Myles Garrett is the most feared player in the NFL, which means it’s okay to just make him more lethal. Garrett is in Australia preparing for the opening week with the 49ers, and is using the time to become a technically refined striker with the help of a renowned rugby coach.
The idea is simple: Instead of having Garrett take a step and pull his leg to make contact, coach Billy Coffey has the pass rusher take a slight pre-step and then flare his hips even more. Pushing instead in the contact. This is basically Rugby 101, and when it comes to Coach Coffey he has the resume to back it up.
A strength and conditioning coach at the Wanderers Rugby Union Football Club outside Sydney, Coffey graduated as a strength and conditioning coach from the prestigious Australian Institute of Sport. Awarded for improving his fighting technique, he is rewriting how tackles are tackled in contact sports with a lower-body explosive technique instead of using the shoulder or head, thereby trying to reduce the risk of concussions.
It’s amazing how this ties in with Garrett. Getting hit by a superstar defenseman was already terrifying. Imagine if this actually caused more pain to the opponents?