Griffin earns praise from coordinator

The Vikings cornerback has taken his game up a notch with veteran Antoine Winfield missing.

By judd zulgad

December 4, 2009 at 2:53AM

After making a nice interception in the end zone and recording six tackles in a victory over Chicago last Sunday, Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin was asked if that was his best performance. "I don't believe so," Griffin responded.

Well, there's at least one person who disagrees with him. Coordinator Leslie Frazier said Thursday that Griffin's play was about the best he had seen since taking over the Vikings defense in 2007. "He really stepped up and played extremely well for us, both tackling and covering," Frazier said. "He has passed that hand [injury] that kind of affected him earlier in the season. He's using his hands again, which allows him to do other things to complete his game as a corner. He played an outstanding game for us on Sunday."

Griffin has played the past five games at right corner, with regular left corner Antoine Winfield out because of a foot injury. Winfield has served as a leader for the defensive backs, but with the veteran missing, Griffin has taken steps to fill that void, according to Frazier.

"I have seen him be more encouraging to the other guys that have had to step up and play and kind of giving them tips," Frazier said. "That has never been the case when Antoine was out there, you never heard [Griffin] talking to let's say Benny Sapp or an Asher Allen or [Karl] Paymah about technique. But you see that more and more in practice and even in games on the sideline. Antoine's absence has forced [Griffin] to grow as a player and that is good for our team and good for our defense."

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judd zulgad