DE Myles Garrett (11.1.24)
So how was Halloween?
“Halloween was great.”
Did you do the Terminator again?
“Yeah.”
Can’t do it twice, right?
“I mean, it is just one Halloween [laughter].”
Okay, fair enough.
“I had two costumes planned, but I’ll save it for another time.”
Who did your front yard?
“Who did my front yard? There’s a little bit of collaboration with Madness FX.”
So, what was it like to actually hear from the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger)?
“It was sick. I mean, growing up, being a huge Arnold fan, loving a lot of his work. So, it’s great to get a little bit of praise from him.”
Will you ever maybe get a chance to get a photo with him with you in your costume?
“I mean, maybe. I don’t know what kind of life he’s leading over there on the west coast, but I’m sure he’s up to doing movies and all kinds of stuff. So, whenever life slows down for both of us, maybe so.”
When do you decide what your theme is? Because you do this every year. Do you know before the season starts or…
“Way before the season starts. Like March, April, we’re already discussing how we’re going to do the yard and everything, how we’re going to build it out.”
Now, Joel (Bitonio) said you have the resources to win the costume contest around here all the time. Can you share with us how much it costs to make something like that?
“Who knows [laughter].”
Talking about Hollywood, how about the (Los Angeles) Chargers tackles (Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt)?
“They’re both looking really good right now.”
Just, I mean, what separates them, what differentiates those two?
“I’m not taking anything away from what they’re doing or how talented they are. I think the run game and the mix of play action helps keep the team off balance, and that helps get them into a good rhythm. That run pass option gets guys a little bit out of that rush mindset, and I think that lets them be a little bit more susceptible. Those guys also handling business when they have to. So, it’s a combination of both.”
I know you’re used to piling up the sacks, I think it’s been four games since you had one. First of all, do you get frustrated by that?
“I mean, yeah but it’s part of the game. It’s not the entirety of the position and what it’s called to do. Getting pressure, getting disruptions and making plays all across the field. That has to be the mentality when the sacks aren’t there, when the teams are doing everything to keep me from being on the stats sheet in that particular column. I got to fill up the column in other ways.”
When you talk about the balance that the Chargers have that helps out their tackles, how important is it to have third-and-longs and being in a lead in the fourth quarter where all you have to worry about is going after the quarterback?
“I mean, that would be huge. That’s not something they particularly have wanted to do all year. So, they played a little bit more of a ground game, a little more conservative and you know, got to get them on second-and-long, third-and-long so we can really get our ears back and take control of the game.”
When we talked to Jim Schwartz, he mentioned that even though they don’t count as sacks, tackles for loss are just as good as sacks and you have had a couple of those over the last few weeks. Do you kind of see that the same way too? That it’s not just about getting sacks, even though that’s what fans and everyone pays attention to?
“Yeah, I mean that’s what everyone talks about and pays attention to. But those are still big plays to set the offense back and gives us good field position and can be takeaways in themselves. So, every time we get a chance to get the ball, carry on the ground – something about getting the ball away. So, trying to turn those into big plays as much as sacks are.”
You guys are no strangers to injuries, but to have guys like Jeremiah (Owusu-Koramoah) and Jordan (Hicks) out in the linebacker room, especially. How have you seen the defense kind of respond this week knowing that these guys are dealing with that and aren’t going to be out there?
“Like you said, we are no strangers to this and guys have had a next man up mentality for a while now. Knowing that you can get your opportunity at the drop of a hat, you got to be ready, you got to be even ready to be playing a little bit out of position. And guys have really shown that attention to detail and willingness to step up to the plate and make plays when we need them. So, it’s been different. But looking forward to seeing those guys back but also looking forward to seeing their replacements go out there and make a name for themselves.”
Myles, the trade deadline is coming up on Tuesday and some guys here keep getting mentioned in all the trade rumors…
“I’m sure everybody has gotten mentioned.”
