If you are familiar with the Browns, or even the NFL in general, you probably saw the Nike Ad featuring Shedeur Sanders holding up his arm as if he were holding a watch, with the tagline, “It’s only a matter of time.” Well, Browns fans, now is that time. Sanders will make his first NFL start this Sunday when the Browns visit the Las Vegas Raiders. With Dylan Gabriel dealing with the after effects of a concussion he suffered this past Sunday against the Ravens, it’s a great chance for Sanders to prove that he is the man to finally end the quarterback carousel in Cleveland. With that being said, here are a few keys for both Sanders and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to have a successful day at the office.
1) Lean on the run game. It is often said that dogs are man’s best friend. A strong running game is a young quarterback’s best friend. It opens up play-action passes, as well as takes the pressure off a quarterback to do it all himself. I expect to see a heavy dose of Quinshon Judkins this Sunday. He comes in as the Browns’ leading rusher, averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He has cooled off a bit since his hot start, not eclipsing 100 yards since the London game vs the Vikings, but he still shows flashes of being a quality starting running back.
2.) Throw it to the tight ends! Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy has been unable to replicate the success that he had last year, but the Browns still feature two quality tight ends, David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin Jr. Fannin Jr is actually the Browns’ leading receiver in both yards and explosive plays (plays of over 20 yards gained). I expect some passes in both the short and intermediate areas to negate Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The Raiders as a team do not excel at creating pressure, but Crosby must always be accounted for.
3.) Play within yourself and try not to do too much. Oftentimes, a rookie quarterback is brought in and expected to be the franchise’s savior. While the Browns have been searching for a franchise quarterback since 1999, they have a quality roster already in place. Sanders really doesn’t have to go out and win this game on his own like he often had to at Colorado. Simply keeping the offense moving and avoiding negative plays will keep the Browns in this game against the Raiders’ defense. They rank towards the middle of the pack in both yards and points allowed.
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