Mr. Everything

Griffith does it all in Vikings' defensive secondary

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Posted: Thursday January 14, 1999 08:32 PM

One of the hardest-hitting safeties in the NFL, Griffith is on a collision course with Atlanta's big back, Jamal Anderson Scott Halleran/Allsport

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Robert Griffith was everywhere.

When Jake Plummer misfired, Griffith was there. When Orlando Thomas got hurt, Griffith was there. When three young defensive backs were pressed into action, Griffith was there for them, too.

He even played some special teams, returning briefly to the role that first allowed him to make his mark with the Minnesota Vikings four years ago.

Griffith might be listed as the Vikings' starting strong safety, but he did just about everything in the secondary during last Sunday's 41-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

That performance, which included two interceptions, earned Griffith NFL Defensive Player of the Week recognition.

"That was the best safety play I've seen in a long, long time," said Vikings defensive coordinator Foge Fazio.

Griffith is back in the spotlight again this week as Minnesota prepares for Sunday's NFC championship game against Atlanta. One of the hardest-hitting safeties in the NFL, Griffith is on a collision course with Jamal Anderson, who looks more like a battering ram than a running back when he breaks into the secondary.

"It's definitely a challenge for me," said Griffith, a second-team All-Pro. "I don't look at it like me against Jamal. It's their offense against us. I mean, they've got two great wideouts as well. I figure they're going to run the ball, they have to, to win the game."

Once again, Griffith's job will be multi-faceted.

He'll be back at strong safety at game time, with Thomas expected to return at free safety despite a hamstring injury that was only about 75 percent healed as of Thursday. But the Vikings once again figure to need the help of their young backups, and as usual Griffith will be a major part of Minnesota's run defense.

"Griff is very talented," linebacker Dixon Edwards said. "He knows his stuff, he knows every position."

Thomas was knocked out early in the second quarter against Arizona. Leading just 7-0 at the time and already playing without injured nickel back Ramos McDonald, the Vikings were forced to scramble to patch up their secondary.

With little-used backups Duane Butler, Anthony Bass and Antonio Banks forced into their most significant action of the season, Griffith seemed omnipresent.

Just listen to coach Dennis Green describe Griffith's day against the Cardinals. Pay attention, now.

"You have to go out and go play strong safety, then a guy gets hurt and you go play nickel," Green began. "Then you go back to playing strong safety and making calls like you're a free safety, then play free safety, then go back to strong safety."

That's tiring just listening to it. Griffith just shrugged when asked about it all.

"I was just myself," he said. "I mean, we've got guys who know what they're doing. We practice four days a week, and I was just out there settling guys down. We had Bass in the game, and it's funny because he already knew [what to do]. He just wanted to say, 'OK, Griff.' That's all it was."

Griffith's development this season has been one of the main reasons the Vikings' defense has been such a worthy complement to their high-scoring offense.

He got off to a fast start, with five interceptions in the first five games. That included two in the Monday night win at Green Bay on Oct. 5, when the Vikings first announced themselves as title contenders.

But while he remained an integral part of Minnesota's run defense and coverage schemes, Griffith went without an interception until Sunday. Both of his interceptions against the Cardinals came in the second quarter, helping the Vikings to a 17-0 lead.

He spent most of the rest of the day looking like a traffic cop, but still found time to make six tackles, tying for second on the team.

"That looked like a good football player making some great plays," Thomas said. "I mean, he's done an exceptional job. It was tough standing on the sidelines, but to know that he was in there, he did a great job."

 

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