Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken confirmed this week that Shedeur Sanders will start for the team in place of Deshaun Watson, with Watson in concussion protocol. He has since cleared that process, but he didn't get enough reps in practice to comfortably start in Week 9.
For the New Orleans Saints, not allowing Sanders to ease into his first start of the season is a must. The concern is what Sanders can do when his first read is available and when the pocket stays clean.
That puts Harold Fannin Jr. near the top of the Saints' watch list ahead of Sunday's matchup. The second-year tight end caught 10 passes for 154 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week and previously caught 8 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown against the Tennessee
Titans last December.
In that December game against fellow rookie Cam Ward, Sanders threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns, showing the damage he could do despite an uneven rookie season. The Saints need to tackle cleanly underneath and stay disciplined in coverage to prevent routing completions from becoming explosive gains, a threat that has become more pertinent this season with the additions of KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston.
New Orleans should also make Sanders ' process-changing coverage look and work beyond his first read. Making and disguising their look effectively will force Sanders to retreat under pressure and take unnecessary sacks, as he's shown in the past.
Containing Quinshon Judkins is part of that plan, too. Allowing Cleveland to set up short third downs would make Sanders' return easier, while longer passing situations give Brandon Staley more chances to disguise pressure and challenge his decision-making.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints must disrupt Shedeur Sanders’ timing in Week 9
