The rich got richer on Monday after the Los Angeles Rams acquired the best defensive player in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers and the rest of the NFL had enough trouble slowing down Jared Verse and the Rams’ pass rush. Now, the rest of the league will have its hands full with Myles Garrett.
The first player to go against Garrett in a Rams uniform is the Niners’ left tackle, Trent Williams. He was asked on Monday if he lost any sleep over Garrett: “Not yet, but I’m sure I will. Nah, I lied. Yeah,
I have.”
Williams was asked a follow-up question. What makes Garrett so good?
“Everything. He can do everything. He’s one of the best to ever play it. He has no weaknesses.”
Williams has immense respect for Garrett. He previously told Garrett after a matchup, “I don’t care if I ever see you again,” Williams said to Garrett while laughing.
Not all pressures are created equally. Garrett had the type of pressures where he was in your face almost immediately, while Verse, while still effective, was the type that affected the play after a couple of seconds.
Next Gen Stats tracks “quick pressures,” which happen under 2.5 seconds. Garrett had the fifth-most in the NFL with 31, while Verse tied Bryce Huff with 19.
Overall, Garrett’s pressure rate was 16.3 percent compared to Verse’s 13.9 percent. Where the biggest difference comes into play is getting off the line of scrimmage. Garrett is otherworldly in this regard, while Verse’s time mirrors that of Mykel Williams.
Nick Bosa was second in the NFL last season with a get-off time of 0.74 seconds. A number that is extraordinary and highlights what makes Bosa so effective. Garrett’s get-off time is 0.70.
When Williams says Garrett has no weaknesses, he’s not lying, outside of an occasional freelance that you could argue was as much to do with the situation he’s playing in as anything.
