BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Myles Garrett and defensive coordinator Joe Woods are cool.
Garrett expressed his frustrations over a lack of defensive adjustments to reporters following a 45-7 loss at New England that dropped the Browns to 5-5 and saw them allow three touchdown drives of over 90 yards.
“I don’t think there was ever like a rift between us,” Garrett said Friday. “There was never a problem. I was frustrated because I felt like we could have done more, but it’s tough to see.
“I mean, he’s got a tough job just like I do, and I want to make plays and it was tough for him because they were scheming me and JD and he’s doing his best to put us in position to make plays, so I don’t think there’s a problem at all between us.”
It marked the fourth time the Browns allowed over 28 points in a game this season, and they’re winless in those games.
Thursday afternoon Woods, who has come under fire for an underperforming and inconsistent defensive unit, said he had no problems with Garrett or criticism from fans and media.
“He knew what I meant, and he knows that none of us did well enough – coaches or players,” Garrett said. “So he wants to see us make plays and I’m sure everybody else does too in Cleveland so I don’t think he took it the wrong way. We just all want it to stay in house and that’s understandable.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke with Garrett on Monday about his postgame remarks and encouraged the All Pro to keep his dissatisfaction in house.
Garrett agreed.
“I think it’s important for all of us to see eye to eye – players and coaches,” Garrett said. “You’ve got to have chemistry all across the board and when something’s off, then that’s when you see holes in our game, and I think we got some things corrected out here in what we want and what we want to achieve and where we want guys to line up on the field, so I think we’ll be good.”
Playing hurt – Baker Mayfield might be beat up, but Stefanski is going to keep trotting him out there until Mayfield needs a wheelchair.
Despite facing the 0-8-1 Lions, Stefanski won’t give Mayfield a week to rest a pair of knee injuries, a sore foot as well as torn labrum and fracture of the humerus bone in his left shoulder.
“He will start,” Stefanski said.
The Browns are paying Case Keenum $6 million to hold a clipboard, despite Keenum helping the Browns beat the Broncos earlier this year when Mayfield wouldn’t recover in time from dislocating his left shoulder October 17 in a 37-14 loss to the Cardinals.
Last week against the Patriots Mayfield suffered a right knee contusion which caused him to lose feeling in his leg temporarily. The injuries have taken their toll and Mayfield’s accuracy, touch and mobility have not been where they need to be, yet Stefanski insists Mayfield is good enough to play.
“He looked good,” Stefanski said.
To Stefanski’s point, Mayfield has looked more comfortable throwing the football in practice during the portions open to reporters – on air, with no defense and pressure – on Friday’s compared to earlier in the week. Then Sunday comes.
News to me – Garrett was a little surprised to learn that Jared Goff would not be starting Sunday for the Lions and Tim Boyle will make his first NFL start.
“It’s not Goff?” Garrett responded when asked what he new about Detroit’s young QB.
“Not much. I have to do my research. I wasn’t sure if Goff was going to play, so now get to it. Still got a lot of time for film study.”
Goff has been unable to practice due to an oblique injury and is listed as doubtful for the game.
While Garrett has some studying to do on Boyle, he’s expecting the Lions to run, and run a lot Sunday.
“They’re not going to try and let him put the game in his hands,” Garrett said. “They’ll try and run the ball, they had success with that last week. So we’ve got to force their hand, where if they can’t run the ball well, he’s got to make plays. And then see what we can do.
Injury report – OUT: CB A.J. Green (concussion), WR Anthony Schwartz (concussion), CB Troy Hill (neck); QUESTIONABLE: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (groin), DE Takkarist McKinley (groin); EXPECTED TO PLAY: C J.C. Tretter (knee), DT Malik Jackson (knee), WR Jarvis Landry (knee), QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder, foot, knee), DE Jadeveon Clowney (wrist, ankle, knee), OT Blake Hance (thumb), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder)
Up next – Lions at browns Sunday at 1 p.m.