Seahawks’ Shaquill Griffin ‘learning something new every day’ from Richard Sherman

It sure helps to work under Richard Sherman when you’re a rookie in the NFL, and Seahawks’ cornerback Shaquill Griffin said learning something new every day. There’s one lesson, though, that was difficult to pick up: Seattle’s step-kick technique.

That’s why, Griffin told 710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton, he set up a mirror in his room to practice the move in his down time.

“(That was) the toughest part, for sure,” Griffin said.  “I have a huge mirror in my room where now I just kind of sit here and just step it, kind of look at it and see what I need to do differently.

“In college I was just playing. You see the ball, try to get the ball, you know, I wasn’t so technical. I was trying to learn it, but at the end there I was just playing ball. And now, it’s more technical; everybody is just as good, so now I have to play smart and not as hard. That’s something that (Sherman) told me.”

Griffin said he’s trying to mature as quickly as he can so that he can prove he’ll be prepared when the team needs him to contribute. And the effort appears to have paid off; several members of the Seahawks have praised the rookie’s poise and willingness to learn, including Sherman and coach Pete Carroll.

During one of Griffin’s earliest encounters with Sherman, the All-Pro cornerback said he wouldn’t throw too many lessons at Griffin for fear of overwhelming the rookie — but this week, it seems, the real challenges begin.

“(Sherman) said, ‘I’m going to start throwing stuff on you, because I can see that you’re ready and I know you can handle it,'” Griffin said. “And I want him to understand that I am ready for it.  And that’s perfect. I get a chance to learn from someone that plays at such a high caliber, and it’s only going to make me better.”

Listen to Griffin’s entire interview with John Clayton here.