Cleveland Browns—the decision to start Shedeur Sanders at quarterback was officially Shedeur Sanders’. He’s proved his right to lead the team in the upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders. This decision follows a disappointing debut in which Sanders couldn’t get into a groove in his first game on the field. With 50 starts in college football—25 at Colorado and 25 at Jackson State—Sanders possesses valuable experience, but he now faces a steep learning curve at the professional level.
In his first collegiate action, Sanders went 4/16 for 47 yards and was sacked twice. The Browns’ offensive line has had its struggles, contributing to Sanders’ difficulties. Wentz is looking forward to his first career start this Sunday. Read these stories next … Questions still remain about whether he’s truly ready for the NFL’s speed and complexity.
Performance Review
Sanders’ first performance revealed what he should lean into, as well as what he needs to course-correct on. He was especially noteworthy for his ball placement and poise under pressure. During his last season at Colorado, he had a dazzling FBS-high completion percentage of 74%. He further touted an off-target throw rate of 6.5%, which shows you how accurate of a passer he can be when given time. His debut shone a light on where he still needs to grow.
Specifically, Sanders went 0-for-5 and saved his worst for the blitz, completing none of those attempts and went 1-for-7 with a pick while under pressure. His second half was even more alarming, posting a QBR of only 2.4. Honestly, I don’t feel like I played good at all,” Sanders said immediately after the game. I think there’s a laundry list of things we need to just hone in on throughout the week and just go and get comfortable with even throwing routes with [wide receiver] Jerry [Jeudy] — throwing routes with all those guys.
He was under extreme duress from pass rushers, exposing areas where his pocket presence can be improved. At times, under tremendous duress, he made terrible decisions. This is only made worse by the Browns’ offensive line, a position-group that’s been an ongoing sore-spot on the team’s roster.
Preparing for His First Start
Sanders, meanwhile, gets set for his first official turn through the rotation. This week, he’ll get the first-team practice reps, giving him an invaluable opportunity to start building chemistry with his new offensive line and wide receivers. Throughout the summer, he did not get any first-team reps and was listed as QB4 on the depth chart during training camp.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski emphasized the importance of preparation: “You want to make sure that all the concepts are things that he feels confident in.” Building rapport with key players such as Jeudy will be pivotal for Sanders as he makes his way into this starting role.
Despite some challenges, Sanders possesses enough arm strength to deliver accurate passes when protected and in rhythm. He has excellent precision when targeting the underneath areas of the field. This impressive skill, paired with Bowers’ gravity, could set the stage for Georgia’s most explosive passing game in ages.
Challenges Ahead
Although Sanders does have plenty of college experience under his belt, jumping up to the NFL is a different beast. He still has a lot to learn, like recognizing when a play is dead and how to manage pressure situations, but the talent is there. The upcoming game against the Raiders will be a litmus test for his growth and development as a professional quarterback.
Judging by the significant use he received as a rookie, the Browns’ coaching staff seems high on his potential. As they prepare him for the fast-paced nature of NFL games, they hope that he can leverage his previous experience while learning from early mistakes. The pressure is clearly on, but so are the stakes as they look to climb up the league and qualify for Europe.
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