp % | PBU | Int | TD allowed | Passer rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jones | 65.9 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 115.8 |
Jobe | 60.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 82.8 |
Griffin | 54.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 76.2 |
Okay, that wasn't too mathy. I don't know about you, 12s, but it seems that allowing 10 touchdowns means you're not doing a very good job as a cornerback. It's not like Jones is a tackling machine, either. He whiffed on 17.4 percent of his tackles. Jobe missed 9.3 percent, while Griffin only failed on 4.3 percent of his. That's an outstanding tackling percentage at any position, let alone at CB.
Jones was fine as a backup in New England and has had four pick-sixes in just three seasons. But there's a reason the Patriots shipped him to the Raiders. Pete Carroll knows great defensive back play as well as any in the league. And Carroll decided that Jones wasn't worth keeping on the roster. That tells me even more than his stats.
Griffin has never been known as a ballhawk, it's true. Now entering his ninth year in the league, I'm sure Mike Macdonald, Aden Durde, and Karl Scott aren't expecting him to suddenly be that guy, either. But what they will get is steady, consistent play. That steadying influence is exactly what the Seahawks need in their defensive backfield this year.