PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Browns defensive lineman Myles Garrett has been on roll against the Steelers. In the last three meetings he has six sacks, six tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Sunday Garrett squares off against Broderick Jones for the first time.
Garrett is a former Defensive Player of the Year, he’s four-time First-Team All-Pro and has 106.5 sacks, 124 tackles for loss (led the NFL with 22 last year and leads again so far this season with eight), 208 quarterback hits in just 122 career games.
“What doesn’t set him apart is the question,” Jones said of what makes Garrett special. “He’s just an amazing player all around. He plays the run, plays the pass. He is just a freak of nature.”
“You got to do everything you can to slow him down, just try to keep a lid on him,” Jones said. “That’s the game plan, hopefully we can stick to it and execute.”
Jones said going against a defense like this the Steelers want to make a statement about their line, which they believe improved the first four weeks and really got going in the second half against Minnesota. He said they have to have that oomph about you when you play these ‘little, big brothers in your division’. You got to bring your A-game.
“Coming in with the right mindset,” Jones said. “I feel like that’s 90% of the battle. Just not getting in your own head before it’s time. Just going out there and playing your game.”
By all accounts Jones is trending in the right direction, but this will be a true sign. He likely will have help at times from 6’7” tight end Darnell Washington along with Spencer Anderson, the versatile third-year player who has acted as an extra offensive lineman.
In just his fifth game starting at left tackle in the NFL, this will be the biggest test of his career. He said it will be big for him to feed off everyone else’s energy. That to have success against Garrett and the Browns front, everyone has to play as one.
That all may be true, but eyes will be on Broderick. If there was a time for him to show why he was a first-round pick, Sunday is it.