Garrett: Game plan vs. Steelers ‘wrong approach’
Defensive PITTSBURGH — end Myles Garrett liked the way the Browns attacked Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and company in the Sept. 9 season opener but had a problem with their strategy in Sunday’s 33-18 loss at Heinz Field.
“I think we just took the wrong approach this time,” Garrett said. “I think we should’ve just stayed with what we did the first time, just go with base calls and punch them in the mouth.
“I just feel like we were moving around a lot in the front four and we were experimenting with some things, and I think we should’ve just stayed in our usual calls and just got after that.”
Garrett theorized the approach contributed to Steelers running back James Conner rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries (6.1 average).
“We just weren’t in the right places at the right times sometimes, and then we were taken advantage of,” Garrett said. “That’s how James was able to get around the edge or just skip through some of those gaps that we created for him.”
For the record, in the season-opening 21-21 tie between the Browns and the Steelers, Conner had 135 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries (4.4 average).
Close call
Browns defensive back Damarious Randall nearly thwarted Roethlisberger’s 1-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown just before halftime.
On first-and-goal at the 1, Roethlisberger turned to his left and quickly threw to Brown, who caught the pass and ran into the end zone, allowing the Steelers to capture a 14-6 lead with eight seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Randall read the play perfectly but just missed what could have been a broken up pass or even an interception.
“I saw something I saw on film,” Randall said. “I tried to go make a play. I feel like I was a little bit faster than what they were, and the ball was a little bit behind me and I just couldn’t grasp it.
“I thought (I would have an interception returned for) a touchdown. When I saw them come out in the formation, (it was) the same play New Orleans scored on us against. Our offense actually put that in the playbook and then ran it against us in practice this week. I saw it and I’m just like, ‘No way they’re running this play.’ I was probably a little too excited.”