Garrett questions Williams’ defensive game plan

PITTSBURGH » Did defensive coordinator Gregg Williams do so much coordinating last week preparing for the Steelers that it affected the Browns negatively?

Defensive end Myles Garrett sure seems to think so.

The Steelers piled up 421 yards of offense in punishing the Browns, 33-18. Running back James Conner accounted for more than half of that total with 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. He had another 66 receiving yards.

Conner didn’t have to work hard for most of what he did because he ran through gaping holes and caught passes as though he were standing on a prairie.

The Browns and Steelers played to a 21-21 tie in the season opener. There was no question which was the better team in the rematch.

“I think we just took the wrong approach this time,” Garrett said in the visitor’s locker room at Heinz Field. “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.”

The Steelers actually had 472 total yards in the opener, but Conner had to work harder for his bread in that game – 31 carries for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, the Browns sacked Ben Roethlisberger four times in the opener and they forced six turnovers. Roethlisberger was sacked only once and threw two touchdown passes to Antonio Brown in the rematch. The Steelers turned the ball over twice.

“I just feel like we were moving around a lot in the front four and we were experimenting with some things (Oct. 28),” Garrett said. “I think we should’ve just stayed in our usual calls and just got after that, but we’ll go back and look at what we could’ve done better.

“We just weren’t in the right places at the right times sometimes, and then, we were taken advantage of. That’s how James (Conner) was able to get around the edge or just skip through some of those gaps that we created for him. I think it’s more of what we did rather than him just being that explosive. I mean, he’s a good player, and he’s going to make those plays that we give to him, especially when we open it up for him.”

Garrett was not speaking heatedly moments after another tough loss. He doesn’t care if he comes off as criticizing Williams.

“I don’t see it that way,” Garrett said. “He wants to go with the best plan possible, and if he thinks what works best is what we did before, then he’s going to take our adjustment into account. He’s not going to bash us for having an opinion. He wants us to be able to be on the field and be comfortable.”

Garrett sacked Roethlisberger once on Oct. 28 for his only tackle.