BEREA, Ohio — Just when it seems like there are no more milestones for Myles Garrett, he’s on a blistering pace to shatter a record this season that he’s wanted since the Browns drafted him No. 1 overall in 2017: the NFL single season sack record.
The Giants’ Michael Strahan set the record in 2001 with 22.5, and the Steelers’ T.J. Watt matched it in 2021.
Now, Garrett has a chance to blow them both out of the water.
In the past three games, Garrett has notched 10 sacks to tie an NFL record, and leads the NFL with 15.0. At his current clip of 1.5 per game, he’ll finish with 25.5 to take over the leader board. He’s also only one shy of his Browns record of 16.0, achieved over each of the past two seasons.
Garrett, who sat out practice Friday with an illness but will play Sunday, will probably add to his total in Las Vegas, where the Raiders are without two of their starting offensive linemen, and where Geno Smith has been sacked 31 times in 10 games.
The leading candidate to repeat as NFL Defensive Player of the Year again this year, it’s hard to find new and interesting things to say about Garrett. But players and coaches managed to do just that this week.
Here’s some of what they said:
Kevin Stefanski:
On how special it is to coach Garrett
“Yeah, but there’s time to reflect,” he said. “So, now’s not necessarily the time to reflect on that. Now, do I marvel at his skill? Yes, you know, and I marvel at it in practice. There’s been many a practice that he’s ruined and that’s when he’s practicing versus Browns, that’s when he’s practicing against another team like we do in training camp. So, we get to see it day in and day out, even in those settings. But yeah, probably not fair to reflect too much right now other than to say he’s a great player for us, he’s a great … he’s a leader for us that we follow and we’re counting on him.”
Is this the best he’s ever played?
“Probably unfair for me to say. I’ve had a front row seat to it all. I think the level at which he’s playing is impressive, but I do think there’s more there. I think, like we’ve talked about over the years with Myles, pay attention to how he plays the run, pay attention to the tackles for loss. I think sacks get so much attention in our NFL world, and our football world, and duly – that’s fine because they’re important, but affecting the game in a variety of ways is so important. So just pressuring the quarterback, harassing the quarterback, making life hard on a quarterback. But also playing the run, playing physical against the run, getting tackles for loss, taking on a double team so your teammate can make a play. So, listen, the stats are what they are and it’s so impressive, but the impact on the game on a down-to-down basis I think is what probably might be overlooked by some of the stats.”
Does he have an eight-sack game in him? (He had one in high school).
“I hope so. Good game to start that.”
Isn’t it absurd though that you can even consider that? I mean, potentially the guy could do it?
Yeah. I don’t think we go into games or Myles goes into games trying to hit a number. I think he goes into a game trying to do his job and affect the game in any way he can. And obviously he’s had some games here where there’s been multiple sacks, and that’s obviously finishing the pressure with taking the quarterback down. But we look at it at that play-to-play basis, what he’s doing to affect every single down. And again, the ability to play the run should not be overlooked.”
DC Jim Schwartz:
Well, what more can you say about Myles Garrett, the season that he’s having? And have you ever seen anything like it?
“He’s got a lot more to give and super proud of him for where he is right now, but this isn’t the final story yet. He’s doing a really good job within the scheme and like I’ve told you guys before, I’m always most proud of the way he plays the run as opposed to how he rushes the passer. And there’s a lot to be proud of, the way he rushes the passer. But to have the production he has, with the opportunities he’s had and also with the attention that he receives, it’s fun to watch.”
Why do you say there’s more to give?
“Because we got a lot more games to play, and there’s a lot more great things he can do for us. So that’s sort of where I am with it. We don’t need to postmortem for the season before the final chapter’s been written and he’s got a lot of chapters to write.”
That said, do you feel like, especially after challenging him early this offseason, after he got the contract, do you feel like he’s playing at the highest level that you’ve seen him since you’ve been here?
“He’s playing at a high level. Myles has always played at a high level, but I do appreciate his attitude of working hard to improve. You know, I told that anecdote a couple weeks ago, being on the practice field and just, like, not wanting to come off and waving any sub out, which, again, is really unusual. I know you guys like to talk a lot about who gets first team reps, but in that case, that was…it’s fun to watch, but he’s still hungry. He wears it really well. He knows he’s a marked man. And, I think, number one, he’s also really done a good job of celebrating the other guys around him, which has probably allowed him to have a little bit more success. I don’t know that his pass rush win rate has really improved a lot. But having some other guys up there that he encourages, that he works with, has made a big difference, more particularly our inside pass rush.”
LG Joel Bitonio
On Garrett’s hot streak
Yeah, it’s great. I think that’s how you, to me, sacks are such a, I mean they’re obviously a great stat, but I think he’s been this dominant for two, three years now. I think he’s, he’s playing at a very high level, but if you look at his pressure rates and his pressures are probably pretty similar to what he’s had. They’re just converting to sacks. I think it’s a credit to Mason and our guys inside that are really rushing the quarterback well, not giving him the quarterback a chance to step up. So it’s been a group effort, but I mean it’s been a … like break the record, keep going, do something. But our defense is playing great, and like we said, we’re trying to pull our weight on the offensive side of the ball.
Should he win NFL DPOY even if they’re not winning?
I mean if you look at the games and stats, I think he has been the best defensive player in the league, and if that’s what the award is, then he should get it and Carson should be the defensive rookie of the year. He’s playing out of his mind too.
From your perspective, that interior pressure, how much harder is it for a team to get pressure on the inside to stop Myles
Yeah, I mean you have a plan to chip Myles or slide his way, but when Malik and Mason and Shelby and those guys are making their presence felt on the inside, it gives one less escape thing. If Myles is rushing high at 10 yards, the quarterback can step up to six or five, have a chance where if those guys are putting pressure to seven or eight yards, the only way you can go is back and that’s where Myles has a chance to finish the play. So it’s a very symbiotic relationship inside pass-rush and outside pass rush.
CB Denzel Ward:
Is this Garrett’s best career season?
“I believe so. He may say otherwise, but I feel he’s definitely having his most dominant career that I’ve seen him personally. But he’s been doing this year in and year out. And the fact that he’s able to, it seems like as if he’s gotten better and putting up the numbers that he’s putting up, it’s pretty special.”
For Myles to have 4 sacks this past week after the five sack game, does anything he does ever surprise you?
Yeah, It is crazy though. It’s crazy. He be putting up Madden numbers now. So it’s definitely exciting to see. And yeah, he’s a Hall of Fame player, and just excited and glad I’m able to play with him. And yeah, so he’s like, he’s a great player. You can’t say enough things about Myles, but yeah, we just gotta get some wins though.
Did he give you guys any credit for those? You know, some of those sacks came with because Lamar had to, you know, double clutch and hold the ball because nobody was open downfield.
Yeah, as you say that, I don’t think he gave me credit for that. I ain’t gonna have to go talk to him about that. You know, he owed me, he owed me some of his check or something, I don’t know.
This post will be updated.
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