Making the case for Myles Garett at No. 1
- Nov 16, 2016
- 6 min read
Myles Garrett is far and away the best pass rusher in the 2017 NFL draft class, and arguably the best overall prospect eligible for the draft.
With today's NFL offenses trending pass heavy, it only makes Garrett's value skyrocket. The Cleveland Browns look to have the number one pick in this years draft (what a shocker), but have questions to answer seemingly at every position -- especially at quarterback.
But, what they should really do is grab Garrett at No. 1 and roll with Robert Griffin (if he doesn't crumble into tiny pieces first) for another year since he's still under contract. Then they can regroup and draft a quarterback in 2018 in a much stronger QB class featuring; Lamar Jackson, Josh Rosen, and Baker Mayfield.
Watching tape on Garrett, I can hardly believe this guy is 6'5" 262 lbs. He plays like he's 240 lbs. I've seen guys with amazing burst and explosion off the line circa 2011 Von Miller and 2014 Jadeveon Clowney, but Garrett is just a freak of nature. It's not quite as unbelievable as a sophomore Clowney but it's very damn close. Watch this play here:
Garrett explodes of the line so fast that the left tackle doesn't even get a chance to attempt to block him. This type of athleticism and first step, is what allows Garrett to consistently be disruptive in the passing game and blow up plays in the run game.
Garrett is the first player I've seen since Von Miller with the kind of flexibility to really bend and turn the corner against tackles. Garett doesn't quite have it to the extent that Miller does, frankly I don't think anyone playing football is on that echelon, but the potential if Garrett really learns how to use it is comparable.
Garrett's freaky athleticism and burst of the line of scrimmage is enough to put him in that conversation for best draft prospect, but unfortunately for offensive tackles thats all but one of their concerns.
Myles Garrett is yolked, and looks like he has the body of a Greek God. But sometimes when you watch plays like the previous one, you forget he weighs in at 262 lbs. But then you see plays like this:
Garrett is the right defensive end, and just uses an old fashioned bull rush on the play. It's just that he also drove the left tackle so far back that he hits his own quarterback and sacks him.
Garrett has the strength to pair with his explosiveness and speed that allows him to throw around grown men and make plays like this. That's insane. No human being should be able to do that to someone that size.
Most of the time, scouts worry about speed rushers not being able convert speed to power, but thats not a problem for Garrett at all. His unbelievable get off allows him to just blow by tackles, or quickly accelerate and hit them with a power move.
What really seals the deal with Garrett to me is that he is doing these things to NFL caliber tackles. Against Alabama last year, he absolutely had his way with Cam Robinson who is projected to be a day one pick. This play is a perfect example:
Cam Robinson is able to get what looked to be a solid block on Garrett at first, but he's able to just turn the corner and disengage from Robinson to make the play.
I wish Garrett would use his hands a little more, because if it were last year's No. 1 edge prospect Joey Bosa, he would've clubbed Robinson's hands down to disengage.
It's a lot to ask for a college edge prospect though, as the tackles he goes against don't have the refined mechanics so a lot of the time he just relies on his athleticism to beat tackles -- which is okay -- because he's a special athlete.
He's still great at fighting through blocks and bending the edge, and does that on a pretty consistent basis. Also, notice how the quarterback steps up in the pocket after sensing the pressure.
This is a something that happens on a regular basis, as he's so disruptive he frequently forces quarterbacks to step up or flushes them out of the pocket.
Garrett has a nice blend of everything, but the only real thing you could knock him on is a lack of pass rush moves. That's not necessarily his fault though since he plays against a ton of lineman playing in spread systems so he can get away with making fools out of them just on pure athleticism.
His hand techniques also are a little underdeveloped, but it's pretty unusual to be technically sound with your hands unless your name is Joey Bosa. Garrett's hand techniques could still use some work, but I'm confident he can easily get it coached up in the pros.
Garrett already has a nice little inside spin move he likes to use, and If he can just add some more tricks to his arsenal I have a tough time imagining a tackle capable of blocking him one on one at the next level.
Garrett is just a complete edge player. Usually you have guys like the Arizona Cardinals' Chandler Jones for example, who are great at getting after the quarterback but susceptible in the run game.
Not the case with Garrett. This guy is an absolute monster, and has the power and balance to maintain a low pad level to blow up gaps and cause havoc in opposing back fields. Watch this play for example:
Garrett is lined up at left defensive end, but he's able to get such good penetration that he's able to quickly get into the backfield and blow the play up. Garrett wasn't supposed to slant in on that play, but read the play perfectly and was able to quickly get back there and stuff it for a loss of yards.
Even though Garrett can get into the backfield in a hurry, it can be a problem sometimes. Guys like JJ Watt and Ndaumkong Suh suffer from the same problem.
Offensive coordinators in the NFL have been able to attack Suh and Watt in the run game by running "draw plays" at them. This is something that could hurt Garrett, but it's a great problem to have.
I've heard and read LOTS of Jadeveon Clowney comparisons, and they are fair. The two are almost exact physical clones of each other, and possess other worldly first steps.
That's about where the similarities stop though. Clowney had lots of questions about lack of effort and work ethic coming out of college.
There is absolutely none of that with Garrett. From all the tape I've watched, this guy doesn't stop until the last whistle. He consistently plays with a high motor, and is relentless in getting after the ball. Watch this:
This is a designed screen play by Ole Miss last year, and Laremy Tunsil the left tackle just lets him by to start blocking downfield. Unfortunately, he forgot who he left unblocked because No. 15 is does not stop.
Garrett is in there so fast, Chad Kelly already has almost no chance to get the ball out but manages to quickly get it out.
Being the freak he is though, Garrett just leaps up to tip it to himself for the interception. Normally on plays like this, guys just give up because the ball is just out so fast that it negates the fact that they're unblocked.
Not Garrett though. Can't question this guy's motor or effort at all. He is absolutely going 100 miles an hour every play.
Quick little nugget as well: he has absolutely no off the field issues. His record is spotless, and he is the antithesis of the modern athlete.
Myles Garrett doesn't even do social media. Let that sink in for a second.
Myles Garett doesn't even do social media. That's amazing. He's enjoys writing poems and reading, rather than partying and tweeting. Sounds like a perfect roommate for Josh Gordon once he gets out of rehab, Cleveland. (If he ever does..)
Myles Garrett has SO much potential as an edge rusher. Even though he is much more of a 4-3 defensive end, the Browns should take him with the No. 1 pick anyway regardless of the system fit.
Even in Cleveland's 3-4 scheme, he shouldn't have problems generating pressure and being disruptive so long as he plays with his hand in the dirt.
I'd hate to see Garrett end up in the football purgatory that is Cleveland, but his talent is just way too hard to ignore and pass up at No. 1. Garrett could be a defensive cornerstone for the Browns and a franchise changing player.
It's WAY to early to tell what kind of career Garrett will have or where he'll end up. Regardless though, Garett has the type of potential to change a franchise, and that is not something to pass up on.
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