BEREA, Ohio — On the Browns’ final play against the Steelers last week, their last chance to get a defensive stop and secure a win, star edge rusher and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett drew most of Pittsburgh’s attention.
As Garrett rushed from his right, he was met with a triple team: left tackle Dan Moore Jr., running back Jaylen Warren and left guard Isaac Seumalo.
But Garrett wasn’t the only Browns defender the Steelers focused on with multiple blockers.
Second-year edge rusher Isaiah McGuire, rushing from the left side also drew a key double-team. And it ended up being crucial in Cleveland’s 24-19 win, as Russell Wilson couldn’t complete a final Hail Mary attempt.
That double team McGuire picked up ended up being crucial, as he occupied tackle Broderick Jones and right guard Mason McCormick. That left only center Zach Frazier to pick up Ogbo Okoronkwo rushing from the interior.
And most importantly, it left linebacker Jordan Hicks unblocked, and able to lay a hard hit on Steelers QB Russell Wilson as he threw the ball.
“Myles and Isaiah were holding the edge hard upfield, making sure (Wilson) wasn’t getting out the pocket. and Ogbo was fighting,” Hicks said. “So everybody was just doing their job and that’s what good defenses do. And Isaiah obviously has the potential to be an amazing player in this defense, in this league, and he’s been able to have some more opportunities with the way the season’s going.
“So exciting for him and obviously he’s continuing to grow, which is what we need.”
So was he surprised to get any extra attention, considering Garrett had three sacks in the game?
“I’d say yes,“ McGuire told cleveland.com ”But at the same time, those are also learning curves. If I’m working towards where I want to get to for my career in general, those are the things I have to expect and also learn from and grow from.”
McGuire didn’t start Thursday’s game, but he’s gotten more action over the Browns last three contest after they traded Za’Darius Smith to Detroit just ahead of the deadline.
It also says something that the Browns went with him opposite of Garrett on a package in which they only used three defensive linemen.
“We trust Isaiah,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “There’s a bunch of guys that played really well in that game that are ‘backups.’ Whether Isaiah starts the first play or not, he’s an integral part of that front. So, we trust our guys when they’re out there.”
McGuire finished the game with three pressures according to Pro Football Focus, playing 13 pass rush snaps and 33 total defensive snaps.
“Isaiah, he played like a veteran,” Okoronkwo said. “That was his best, in my opinion, his best game as a Cleveland Brown. He was so physical, he was getting home on his rushes. He was running to the ball. He was just that physical presence that we need moving forward if we’re going to make this playoff push.
“Really proud of him. Hope he continues to just keep on stacking from this game.”
The Browns at 3-8 have six games left.
So what’s important for his continued development over this time?
Maybe the most important will be continuing to learn from Garrett, who is now at 98.5 career sacks after his three against Pittsburgh.
“When you’re learning from the best in the game, you can’t do anything but aspire to be great like him as well,” McGuire said. “Whether it’s from little habits on the field or off the field or whatever it may be, just taking from him and learning from him and applying it to my life.”
And it will be about continuing to seize each opportunity and defensive snap in front of him.
Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com’s Browns reporters.