Browns defensive end Myles Garrett felt the team took a step forward through its joint practice with the Carolina Panthers.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Myles Garrett set the gauntlet for the Cleveland Browns late in the 2024 season when he talked about wanting to contend. The All-Pro defensive end then set the gauntlet down for himself in the offseason, first with a public trade request followed by a big extension.
How much that means in a change in wins and losses from last season's three-win disaster remains to be seen. What Garrett does believe is that the message has been received about needing to change the approach to the season's preparations.
“I like how the standard has continued to increase every single day," Garrett said after the Browns' Aug. 6 joint practice at the Carolina Panthers. "You know, guys are really showing an attention to detail and a discipline that I don’t feel was there all the time last year. And it’s a heightened awareness, heightened urgency right now. And I want to continue to see that for the rest of the year.”
On July 23, the first day of camp, Garrett set his usual expectations: win another Defensive Player of the Year, while getting to a Super Bowl.
The latter is a goal that, even with a changed mindset, the Browns could fall well short of achieving. The problem at times has been that even that mindset didn't exist, let alone the talent.
While Garrett vocalized the desire for change, the message has to be absorbed and passed on by others to be effective. That's why, two weeks into training camp, he believes he can see such a change in the organization.
“I feel like it was an effort all around, from coaches to players," Garrett said "You know, it’s got to be everyone in the building, from (the) Haslams down to know the last guy on the roster. You know, everyone’s got to have the same mindset of what we expect from every single one of us walking into that building. And I think it’s got to continue to be pushed by the leaders of the team who have been expected to rise up to that role. And I think a lot of guys have stepped into it and made the most of it.”
That's taking a very macro-level approach to any progress. The micro-level look starts with what the Browns did in the 90 minutes or so they were on the field against the Panthers, which will stand for the only work a handful of their front-line players, including Garrett, will get while in Charlotte.
It was far from a flawless day on either side of the ball for the Browns. Garrett, though, would call it part of the process.
“Yeah, for sure I mean, it wasn’t perfect as far as, you know, it being clean, but the guys getting after it, competing, stepping up to the challenge," Garrett said. "It’s the first time getting in front of another team. I like where our heads were at. I like how well we handled the intensity and tried to raise it to our own. And it was a good step forward in trying to create a standard.”
That standard doesn't mean perfection, though. That's not what Garrett was expecting when he went into the day.
In fact, it would be a miracle for any team to achieve that the first time out.
“Not yet," Garrett said. "I mean, there’s so many different groups that we have in one, two, threes and cycling through that, you sometimes you’re playing with guys you haven’t had a lot of reps with and so you’re not expecting it to be there. The communication is not exactly where it needs to be with a guy you’re getting three or four reps with. So, you want it to be clean, you want it to be smooth and perfect, but you’ve got to get more reps.”
The Browns get to go against the team that is The Standard, at least right now, next week in Philadelphia. The Eagles are such because they're the ones who can most recently say they won the Super Bowl.
The time in Philadelphia will provide two days' worth of joint practices. That's two more days the Browns can find ways to get better, even when it doesn't always feel like they're improving.
That's Garrett's message to his teammates about how to view the first two weeks of the preseason schedule. While it's several days away from Northeast Ohio, it's also several days closer to reaching the standard he believes is achievable, if they heed his message.
“Sure, it can be good as long as you come into it with the right mindset, trying to get something out of it, not looking at it as an escape or a vacation," Garrett said. "You’ve got to look at it as a way to get better. You can compete against some of the very best in the position across the league. So, take it as a challenge. Use these different looks, these different players, as a way to grow the player, the team, as a leader and just look forward to working with your brother. Take it with a smile on your face and continue to attack the role every time.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Myles Garrett feels Browns took 'good step forward' against Panthers
Category: General Sports
