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Myles Garrett: ‘I have to be smarter, better with strike zone’ to help Cleveland Browns

After two roughing the passer penalties against the New York Jets, Myles Garrett knows he has to be ‘better with his strike zone’ to help the Cleveland Browns.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett registered three sacks in a 23-3 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Monday Night Football last week, but it was another two plays that drew most of the attention.

Garrett was flagged twice for roughing the passer, the latter of which caused an injury that forced reserve quarterback Trevor Siemian from the game in favor of former practice squad signal-caller Luke Falk.

“It is hurting right now because you want to play aggressive, you want to play passionate and you just want to finish the play,” Garrett said after Wednesday’s practice. “I am going to keep on playing with the same aggression. I just have to be smarter, better with my strike zone and try to pull off so I do not land with all my weight.

“That was the main point of emphasis when the refs talked to me, so I just have to be better at that. I am not going to pull off on a one-step and hit on the quarterback like that. If I know I have to be two steps or more, I am going to pull off. I am not trying to do anything dirty. I am not trying to injure anybody.”

Credit: AP
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) rushes the quarterback during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, in Cleveland. The Browns won 21-17. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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Following the game, Garrett took to social media to wish Siemian a speedy recovery, but it was not until Tuesday afternoon that the Jets learned the full extent of the damage done to their quarterback’s left ankle.

Siemian will miss the remainder of the 2019 season once he undergoes surgery to repair multiple torn ligaments.

“You do not want to put anybody out for the season,” Garrett said. “That is their job. That is something that you do not do unless you love it, and you do not want to take that away from anybody. I hope he comes back faster and stronger than he ever has. I wish the best for him.

“They said I hit too high. I looked at it, I did not think so, but I was just going off of what they are calling. They said I kind of scooped him and put my weight into him, so I have to just remember to be able to turn to the side and get my body weight off of him.”

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Penalties aside, Garrett was not an easy man to block against the Jets.

Garrett set a new single-game career high with the three sacks over the first two-plus quarters of play, which helped the Browns hold a 16-3 lead over the Jets late in the third period.

With his third sack of the game early in the third quarter, Garrett became the first Browns player to record multiple sacks in back-to-back games since linebacker Jamir Miller in 2001 and first defender with a three-sack game since hybrid linebacker/defensive end Paul Kruger achieved the feat on October 26, 2014.

“Just being disciplined and understanding that his greatest strength is his greatest weakness,” defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said of Garrett. “He is so quick off the ball that teams are going to hard count to try to get him to jump. They are going to change the snap count. We have to be locked in and focused so we do not put ourselves in that position.

“If he is Defensive Player of the Year, we are winning a lot of football games and I am excited about that. I hope he gets it, and in the process right here, we just continue to make sure we are doing everything to help the Cleveland Browns defense win games.”

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