BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Myles Garrett is taking his talents to South Beach this weekend.
He’s taking his defensive teammates too.
Garrett, borrowing a page from Deshaun Watson’s playbook, has scheduled a trip to Miami where he hopes it will help the Browns defenders bond as a unit, and get in a little work too.
“I think I’m going to take them to like Providence. Maybe I’ll take them to like downtown Pittsburgh or something,” Garrett joked. “No, I’m taking the guys to Miami, so they’ll have a good time. Take them there [Thursday], stay there for a couple days through the weekend and try to get some work in as well. You know, just trying to bond as a defense.”
Last month, Watson took the offense to the Bahamas for a weekend, but Garrett’s plane might not be as full as Watson’s was.
“We had a little bit of breaking down in communication with the DBs,” Garrett said. “They’re welcome to join if they’re able to get their own flight because [I wanted to] have enough room for everybody but we weren’t able to get everybody on board.”
Garrett was blown away by Watson’s generosity and leadership.
“It’s not every day that you grab your whole offense and take them to the Bahamas, and you treat them,” Garrett said.
Tight end David Njoku praised the benefits of Watson’s trip Wednesday.
“We got the work in. We also bonded as a team, you know, built some chemistry,” Njoku said. “Honestly, I learned things that I didn't know about my teammates that have already been here for X amount of years. So I think it was great decision to, as an offense come together, go on a vacation for three days and get to know more about each other because at the end of the day we’re playing for each other so I think that was important. I think it was a good idea.”
Quick pitch – Garrett’s recruitment of defensive end Jadeveon Clowney to re-sign was brief.
“I told him to get his ass here. That was about it,” Garrett said.
Garrett and Clowney were a force to be reckoned with in 2021. They tormented opposing quarterbacks to the tune of a combined 25 sacks and 52 QB hits. They also registered 134 pressures according to Pro Football Focus.
“I do not know if you call them Batman and Robin or Batman and Batman,” defensive coordinator Joe Woods said. “But just to have that counterpart opposite of Myles, when you go against offenses, they are going to have to respect both defensive ends so all of the attention does not go to Myles.”
While many of Clowney’s teammates were confident the 2014 No.
1 overall pick would re-sign, Woods admitted he was nervous.
“It is just a part of free agency,” Woods said. “We felt like he had a good experience here. We tried to get him the previous two years… Throughout the process, I felt like if things were even that he would come back. Thankfully, it worked out in our favor.”
Interior decorating – If there’s one position group on the roster that has questions and feels like an unknown quantity, it is defensive tackle, especially because of their youth.
Woods doesn’t share fans or the media’s concerns.
“I feel like right now as a defense, we are kind of in that stage where we are developing young talent,” Woods said. “Jordan Elliott played for us. He is a 300-pounder. He is moving around really well. I think the lights are starting to come on for him. Signing Tavon Bryan, I remember evaluating him when I was at Denver, and I know he was our No. 1 defensive lineman coming out. He is the same type of guy… as Perrion [Winfrey], who attacks the line of scrimmage, and he is athletic for his size. With that combination and then you have Tommy Togiai and you have Sheldon Day – I think between those five guys, I feel like we will have a good rotation inside.”
Tears of joy – Mike Priefer was overjoyed Andrew Berry drafted kicker Cade York in the fourth round.
“I am an emotional guy,” special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. “I can neither confirm nor deny that I shed [happy] tears that night.”
The Browns cut Chase McLaughlin shortly after drafting York, handing the job to the rookie.
“He is a lights-out kicker,” Priefer said. “He loves the big stage, and he has performed on the big stage.”
Priefer said the Browns will likely add a practice squad kicker for insurance, but they see no need to hold a competition.
“To me, the sky is the limit,” Priefer said. “He can be really, really good. I am excited about him. He is the right guy. He is the right guy for our stadium, for our city and for the division that we play in.”
Play of the day – Safety John Johnson III couldn’t contain his excitement after he intercepted Deshaun Watson in a 7-on-7 drill and returned the football. His defensive teammates raced after him to join in the celebration.
Roll call – Aside from Baker Mayfield, four players were absent from Wednesday’s voluntary workout – Clowney, offensive linemen Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin and receiver/returner Jakeem Grant Sr.
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