Vikings Co-DC Andre Patterson talks about Everson Griffen starting
D.J. Wonnum was coming off a promising rookie year. Last offseason, Minnesota did not worry too much about the defensive end spot opposite Danielle Hunter — until the team re-signed Everson Griffen.
Wonnum earned starting reps at first, but last game Griffen took his old starting position back. Minnesota co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson talked about Griffen earning the spot:
“You judge him off of how he played on the other two teams (the Cowboys and the Lions),” Patterson said. “To me, he didn’t look like the Everson that I know and love. (Now,) he looks like Ev. You know, Zim and I got together late last week and said ‘hey, you know, he’s playing like the Pro-Bowl Ev that we know. And because of that, we should start him, but not change our plan that we have for him.'”
Asked whether the plan is to have Griffen starting still, Patterson responded with an “oh yeah.”
“He deserves it,” Patterson said. “If you’re playing good and you should be starting, then you should be starting. It’s nothing against D.J. — D.J. is getting better and playing good.”
The Vikings starting Griffen makes sense. The edge rusher has four sacks and six QB hits already. He has a PFF grade of 74.8. Wonnum got his first sack of the year against the Lions in Week 5. Maybe Wonnum can build off that success and take over the starting spot down the road.
For now, the 33-year-old Griffen resembles a younger version of himself. I’m sure Minnesota has no regrets about signing him late in free agency.
