Browns DL coach Chris Kiffin: Myles Garrett is ‘just scratching the surface of what he can be’

Chris Kiffin

Browns defensive line coach Chris Kiffin believes Myles Garrett has plenty more to accomplish against NFL offensive lines in 2020. (Cleveland Browns photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Myles Garrett is thrilled to be back with the Browns, and his new defensive line coach Chris Kiffin can’t wait to help him pick up where he left off in 2019.

“Myles is an athletic freak as everyone knows, but what excites me about him is he’s just getting started,’’ Kiffin said in a release provided Thursday by the Browns. “He’s just scratching the surface of what he can be."

Kiffin, who spent the past two seasons as San Francisco’s pass-rush specialist under Kyle Shanahan, has already spoken to Garrett following the end’s reinstatement following a six-game suspension. When he left, he was fourth in the NFL with 10 sacks and a candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was also on pace to shatter the Browns’ single-season sack record.

“In talking with him, he’s really eager to get back to work and he wants to chase greatness," Kiffin said. “When you have that mindset, it’s going to be really easy to coach. ... It’s going to carry off on everybody else too in the room.’’

Kiffin’s room figures to include Sheldon Richardson, Larry Ogunjobi, Olivier Vernon and Chad Thomas.

“We’re going to create some great competition in that room, build quality depth, [and] guys that want to perform at a high level,’’ he said. “Hopefully we get that group to gel and come together and be a strong point for the defense.”

With Garrett suspended and Vernon missing most of the second half of the season with a knee injury, the Browns struggled down the stretch. The second-leading sacker was Ogunjobi with 5.5 and Vernon managed just 3.5 in 10 games. But Kiffin, a former defensive lineman at Colorado State, plans to emphasize teaching.

“You’ve got to be able to relate to players,’’ he said. “They’ve got to know that you’re genuine and honest and that you have their best interest at heart. All players at all levels can see through that if you’re not. To me, it’s about being a great teacher, getting to know these guys on a personal level because we do go through a lot.

“It’s not just the three hours on Sundays. That’s just a culmination of an entire offseason with lots of work, practice, blood, sweat and tears. It’s everybody coming together and pulling in the same direction.”

The son of longtime NFL coach Monte Kiffin and brother of former Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin, he broke into the NFL as an offensive quality control coach with the Bucs in 2006. He spent the next decade coaching in the college ranks before joining Shanahan in 2018.

Working alongside new Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who was the 49ers’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator last year, Kiffin coached a loaded defensive line that featured five first-round picks, including rookie Nick Bosa.

En route to a 13-3 record and trip to the Super Bowl, the 49ers finished tied for fifth in the NFL with 48 sacks and was first in forced fumbles and fewest passing yards allowed. They were second in total yards allowed (281.8) and eighth in points allowed. They were tied for third with five defensive touchdowns.

Bosa, who had a monster game against the Browns (two sacks, five QB hits, one forced fumble and a recovery) in his grudge match with the flag-planting Baker Mayfield, was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after notching nine sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and two recoveries.

“That didn’t happen overnight,” Kiffin said. “Guys had been percolating, working hard and developing. It was just beautiful to watch it all come together for the perfect storm. I tell people all the time, because of the back-end guys, we were the deepest D-line in the league because we had role players that could be starters with other teams. To me, it was top to bottom a culture created and they all loved coming to work together every day and great things happen from units like that.”

Woods is excited to bring Kiffin to Cleveland.

“I’ve known Chris for a long time,’’ he said. “I worked with his father Monte down in Tampa Bay and that’s when I first met him. This previous year, he did a great job at San Francisco as assistant defensive line coach. He has a great football IQ. He relates to players very well, he can coach anybody and I’m excited for him to get his first full-time role in the NFL coaching the defensive line here.”

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