Myles Garrett ruins Sean McVay's 'f****** week,' but not his Sunday as Rams top Browns
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Myles Garrett could barely lift his left arm a week ago when the Browns lost to the Denver Broncos.
A week later, Garrett showed little physical evidence of the injury as the Browns played at the Los Angeles Rams. However, statistically, there was little evidence of either him or his defensive line teammates making a large impact in a 36-19 loss as the Rams totaled 399 yards.
“It didn't affect me that much,” Garrett said of the shoulder. “I mean, they just had a great game plan for us up front. Got the ball out quick, usually no chips or slides, but they were just kind of a tick ahead. They were keeping us off balance with some of the looks and how they were getting the ball out.”
Garrett’s impact may not have showed statistically, either in his own personal stats or the stats the Browns defense permitted. However, his impact was most definitely felt by the Rams.
How so? Well, allow a postgame anecdote to explain.
As Garrett was departing his postgame press conference and heading to the bus, a white luxury SUV rolled up next to him and the rear driver’s side window rolled down. Rams coach Sean McVay leaned over from his seat and shouted at Garrett.
“Hey, I want you to know that you ruined my f****** week just worrying about you, all right?” McVay yelled as the two shook hands.
It was clear from the very start the Rams had schemed up a plan to neutralize the Browns' aggressive defensive line. And, specifically, All-Pro Garrett, who did not register a tackle, a sack or quarterback hit in the game.
Part of that scheme was personnel based. It started with quarterback Matthew Stafford and his ability to get rid of the ball quickly.
Stafford, who completed 22 of 37 passes for 279 yards with three touchdowns, has always been known for his quick release. That showed on several occasions against the Browns' vaunted pass rush.
"Yeah, I mean, it's frustrating, but our job is to rush, so we just keep rushing," defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo said. "We can't complain about how fast the ball's getting out. That's out of our control. We just got to control what we can control. Honestly, I don't have a lot to say about it. Hats off to them."
The veteran quarterback was not sacked in the game, and the Browns only managed to get two hits on Stafford.
It wasn't just the way Stafford got rid of the football. It was also about how the Rams were able to go against the flow regularly in the running game.
The Rams rushed for 120 yards on 25 carries, with Kyren Williams gaining 88 of those yards on 21 carries. Many of those yards came on plays where the blocking all went one direction, and Stafford would pitch the ball the opposite way to Williams.
"One thing I would say is that I feel like if they got an explosive play or big time play, we found a way to stop it," safety Juan Thornhill said. 'I mean, they kept running the same plays over and over again. I just felt like guys did a good job, but then I just feel like sometimes we were out of our gaps and they got a couple good plays on us. So that's pretty much all I can say about that."
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Myles Garrett ruins Sean McVay's 'week,' but not his Sunday
