ROCKY RIVER, Ohio _ Myles Garrett wants to maximize his opportunities to make a game-changing difference for the Browns, and he's confident he'll become a fixture in the lineup because he's healthier and stronger than he was a year ago.
"I wanted to get in better condition, so I can be out there and make plays, create turnovers," Garrett said Monday during the 19th annual Cleveland Browns Foundation Golf Tournament at Westwood Country Club.
Garrett, 6-foot-4 {, explained he still weighs about 272 pounds, but he has added muscle and reduced fat this offseason.
"The last game of the season, I was going most of the game," Garrett said. "I think I took five, maybe 10 plays off. That's my goal _ to be on the field as much as possible, so I can make as big of an impact as possible."
To be more precise, Garrett played 52 of 59 snaps when the Browns lost 28-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 and finished 0-16.
Speaking of the Steelers, Garrett has yet to face quarterback Ben Roethlisberger since the young defensive end vowed to "chop him down" after the Browns drafted him first overall last year.
Garrett sat out the first four games last season with a high-ankle sprain, so he missed a chance to play against Roethlisberger in Week 1. Then in the season finale, the Steelers rested Roethlisberger for the playoffs.
Barring injury, Garrett will finally get a crack at Roethlisberger when the Browns host the Steelers on Sept. 9 in the regular-season opener.
"Oh, thank God," Garrett said.
Of course, Garrett said he "absolutely" still plans to take down Roethlisberger.
"I'm a man of my word," Garrett said. "So hopefully I get to meet him on the field and off the field."
Garrett had seven sacks in 11 games last season, when he was plagued by injuries. After playing through a high-ankle sprain during the second half of his final season at Texas A&M University, he suffered a lateral foot sprain in June in mandatory minicamp. Then he missed four games with the high-ankle sprain he suffered in practice a few days before the opener. Later in the season, he missed one more game with a concussion.
According to pro-football-reference.com, Garrett played 518 of 1,068 snaps (48.5 percent) last season. Ten defenders played more, including two defensive linemen: tackle Trevon Coley (656) and end Carl Nassib (643).
"Being healthy this year, it's really about my confidence," Garrett said. "Being able to be more mobile, not have anything hold me back, it's helped me, not only bring me confidence, but bring my teammates confidence knowing that I'm always going to be out there, always going to be working and there's not going to be any hindrances for this year."
The Browns hope that holds true.
They passed on North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb with the fourth overall pick in last month's draft and took Ohio State cornerback and Nordonia High School graduate Denzel Ward instead. The thinking behind the decision is Garrett and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, the 32nd overall pick in 2016 who missed the final six games of last season with a broken foot, will deliver the pass-rush production the Browns seek, so a shutdown cornerback was a greater need.
When asked about Chubb before the draft, Garrett said he hoped to continue to form a tandem with Ogbah, who posted four sacks in 10 games last season.
And Garrett conceded Monday he felt relieved when the Browns picked Ward instead of Chubb.
"Going with a guy like Chubb, he's a good player, but you have to rebuild that chemistry, and once you become friends, it's just something that it's hard to build with another guy," Garrett said. "It's not certain that will happen every time and I feel like me and Emmanuel just have something going that we can take to a higher level next year, knowing that we're both healthy and we're both ready to get after it and have special years."
The Browns drafted a defensive end, though. They picked Chad Thomas out of the University of Miami in the third round (No. 67 overall).
Which is all good in Garrett's mind, as long as he gets to play as much as he desires.
"I mean, [Thomas is] all right," Garrett said with a laugh. "He won't be coming in on my side. I'm not coming out of the game."
