Cleveland Browns film review: Myles Garrett versus Alabama in 2016
By Joel W. Cade
The Cleveland Browns own the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Will they take Myles Garrett? This article explores Garrett’s play versus Alabama in 2016.
The Cleveland Browns are looking for pass rushing help. With the transition from a 3-4 base to a 4-3 base, the Browns need to stock up on 4-3 defensive ends who can rush the passer. The consensus among experts and draft analysts is that Myles Garrett is the best 4-3 end in the draft.
But being the best edge defender in the draft does not mean he fits the type of player the Browns are trying to build their team around. Questions have been raised about Myles Garrett’s motor, desire to play football, and potentially taking plays off.
In this article, I will don my coach’s hat once again. The plan is simple, watch the tape and share my notes. What are Garrett’s strengths? Weaknesses? And what questions remain after the game?
Note: Myles Garrett played this game with a high ankle sprain. He sprained the ankle on September 24 against Arkansas. He played this game against Alabama roughly four weeks later on October 22. A high ankle sprain can take from four to six weeks to recover if the injury is allowed to heal. Garrett played the season with the injury, opting to allow it to fully heal in the offseason. His toughness for playing through a high ankle sprain should be noted.
Below is Garrett’s performance against Alabama last season.
Strengths: What immediately jumps off the tape is that Alabama wants nothing to do with Myles Garrett. Almost every play is run away from Garrett. The plays that are designed to run his direction often result in a loss of yards.
Garrett is a penetrator. He has excellent explosiveness off the ball. He will often split the double-teams of Cam Robinson and O.J. Howard. He uses excellent leverage to move the line of scrimmage backwards. He also shows excellent leverage off the edge when rushing the passer. He shows an inside and outside move to keep tackles off-balance.
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Garrett understands his role in the defense and performs it well. It is surprising how many college athletes do not understand the role they play in a defense. Because he understands his role, he is able to improvise at the snap of the ball, keeping the blockers off-balance. This part of his game should be celebrated more than it is.
Weaknesses: Like any penetrator, he is often too aggressive against the run from the 4-3 defensive end position. He will penetrate too far upfield, creating a hole in the defensive line between the defensive end and defensive tackle. It also opens Garrett up to the possibility of being trapped by pulling lineman and tight ends. However, when Alabama did try to trap him, Garrett did an excellent job of beating the block by penetrating upfield underneath the block or by attacking the pulling blocker head on.
When Garrett is unable to get leverage off the ball, he gets locked up in stalemates. When unable to attain leverage or win with explosiveness, he looks average. He does not play with enough strength to take on an offensive tackle to hold the line of scrimmage. He will need to play stronger and learn to hold double-teams at the line of scrimmage at the NFL level.
Questions: There is no way to sugar coat this – Garrett takes plays off and he does not hustle to the ball when plays are away from him. How much of this “laziness” is attributable to a lack of desire versus playing with a high ankle sprain?
The only way to answer this question would be to review a game film from a time when he was not dealing with the high ankle sprain.
The Browns have shown they are looking for players who play with a mean streak, are aggressive, and play with a high motor. Myles Garrett did not look like that player versus Alabama in 2016. This could be due to playing with an injury, but it could be that he does not fit the mold of what the Browns are looking for.
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The Browns must answer this question before the draft.