(Photo: SB Nation)
For a team that didn’t win their division or even make it to the Super Bowl, the Los Angeles Rams were labeled as the favorites to win the Super Bowl this year. Now, I’m not one to follow trends or always agree with everyone. Are the Rams a talented football team? Absolutely. They entered this year with the reigning MVP in Matthew Stafford, who had the best season of his career last year, a top-five receiver in Puka Nacua, a serviceable receiver in Davante Adams, and one of the three best coaches in the league in Sean McVay. The biggest move they made this offseason was acquiring Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns, and they traded away a young up-and-comer in Jared Verse to land him. I get the talk. You landed arguably the best player in football, and he’s finally in a situation where he’s surrounded by a winning culture. Today, the news dropped that the Rams will be without their newest force for at least four weeks, as Myles will undergo knee surgery.
When his now-teammate Aaron Donald retired, I immediately gave Myles the crown as the best defensive player in the league, and he’s delivered. On those Cleveland teams, he was the primary focus for opposing head coaches, and the game plan always gravitated toward chipping No. 95 to make sure he didn’t wreck your entire game plan. I’ve seen teams try using additional blockers, such as tight ends or even running backs, to barricade him, and Myles simply has the quickness to get by and get where he wants. What’s made him special has been the combination of power, technique, athleticism, and overwhelming strength. Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 270 pounds, Myles has the quickness of a middle linebacker and possesses the strength of an interior defensive lineman. One thing you’re taught as a defensive lineman is to have an explosive first step, and that’s what separates Myles from every defensive player in the league today. Having that first step allows Myles to be one up on any offensive tackle in front of him, and he’s able to win his battle before they can even get fully set. He plays with leverage, and once he gets his hands on you, it’s a done deal! He’s already won, and the rep is already over before it can truly begin. I mentioned the power he possesses, but it’s worth bringing up again. I’ve seen Myles routinely throw offensive linemen into the quarterback’s lap and use his bull rush to collapse the pocket, even without recording a sack, which amazes me. A quarterback is able to feel his presence due to how quickly he can disrupt the integrity of the pocket. Against the run, Myles plays with the same energy he does against the pass. He consistently sets the edge, uses those long arms, and displays the quickness to chase down running backs. It’s the skill set he has to stop the run, paired with the arsenal of pass-rushing skills, that makes him the player he is today.
This is so unfortunate, and as I was watching their Week 1 game against the San Francisco 49ers, I could tell something wasn’t right with him. The explosiveness I mentioned above—I didn’t see that on Thursday night, and he was such a non-factor. It’s a blow for a Rams defense that was expected to climb even higher after making this acquisition. Aaron Donald may be back next week or Week 3 at the latest. What a blow, and I’m wishing Myles a speedy recovery.
