vigilantgrrl":23oj2m09 said:
The problem is the kind of money he would want in an extension. I could go along with the suggestion of 7-9 million a year....but he is not worth more than that. We need to break open the bank for an impact player like Adams. We also need to see how Dunbar works out. It might come down to Dunbar vs. Griffen for the extension. I would like to see if Flowers takes a step up this year. I have not given up on him. As far as Shaquem, I am fine with him on the practice squad this year.....but if Shaquill is going to get extended he needs to know that we will probably move on from Shaquem.
I think he is suffering a bit from being the 'best' of the 'bridge' guys in the void that was between the LOB defenses of old and what looks to be a return to respectability under Adams, Wagner, et al. He was the heralded understudy to Richard, had praise heaped on him and then 'developed' in year two as part of what i call the 'nice guy' , antithesis of what the LOB was, defense - Bobby, KJ, McDougald, Reed. All great players (Wagner obviously HOF) but all quiet, lead by example / build guys up behind the scenes. His two previous years were characterized by the fall of the LOB (ET 3 and Sherm were jaded), and this weird purgatory state the defense was in last year. Kid grew up in that. He doesnt have the aggressive, 'dog' mentality. And where Bobby and KJ can go about their business quietly and still destroy the opposition with their experience and skill, Griff i think took on the persona of the D's leadership over that period but without the killer instinct. It remains to be seen whether the old school 'Dog' aggression that Adams has re-instilled can take root in the young guy. he might just be more of a 'finesse' CB, that lacks the killer edge that typically characterizes PC defenses. he was the best of what we had. We will see if he can rise to what looks like a new bar.
And i disagree that he should get a pass because he was up against great wr's. He lacked aggression on a few occasions making tackles and just seemed to be a step wrong a few times. Just wasn't with it the entire time is what it seemed. And i dont even necessarily fault him for the bust on the TD.
If i were playing psychiatrist (and i'm not - dont even play one on tv) i would say he is still a little caught up in being the guy that replaced Richard Sherman and that that was his calling card because he was often a bright spot on an average at-best defense and woeful secondary. You can't live on image. He has the skill, but Ballers Ball.
