Myles Garrett on DPOY worthy start to season: 'Nearing the peak of my powers'
Myles Garrett believes Jim Schwartz is a defensive god send to the Browns. The new coordinator, Garrett says, has created schemes that allow him to bulldoze offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback.
Stats show that whatever Schwartz is doing to the Browns defense is working very well. As the NFL heads into the second half of the season, Cleveland leads the league in total defense. And you can make a good case for Myles Garrett to be defensive player of the year.
Garrett, the former Texas A&M superstar, talked up Schwartz and the Browns D during an appearance this week on The Pat McAfee Show.
“I think I’m nearing my prime, the peak of my powers,” Garrett said. “I think it’s just matching that experience and that wisdom as well as, like, my athletic ability. Both of those being combined, I think that’s really taken my game to another level.”
Garrett specifically mentioned that Schwartz’s defense allows him to get into one-on-one pass rush situations. That way, opposing lines can’t try to take him out with a double team.
Myles Garrett is nearing double-digit sacks yet again
Myles Garrett currently has 9.5 sacks through eight games. So if you project that over a full season, he’s on track to surpass his career, single-season high of 16 sacks, which he posted the past two years. The Browns selected Garrett with the top pick of the 2017 draft because he was so adept at instigating defensive chaos. So far, Garrett has 84 career sacks. He’s posted five straight seasons of double-digit sacks and is nearing a sixth.
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What stands out this season is the other stuff Garrett is doing besides the QB sack. He’s also forced four fumbles and hit the quarterback 18 times. Then there’s his block a long-distance field goal.
The Browns have suffered through uncertainty at quarterback, but they’re still 5-3 because Garrett and the defense is so dominant. They lead the NFL in fewest total (235) and pass yards (145) allowed. And they’re third in scoring, allowing teams only 17.4 points per game.
NFL sack leaders
- Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings: 10
- T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: 9.5
- Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: 9.5
- Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: 9.5
- Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars: 9
- Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers: 9
- Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants: 8.5
- Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals: 8
- Haason Reddick, Philadelphia Eagles: 7.5
- Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens: 7.5
- Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys: 7.5
The Browns travel to Baltimore to play a key AFC North game against the red-hot Ravens and quarterback Lamar Jackson. Baltimore leads the division with a 7-2 overall record. The Steelers, Browns and Bengals are each 5-3.
Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson has missed all of parts of four games this season. So the Browns likely will lean on the most reliable part of the game plan. That’s Myles Garrett creating chaos.