Absences force Griffin to be reluctant leader

Renaldo Wynn and Joe Salave’a don’t work at Redskin Park anymore. Phillip Daniels hobbles in on crutches every so often. The absence of his former cronies and his approaching 32nd birthday tell Redskinsdefensive tackle Cornelius Griffin his time in Washington could be running short, too.

So the last player left from the defensive line that started Washington’s only playoff victory this decade wants to make the most of the 2008 season. Griffin shifted much of his offseason work from his Alabama home to a sports training center in Pensacola, Fla., and seems primed for his best season since his Washington debut in 2004, when he led the NFL in tackles for losses.

“This is the best I’ve felt since [2004], but that doesn’t guarantee you anything,” said Griffin, who missed five games combined in 2005 and 2006 with ailing hips and had left shoulder problems the past three years. “It just guarantees you the opportunity to have a good year. If I stay healthy, I’ll have a good year. But I take it a year at a time.”

Griffin also could be primed for a rebound year because his shoulder feels strong again, 19 months after surgery. To maintain that strength, Griffin and fellow defensive lineman Demetric Evans have started a group that lifts every morning at 6:45.

“The way we worked out this offseason, we see the effect on our bodies,” Evans said. “So we decided to really focus, get in here every morning and get on these weights. Griff’s one of the stronger guys on the team, and he’s lifting now the way he wanted to but couldn’t the last couple of years because of his shoulder. It’s hard to play [on the line] if you don’t have the initial punch. You continue to get your shoulder beaten on in practice, and treatment can only do so much. This year you’ll see Cornelius back to where he was in ‘04.”

That’s what Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache hopes.

“Griff’s had a good camp,” Blache said. “We’ve tried not to beat him up too much. [Saturday at Carolina] he’ll get to play a whole half, and we’ll get to see just how the endurance, the conditioning, the strength holds up. Hopefully with the offseason he’s had, we can keep him healthy. When Griff’s at 100 percent, Griff’s a heck of a football player.”

Griffin, a starter since his second season with the New York Giants in 2001, has never been a leader. Michael Strahan filled that role in New York, and Wynn and Daniels followed suit in Washington. Not anymore.

“He’s got to take on a lot more leadership from drill to drill on a day-to-day basis with Phillip not being around,” Blache said.

And although he has quietly mentored young tackles Kedric Golston, Anthony Montgomery and Lorenzo Alexander, leadership doesn’t come naturally to Griffin.

“We’ve had some very candid talks,” defensive line coach John Palermo said. “When I do grade sheets, I’ll put a question mark, and then I want Griff’s input.”

Griffin downplayed any change in his role.

“I don’t have to be more vocal,” Griffin said. “We’ve got Andre Carter, Demetric Evans, Jason Taylor. I’m not a big talker with the media, but I’m vocal in our group. But yeah, I’ve always believed that your actions speak louder than your words.”

But Griffin’s actions have changed, at least in practice. Daniels always led the drills, but now Griffin goes first.

“Cornelius is a quiet leader, but I know he’s thinking, ‘This is my year to really step up with all my peers that were leaders [gone], that I’m the last one left, the starter that Blache knows the best,’” Evans said. “He’s still one of the best defensive tackles in the NFC. You have to go by what that player is asked to do. A lot of guys want to see stats, but Cornelius is asked to play the run heavy and get penetration.”

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