Alabama Football: Will 2017 Tide dominate more top opposing players?
By Ronald Evans
Alabama vs. Texas A&M 2014-2016
Myles Garrett was the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, selected by the Cleveland Browns.
The much-overused term ‘freak’ is not an over-statement when applied to Garrett. Physically all the measurables show Garrett has an extraordinary package of athletic ability. Despite the protestations from some NFL experts, including Jon Gruden, the Browns cannot be faulted for taking Myles at No. 1.
There are fair questions about Garrett. To some seasoned football experts, Garrett did not live up to his potential as a college player. Former college and NFL player Booger McFarland is one of the critics per SEC Country.
"“When you have freakish athletic ability such as Myles Garrett, when you are a freak of nature, the film should say that also,” (McFarland) said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “The film doesn’t say he’s a freak of nature. The film says, sometimes he doesn’t bring it all the time.”"
Garrett contends he often played through injuries in college. The questions remain if he has the toughness, physically and mentally to be a consistent run-stopper in the NFL.
Whatever Garrett’s NFL future, his career performance against Alabama football did not live up to his potential. In three games against the Tide in 2014-2016, Garrett made 10 solo and five assisted tackles against Alabama. He had zero sacks.
Not only is that not a dominating performance, at best it should be described as ordinary. Alabama football fans most remember images of Garrett, not on the field against the Tide, but on the sideline breathing into an oxygen mask.
Against Alabama football ‘All-World’ Myles Garrett was mostly ‘All-Nothing.’