Every quarterback has a style, and the best ones lean into it when the lights come on. Some are content to move the chains with short throws and protect the football. Others are always hunting for the big play, even if it means taking a risk or two. Heading into his first start of the season, Shedeur Sanders appears firmly in that second group.
Mary Kay Cabot broke down what she expects from Sanders in New Orleans and she believes he will thrive.
“I really expect him to hit those explosive plays. He has a much better supporting cast than he did last year. He’s got that pick your poison offense. He’s got KC, he’s got Denzel, he’s got Harold Fannin, he’s got Dylan Sampson coming out of the backfield. He’s got Jerry Jeudy. So I think that he’s going to fare pretty well on those explosive plays against this defense. He’s not facing the Pittsburgh Steelers defense in Pittsburgh. That’s not what this is. It’s not a good pass defense, and he’s going to have opportunities to take shots. He takes shots even when he doesn’t have opportunities to take shots. So, he’s definitely going to take some chances. He’s going to take some risks. That’s who he is,” Cabot said.
Cabot’s focus on explosive plays makes sense for this matchup. The Browns have struggled to finish drives all season, scoring just 13 offensive touchdowns through 8 games. Chunk plays are one of the quickest ways to fix that, and Sanders has the type of aggressive mindset that looks for them.
The opponent matters too. Last week, Deshaun Watson faced a Steelers defense that sacked him 8 times on its home field. The Saints are 2-5, and Cabot does not believe their secondary can match up with Cleveland’s group of pass catchers. Cornerback Martin Emerson was also limited in practice this week with a shin injury.
The weapons give Sanders plenty of choices. KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston have both produced plays of 20 or more yards at a high rate, Harold Fannin Jr. caught 10 passes last week, and Jerry Jeudy is still a reliable veteran option. Dylan Sampson adds another target out of the backfield, which could help against the blitz.
Sanders takes shots even when the opening is not there, and that can go both ways. A well-timed deep ball can flip a game, but a forced throw into coverage can hand it away.
That is the balance Todd Monken will want to find. He said earlier this week that he could not wait to see Sanders let it rip, so the green light appears to be there. The key will be picking the right moments.
Sunday will show which version of the risk-taker shows up. If the explosive plays come, the Browns could get the offensive spark they have been missing.
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