DE Myles Garrett (9.8.24)
Was that shocking to you how that game panned out?
“A bit. We have to better in all phases. We suffer from a lack of communication a bit, like on the defensive side, and we just let too many big plays leap. It was uncharacteristic of ourselves and we just have to better.”
Can you just put into words how disappointing this was for you guys as a team to come out here? So much excitement. You were in the Muni Lot before the game, fans were all fired up. I mean, how much is this…?
“It’s very disappointing. That’s about it. It’s very disappointing. But it’s one game. Don’t want to start the season out like that, but not the first time that a good team has lost the first game and won’t be the last. Just got to increase our attention to detail, our focus and come back better next week.”
What did Dallas do to kind of help the rookie left tackle when in situations blocking?
“I mean, he had the chips. He had the outside chip, he had the back chip, and I had to slide my way, not sure how much, but I did have this slide. But, he’s talented. He’s a bigger guy, has a longer wingspan, able to kick. He’s definitely gonna do a good job for a lot of the guys he faces.”
I’m sure you probably saw some of Deshaun (Watson) getting hit the way that he did. How much, I’m sure you feel like that you guys really have to protect Deshaun and he can’t get hit like that?
“We don’t want Deshaun to get hit at all. So, if he’s going to go out there and he’s going to go and try to make plays and leave the pocket and do what he’s been known to do, he’s going to take some of those hits, but that’s just part of his play style and he’s willing to take those hits if that means we’re going to get a first down or a touchdown. It’s just a matter of risk versus reward and that’s just part of how he plays and protect him as best as we can.”
What changed from the opening drive? Dalvin (Tomlinson) had that sack, you guys forced them into a three-and-out situation? What changed after that moment for you guys defensively?
“I just think it was a bit with them getting on the ball a little bit quicker. Us, having to speed up our time on the ball and communication and I don’t think we were communicating well enough and quick enough to keep up with them at their pace and then we settled in a bit. But we have to get more takeaways. That was really the name of the game. They got takeaways and we didn’t. And they kept on chipping away even when they weren’t scoring touchdowns. We were getting more field goals and field goals and increasing that lead.”
If I remember correctly, last year, the takeaways weren’t there at the beginning of the year, but they were as the season went on. So, what seems to be making that happen?
“We’ve got to get our hands on the ball. DW (Denzel Ward) had one where it could have been an interception for us. I had a strip sack where we could have got the ball. So, we’re getting those big plays. We just got to be able to recover them and make the most out of it, whether it’s on defense or on offense. They were there today, but we have to be able to recover them.”
What can you say about this team’s resilience and the hard work that you know this team has shown over recent the years to know that you guys are gonna put this one aside and come out strong next week?
“I can speak to them until I’m blue in the face about resilience and how unrelenting we are, but we have to go and show up at the end of the day. The fans gave us what they thought we were throughout the game. So we have to go out and put on a better performance. We have to give them something to be proud of. And today wasn’t our best day, but we gotta go out and come out smoking next week and we will.”
What led to the decision to stop at the Muni Lot?
“It was excitement for this game, this season and I think it was a good choice to keep the energy high with the fan base, but also the team and set the expectations high. Do something like that and you put on yourself, your defense, your team to have a great game, and it wasn’t here today, but we’re going to continue to keep on striving for better, striving for greatness.”
So, what were your thoughts, I mean I know you just addressed that the fans gave you what you were giving them basically, but, I mean, do the boos still hurt or do you feel like the fans have a right to boo in a situation like that?
“They have the right to tell us however they feel. I mean, if we’re not playing well, they have the right to boo. If we’re kicking a**, they have the right to cheer. It’s their privilege. They come in, they pay to see us do well and we didn’t, and we got to put on better performance if we expect them to go out there and support us in full force. So we got to be better, and that’s all on us.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***