Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett meets with reporters as the team prepares for Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon.
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00:00 a positive reaction or a confident reaction that we had when we had that
00:07 turnover in Seattle. It was more of a like, let's go do our job.
00:15 The mission's not over. The job's not finished.
00:18 We had to take that loss to Seattle to grow and mature and to kind of
00:25 make the play so we made to win the game against Baltimore.
00:30 Miles, you had to kind of reduce your snaps, right?
00:34 Jim said he wanted to take some of the load off you earlier in the season,
00:37 but then against Baltimore, it's almost every snap.
00:40 So would you prefer it like that? And do you think they kind of like saved you for...
00:45 I mean, Jim said that they kind of saved you for the biggest moment, biggest game.
00:49 I don't know, man. I'm getting old. So it's a matter of, you know,
00:53 when they call, I'll pick up the phone, but they just don't need me as much anymore.
01:00 Really, it's up to them. I'm going to be on the field as much as possible.
01:05 And if there's a big moment, if I can sense like the momentum shifting,
01:09 whether shifting towards them or we're going to steal the game and put it away,
01:14 I want to be on the field. I'm going to go out there and take charge.
01:18 But as far as like when things are still kind of weighing in the balance,
01:22 I think it's smart to allow them to kind of manage things and regulate the reps
01:29 so that down the stretch I'm still working at full capacity.
01:33 Miles, does Pittsburgh ship you and get more physical with you than maybe some other teams?
01:38 Yeah, they do.
01:41 So, I mean, I guess when you go into a game knowing that that's how it's going to be,
01:45 how do you approach that?
01:47 I'm sure we got to get more physical with them.
01:49 Got to find a way. If they're going to throw the kitchen sink at me,
01:53 well, they got to throw the fridge back, I guess.
01:57 So, do they ship you more? Like, do they run more backs at you, tight ends, everything?
02:02 Just everything. I mean, sometimes they'll have the tight end.
02:05 They'll follow me wherever I go, back to wherever I go.
02:09 I'll slide my way if they're trying to get the tight end of the formation
02:12 or if they're trying to get the back of free release.
02:16 But I try to make sure I'm not going one-on-one as much as possible.
02:23 Miles, you and TJ have made so many game-changing plays this year.
02:27 We haven't had a defensive player win MVP, not even when they were MVP since LT in the '80s.
02:33 Why do you think that that's been the case and it's just so quarterback-centric now?
02:38 Because y'all love touchdown. That's it.
02:41 People love high scores and big games from offensive guys.
02:49 It's not a fun game if a defensive guy goes off for two, three, four sacks and the score is 12-6 or 12-7.
02:57 It's not what people want to watch anymore.
03:00 But I think things can shift.
03:03 I think you can have guys who kind of separate themselves
03:08 and make different kind of plays, also doing things on special teams and on offense.
03:12 I still think that TJ should have won it back when he had that tremendous year,
03:17 doing things on every phase of the game.
03:21 Right now, I think defensive guys should get just as much consideration as anyone else.
03:28 Miles, the Browns are going to work on Joe Flacco today.
03:31 I know you have confidence in the quarterbacks that are in the room right now.
03:35 What could be adding to that?
03:41 Maturity and experience.
03:43 A bit of wisdom that as much as Deshaun has played, Flacco has seen more.
03:49 He's been to the highest levels and won.
03:52 He can provide that little bit of a mentor role if he doesn't see the field.
03:57 Being there and being an assistant leader.
04:00 Have you seen a difference in DTR this week than whatever, six weeks ago when you were getting that first start?
04:07 I mean, it all just jumps out at you so quickly, especially with him not knowing what was going to happen,
04:13 if he was going to be up or not going to be up.
04:15 He's always been the same guy. He's always been focused.
04:17 He's not been about his work.
04:19 Now it's just like, I've been there, and the worst that could happen has happened.
04:25 So I can climb up from there.
04:29 What do you see?
04:30 They've played so good late in games on both sides of the ball, but when you look at that offense,
04:36 I think they've been outgained in every game this year, but they're 6-0 in their last four games.
04:41 Is there something, are they doing something different besides just the results being better for them in the fourth quarter offensively when you watch them and study them?
04:51 Play harder for longer.
04:53 They know how to finish and make plays down the stretch, and I think sometimes teams just allow for the gashes a little bit,
05:01 and later in the third quarter, fourth quarter, that's when they really turn it up.
