The Las Vegas Raiders plan to get after Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders early and often in Week 12.
Sanders is set to make his first NFL start on Sunday on the road, and the Raiders‘ defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham, is eager to game plan for him. Sanders has been known to drift around the pocket and hold onto the ball too long, which Graham believes can be an issue.
“All young quarterbacks think that’s the (right) move,” Graham said on Thursday about Sanders. “They all think that’s the move. I’ve told you before, you could do that, but the monsters are back there. I’m sure, Coach Stefanski, Coach Rees are working on stepping into the pocket.
“But, all young quarterbacks tend to do that because in college, it’s just different. (In the NFL), you got Maxx Crosby, those guys. I would stay the hell away from being back there.”
As Graham noted, the Raiders have Crosby, who will be ready to punish Sanders if he holds onto the ball too long.
Against the Baltimore Ravens in relief, Sanders was sacked twice and was under pressure multiple times. So, Graham expects the Raiders’ defensive line to be able to get after Sanders, and if they don’t sack him, force him to make bad throws.
Shedeur Sanders Reveals Plan for 1st NFL Start
Sanders made his NFL debut in relief of Dillon Gabriel, who was in concussion protocol.
Now, on Sunday, Sanders is set for his first NFL start, which he’s excited about. The rookie quarterback is also confident in his preparation to have plenty of success.
“The same how I always am,” Sanders said on Wednesday. “Knowing exactly where everybody’s going to be, prepare, understand that they have a great defense, they’re coached by a great coach, and they have great players on that side of the ball. So just doing what I can to prepare mentally, physically, emotionally, to make sure I’m my best self.”
Sanders, meanwhile, is confident he will be able to have plenty of success against the Raiders. Although he was sacked twice, he feels confident he can pick up the blitz well.
“I think I handled the blitz pretty good. I think it’s some certain scenarios I could have been tighter, my footwork and everything,” Sanders added. “But when it comes from film studying, from everything, there’s a lot of things from that side I’ve done well, and minus the couple things going into the game, of course, that I could change. But all that’s about feel. All that’s about a different feel and about getting the reps and doing everything like that.”
Browns OC Not Putting Expectations on Sanders
With Sanders set for his first NFL start, the rookie quarterback is getting all the first-team practice reps this season.
Although Sanders is getting all the first-team reps, Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees isn’t putting any expectations or pressure on the rookie quarterback.
“Certainly don’t try to put any sort of expectation on guys, especially young players,” Rees said on Thursday. “I think we’re about our process and about what drives that process. Certainly, you look at having a full week of prep, a full week of game planning, a full week of him being in the forefront of your mind as a coach.
“He knows that as a player, you hope that all those things benefit and come to fruition on Sunday. Expectations – I would say we try to limit those. It’s more about, ‘hey, we’re going to pour this whole week into making sure that you feel comfortable and confident’, and our goal and our job is to make sure that he gets that feel and gets ready to go on Sunday.”
The Browns are 3.5-point underdogs against the Raiders on Sunday.
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