BRADY HENDERSON

Henderson: CB Shaquill Griffin has a chance to play right away — if he can grasp the Seahawks’ technique

May 22, 2017, 9:35 AM | Updated: May 24, 2017, 4:52 pm

With DeShawn Shead out, third-round pick Shaquill Griffin could fill a big role as a rookie. (AP)...

With DeShawn Shead out, third-round pick Shaquill Griffin could fill a big role as a rookie. (AP)

(AP)

RENTON – During his first week at Seahawks headquarters, all the way on the other corner of the country from where he’s lived his entire life, Shaquill Griffin had a conversation about the Pacific Northwest weather with fellow rookie Delano Hill. He figured Hill was used to gray skies and cool temperatures, having grown up in Detroit before playing at Michigan. But he was incredulous when Hill told him that his Wolverines practiced outside in weather like that. Griffin, who’s from Dayton Beach and played at Central Florida in Orlando, couldn’t imagine.

“I said, ‘What?! Man, if it hit 60 we were going inside!’” Griffin recalled after the first day of Seattle’s rookie minicamp, which was forced indoors due to rain. “So that’s totally different. Being in Florida my whole life, it’s totally different. But he told me today, Delano, he just said, ‘Man, it’s something you’ve just got to get used to.'”

Something else Griffin will have to get used to is the way the Seahawks want their cornerbacks to play. How quickly he does so will determine how quickly the third-round pick becomes a contributor in Seattle’s defense, which has a starting spot up for grabs with DeShawn Shead coming off knee surgery.

O’Neil: What we learned from Seahawks rookie minicamp

Cornerbacks in the Seahawks’ defense are mandated, above all else, to not get beat deep. They’re taught to play what’s known as the step-kick technique, which is designed to help them establish the proper position in press coverage in order to prevent receivers from getting behind them. It requires patience and precision, and because it’s not common throughout the NFL, the technique is usually foreign to anyone new to Seattle’s defense.

“We have a real specific approach to how we do this,” coach Pete Carroll said, “and we know there’s a learning curve they have to go through.”

That helps explain why success has rarely been immediate for young cornerbacks in Seattle’s defense. Of the seven the team drafted during the first seven years under Carroll and general manager John Schneider, the only one who filled a significant role as a rookie was Richard Sherman, who entered the starting lineup midway through the 2011 season after injuries pushed him up the depth chart. Walter Thurmond, Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane didn’t become regular contributors on defense until they had spent a year or two as understudies. Tharold Simon made five starts in his second season but never panned out. Neither did Eric Pinkins or Tye Smith.

Veteran cornerbacks have had trouble grasping the step-kick technique, most notably Cary Williams in 2015. He said it wasn’t until warmups before the final preseason game that year that he started to feel comfortable with it. Williams struggled in coverage and lost his starting job after 10 games. When the Seahawks released him a few weeks later, Carroll cited his difficulty in picking up the step-kick as part of the problem.

“This takes a lot of discipline,” Carroll said during rookie minicamp. “It takes quite a while.”

As Sheil Kapadia detailed in this ESPN.com piece, the step-kick technique looks like this: instead of immediately backpedaling at the snap of the ball, the cornerback waits for the receiver to make the first move. He steps with his outside foot while staying square to the line of scrimmage, engages the receiver with a jam and kicks back in whichever direction the receiver releases. Then he “stays on top,” which means not letting the receiver get behind him.

“It’s totally different for me,” Griffin said. “It’s a whole new technique, but I feel like I’m picking up on it pretty well. It’s something that I’m going to continue to work on.”

Gee Scott: Shaquill Griffin will be household name for Seahawks

As rare as it’s been for rookie cornerbacks to play right away in Seattle’s defense, the door is open for Griffin. Shead, who has started for the last season and a half at opposite Sherman, isn’t expected to be ready for the start of 2017 and possibly not until the second half as he recovers from surgery to repair a torn ACL. That leaves a vacancy at right cornerback.

Best-case scenario for Griffin is that he beats out Jeremy Lane and Neiko Thorpe for that job, which would mean Lane remaining in the No. 3 role he’s filled the last three seasons. If Lane wins the job, Griffin could still find his way onto the field when the Seahawks’ defense goes to its nickel package and brings in a third cornerback. In that scenario, Lane could slide back inside to the slot with Griffin coming in to replace him on the outside.

The Seahaws were in nickel more than 70 percent of the time last season, which means Griffin has a good chance to carve out a significant role as a rookie even if he doesn’t end up winning a starting job.

But he’ll have to grasp Seattle’s technique, which first means unlearning much of what he was previously taught about the position.

“That’s one thing they say: whatever you learned in college, throw it out. After I just let all that stuff go it’s just time to learn something new and that’s the main thing,” Griffin said. “I’m just trusting what the coaches are telling me and I’m definitely coachable, so whatever they’re telling me I’m just trying to pick it up in the fastest and best way that I can.”

Brady Henderson

Rees Odhiambo, a 2016 third-round pick, will compete with Matt Tobin to start at left tackle. (AP)...

Brady Henderson

Tom Cable: Rees Odhiambo, Matt Tobin are Seahawks’ preferred LT options

Tom Cable brought a bit of clarity to the Seahawks' plans at left tackle in the wake of George Fant's season-ending knee injury, saying Tuesday that Rees Odhiambo and newcomer Matt Tobin are the top two options.

7 years ago

Left tackle George Fant suffered an injury in the first half of Friday's preseason game. (AP)...

Brady Henderson

Seahawks injury updates: George Fant set for surgery, K.J. Wright returns

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Monday that left tackle George Fant is expected to be back by next season from the knee injury that will sideline him in 2017.

7 years ago

Matt Tobin, 27, started 21 games over seasons with the Eagles. (AP)...

Brady Henderson

Seahawks acquire OL Matt Tobin in trade with Eagles

The Seahawks have acquired offensive tackle Matt Tobin in a trade with the Eagles, making another move to shore up their offensive line after losing left tackle George Fant for the season.

7 years ago

Luke Joeckel played left tackle for his first three NFL seasons. (AP)...

Brady Henderson

Luke Joeckel? Rees Odhiambo? A look at the Seahawks’ LT options with George Fant out for the season

The Seahawks need a new plan at left tackle with George Fant out for the season. Moving Luke Joeckel there is one option, writes Brady Henderson.

7 years ago

Michael Bennett on Justin Britt standing by his side during the national anthem Friday night: “I ...

Brady Henderson

Justin Britt stands by Michael Bennett during national anthem: ‘A very emotional moment’

Seahawks center Justin Britt showed his support for teammate Michael Bennett Friday night, standing by him as Bennett remained seated during the national anthem.

7 years ago

Left tackle George Fant suffered an injury in the first half of Friday's preseason game. (AP)...

Brady Henderson

Seahawks’ George Fant needs ACL surgery, likely out for season

The Seahawks' offensive line was dealt a massive blow with left tackle George Fant suffering a knee injury Friday night that will likely keep him out all season.

7 years ago

Henderson: CB Shaquill Griffin has a chance to play right away — if he can grasp the Seahawks’ technique