Anyways, my question is how have you enjoyed playing with Z (Za’Darius Smith) over his 12 years? What does he mean to your defense and just you two as friends and teammates, what has he meant to you?
“Well, I’m going to continue to play with Z, so I’m not too worried about throwing out my pleasantries and compliments now. I’ll be able to tell him at the end of the year.”
But I mean he’s got five sacks this season, he’s having a nice season. Off to a faster start than he was last year…
“He is indeed.”
When I asked about that, he said he just feels better this year in this defense this year. So, I’m just curious, what do you see in him out there?
“I’m seeing him do the same things as last year. Just making those plays that got away from him and slipped away last year. And we talked all throughout the year about all those plays that were right at our fingertips and that we could have possibly turned into big plays, and he’s turned those over.”
Looking at the (Baltimore) Ravens, obviously (Jim) Harbaugh is head coach now, but the two top backs now are ex-Ravens. Do you see similarities on film with some stuff they do offensively that you guys are familiar with from Baltimore over the years?
“For sure, there’s a little bit of Harbaugh connection. So, the game plan is similar but not the same. And we’ll have to stop the run similar to how we did last week and make that a priority before we can get after the passer. And that was much the case with the Ravens. We had to really slow Derrick Henry as much as we could, get a lead, and then we had some passing opportunities, and it will be much like that this week.”
Do you feel like there’s some, coming off that win against the Ravens, there’s a breath of fresh air breathed into the locker room just to get that losing streak behind you? Does it feel like that maybe you guys can hit the reset button here?
“It was a nice gasp of air, but we’re still laying on the table. We got to get another one before we get this thing really rolling. We got to start streaking and I think this locker room will really turn around and guys will really understand what we have and what we can do this season.”
Jim (Schwartz) mentioned trying to move you around to get you the opportunities as a pass rusher. Is there any relief when you move inside or is it still get as many guys, maybe bigger bodies trying to double and triple team you?
“I don’t particularly care where I’m lined up. As long as I can find a spot where I can get ahead of steam, I can get rolling, get a move off before I get clipped, chipped or whatever. That’s what I’m looking forward to. If that’s not going to be what I get that day, then it is what it is. Just got to find a way to win. Whether it’s inside or outside, I’m going to go out there and try to make a play.”
Along the lines of just like the mentality of the locker room after the win last week, how much can this one, with the bye week looming, a chance for you guys to kind of get off your feet and sort of find the home stretch, if you will, that awaits on the other side. How much can this one kind of set the tone for what awaits you guys the rest of the way to get this one on Sunday?
“I think this one, when we get this one, it will completely change the atmosphere around the team. I think this is a big one for us and we have to go ahead and secure this – go into the bye week, recover, get some guys back and then go into these next weeks knowing that pretty they’re pretty much all playoff games.”
How do you keep that intensity throughout the week?
“We look at our record and realize we got a long way to go. It’s only one at a time. We got to take it one practice day at a time, one meeting at a time and then take all that to game day and execute.”
What can you say about Justin Herbert’s arm talent and just how well he’s played this season?
“I mean, as far as arm talent, he’s one of the very best in the league and he’s feeling a lot healthier, a lot more willing to scramble and use his legs. He’s strong in the pocket, he’s got a strong presence in there. He’s not too afraid of the rush and he’s going to throw even with a guy or two hanging on him. So, we’ve definitely got a healthy amount of respect for Justin.”
Coaches have praised the depth of the interior defensive tackles and how they’ve played, how that contributes to some guys not even being able to be on the field. How have you seen that unit help this defense and maybe even help you specifically?
“I mean, they’ve been firm. We’ve had injuries in there as well and they’ve done the job as well as we can hope for, whether that’s run or pass. So, continue to get those guys healthy and feeling good and put them in a position to win. But they’ve been taking on double team and getting off blocks better than we’ve seen them before. So, super proud of those guys.”