Myles Garrett represents one of the biggest threats to the Steelers over the next several years. The 2017 No. 1 overall pick has played three games against the Steelers and has had 10 tackles, four sacks and three forced fumbles.
So looking at those numbers, that must mean Garrett owns Alejandro Villanueva, right?
Wrong. Villanueva struggled at times, but his past two seasons have been some of the best work of a Steelers' left tackle in a long time. Villanueva has mostly nullified Garrett when they've been matched up, and their rivalry is one all fans should keep an eye on for both games in 2019.
Let's hit the film and break it down:
Of the four sacks by Garrett, one came as a result of Villanueva being tripped by Ramon Foster, another came against David DeCastro, another was a result of Ben Roethlisberger holding onto the ball too long, and the only sack where Garrett legitimately beat Villanueva was to get Landry Jones on the final week of the 2017 season.
Garrett is one of the NFL's premier edge rushers with 20.5 sacks in his first two seasons. He's a legitimate, consistent threat. But when matched against Villanueva, he hasn't been the physically dominant force that terrorizes most tackles.
Watch this sack as an example of him getting his job done, but Villanueva gave him the runaround and what should've been enough time for Roethlisberger to throw the ball away.
Villanueva's feet are quick out of his stance and he gets wide enough to meet Garrett and force him to take a wide path around the pocket. The sack comes when Roethlisberger holds the ball for more than five seconds and Garrett eventually gets a second chance on the play:
That's one of the plays you can't blame on the line, and it's also an example of how Villanueva has been the perfect tackle to counter Garrett's aggressive rush style. Villanueva's 6-foot-9 build dwarfs Garrett at 6-foot-4, so the key for Villanueva is neutralizing Garrett's explosiveness off the ball.
Dale Lolley wrote on Friday about how this offensive line is one of the league's best, and Villanueva is a key cog in their dominance.
Villanueva has worked to be more consistent with his footwork so that he can maximize the advantage of his huge frame. Watch how he deals with Garrett by being in position and using his long arm to establish his foundation. His hands punch inside of Garrett's and keep his feet chopping all the way around Roethlisberger:
Villanueva's tape against Garrett should be a strong reminder of how good he and the offensive line has been over the years. For a while, Villanueva was the biggest liability on the Steelers' line. But now he's become one of its most consistent contributors.
If the Browns are going to stand a chance at taking the AFC North, they'll need to get past the Steelers along with the Ravens, and Garrett might be their best chance. Having a guy like Villanueva to neutralize that chance should be very reassuring for those hoping the Steelers stay above the Browns in the standings.
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