05:06 It's interesting to see what's going on with these four teams who have seen this lead scheme you guys are playing.
05:13 Have you noticed a difference in how teams are handling you specifically and your guys as a front, as a whole?
05:22 Compared to maybe previous years?
05:26 The Tennessee thing was pretty fun, but I think it's guys making sure that I never know what's coming next.
05:37 It's in alignment with what's hiding outside of me.
05:40 Sometimes he chips, sometimes he doesn't.
05:42 Halfback chips, chipping through the middle.
05:46 If I have a 5-on-3 technique, if I'm coming through the middle, they're going to chip me there.
05:53 They're trying to make me uncomfortable, so I slow down a little bit, and it's just turned up to another level.
05:59 What do you think it would mean to be a lot more visceral back-to-back, especially given everything you guys are going through without your starting backhoes, without the Sean Madden?
06:14 That'd be great. At the end of the day, you just want to go one-and-oh.
06:19 At the end of the day for us, we're trying to get to the point where it doesn't matter who's in front of us.
06:26 We're just looking forward to doing the work and being the same people regardless of what we're facing on Sunday.
06:34 Given what happened last night with Joe Braun and Mark Anderson, does that show you guys that no matter what happens, you just have to stay laser-focused on what matters?
06:50 Anything can happen.
06:53 Definitely praying for those guys. They're both doing well and they're coming back.
06:59 You never know what can happen on any other team as far as injuries.
07:09 Record-wise, you could lose late, two-minute, whatever it is, but you have to continue to focus on yourself and how you can continue to improve and win the games you're supposed to win.
07:20 As long as you have your desk in your hands, control it. Don't allow it to get to the point where someone else is winning or losing dictates your fate.
07:29 From the NFL standpoint, going into this week it was so exciting about the UFC North and the big games and everything. Unfortunate, but unfortunate. How does it come out of this week, to Sean now, out of the picture? Who knows what's going to happen?
07:50 Look at it as an opportunity. This is something that no one expected and no one wanted. As far as a script for a movie, to find a way to win, when one of our best players is out, two of our best players are out, both tacklers are out, continue to find a way and find success, that will tell the story of a team that's resilient and will fight through anything.
08:15 What's your favorite thing about Dalvin? What does he add to the D-line?
08:21 Dalvin is the same person every single day. He works his ass off. That's why I have fun, but you always expect more out of himself. That always inspires us to continue to work hard for him.
08:36 We don't want to see him getting double teamed all the time. We want to continue to win across the board so that when he gets free, he's able to make plays himself. He's one of the best run stoppers in the league. He's far in the middle. Guys can't move him and he gets off the ball with the best of them.
08:52 Mark Andrews getting hurt last night. There's renewed attention to that hip drop tackle, whatever they call it. How tough is it for you guys in those moments? It seems like they're trying to legislate a time for the Waza Fitz. You have to deal with it with the quarterback and stuff like that. If they add another rule in there, how much more does that make your lives difficult?
09:21 You can't just continue to take tackling out of the game. Targeting is one thing. Leading with your head can injure you or your opponent. That's something that's just not smart. There's too much data on that for us to be remiss and not take it out of the game. That's understandable.
09:44 With the quarterback not landing on him and with the hip drop, just to get there is tough enough. Now you have to get there thinking about, "I've got to get the ball out. When I get the ball out, I've got to turn. I've got to make sure I stay up. When I get to him, I've got to wrap him up. If he's going this way, I'm going this way. I've got to make sure I don't drop my hip. I've got to turn."
10:04 I'm trying to slow down his momentum so he doesn't get into the end zone. My hip's got to drop. I don't think he had any intentions to harm him. It's just a matter of one force going that way, his force going that way. He's going to the ground to stop his momentum. It's just part of the game. It's unfortunate, but that part of the game has probably never going to change.
10:29 When you're hitting a quarterback, he just gets the ball out just before you arrive. What goes through your mind as that contact is taking place? Are you thinking, "I can't land on him now." What goes through your mind when you hit a quarterback after he's gotten that ball out?
10:51 At the time, I kind of pull up because I don't want to get the penalty. I think they're very sensitive about those. Other times, I hit him and tried to get him on my shoulder, but I tried not to go to the ground unless I believe he still has the ball. Other than that, I'll just try to get him on my shoulder or forearm and put the ball on him.
11:14 Thanks, Miles. Thanks, Miles. See you, Miles.