QB Shedeur Sanders (8.1.26)
Shedeur, can you put into words how much more comfortable within yourself you feel entering year two compared to this time last year?
“I would say I pretty much figured myself out. Figured out my routine, learned about myself way more and I’m overall happy with the process.”
Shedeur, you talked a couple weeks ago at your camp about being down in Miami with Deshaun (Watson) and some of the guys. How much have you guys been able to carry over what you guys worked on down there over these first few days?
“Any rep at any point in time is extremely important. Even the guys that weren’t able to make it, we talk about different things in the building and we work after practice on things. So every rep that we’re able to get with our guys truly, truly makes a difference and truly builds that trust and connection.”
How do you sense the way your camp is going here after three days?
“I just take it a day at a time. I focus on things I’ve got to get better at, focus on the things I’ve got to be more crisp at and understand the flaws that I have and keep improving that.”
How exciting was it to have your Pops (Deion Sanders) here the other day?
“How exciting was it?”
Yeah.
“It was good. Like, I’m overall focused every day on the practice, So the outside, nothing else really matters whenever I’m on the field and that. But whenever I’m off the field, of course I’m excited that I see my dad. I hadn’t seen him since, I don’t know, like the summer maybe? But nothing matters when you’re between the lines.”
I know things will intensify when pads come on, but how much work have you seen the defense given you guys, the entire offense?
“We get great looks every day, and that’s what I’m excited about going into the season. Reviewing all the film from last year and the mistakes I made, and just being able to recognize, have a better pre-snap be able to recognize things better and post-snap, also. The fact that our defense gives us a lot of different looks and everything is truly great that we’re able to get that in practice.”
Shedeur, when you’re talking about pre-snap and post-snap, just the responsibilities in this offense, how have you adjusted to all the new information you’ve had to absorb and implement this offseason, and how do you think you’re coming along out on the practice field while you’re going through these install days?
“Of course there are going to be good days, bad days. We always strive to have our best days every day. But I play better and feel better whenever I have all the information and I know exactly what’s going on at all times. So that’s why I just spend every minute, every hour of my time really focused on being the best quarterback I could be and being the best leader for this team I could be. That obviously translates because the more information I know, the more comfortable I am as a person.”
Todd Monken talked the other day about cadences, and how there can be up to 10 different cadences in a game. How does that compare to last year when you were on the team, or going back to Colorado?
“Colorado? I can’t even think. I don’t even go down memory lane no more at Colorado anymore. I see a couple highlights a little there sometimes. I’m so locked in on this year that I don’t think about the years prior or live in the past, because that doesn’t benefit me or help me get to my goal or the team get to our goal as a team. Nothing matters to me if it’s not helping us win, if it’s not doing anything, it just doesn’t make sense.”
Perfecting all of his different cadences, how much of a challenge is that?
“I wouldn’t say anything’s a challenge. It’s just about sacrifices, what are you willing to sacrifice to have the mental capacity to do that. You can’t stretch yourself thin.”
Sheduer, we look at every practice as a race between you and Deshaun, and we’re judging who’s ahead and who’s behind. Do you do it that way or if you don’t do it that way, how do you block that competition?
“We just got to get a next question. I’ve answered this question a thousand times. We focus on ourselves and what we do and what we need to do to get better each and every day. So, that’s just something you all think about and care about.”
Sheduer, Monday is the first time the pads come on. How much are you looking forward to that, and how do you think things will be different for you once that happens?
“I live in the present, so I’m looking forward to practice today, and then after that then I can think.”
Shedeur, it seems like over these first handful of days, we’ve seen you connect with KC (Concepcion) and Denzel Boston a lot. What’s it been like getting to work with those two rookies and adding them into your offense?
“I’m super excited for them. Overall, I’m really happy that they’re here, and all the decision-makers made the decision to bring them here, because they’ve definitely held up their end, and they’re definitely a part of the standard we have here. It’s exciting being able to see young guys come in and have daily success, and that success daily is going to add up over time.”
Speaking to these new pieces, what’s it been like playing behind some of the new guys that the Browns added to the offensive line?
“There’s a lot of different personalities, though, and I enjoy it.Tthat’s what I love the best about them. They’re all so different, and it’s just a different vibe, a different atmosphere that we have here, even just interacting with each other, coming to work every day, doing all this stuff, like it’s exciting being able to see them. This summer, I’m like ‘Dang! I feel like I didn’t have many friends,’ and I love getting back here and see everybody and then be able to spend this time that we have together, we’re all working toward one goal, one purpose, so we’re all aligned. It’s easy to hang out with each other because on the field, off the field, we both all have the same end goals. It’s easy to connect with those people.”
Why do you think that was last year that you felt like you had not a lot of friends? Was that just the position you were in?
“I was saying more like in a real-life, like whenever you have a group of people you hang out with every day which is at the facility, those relationships, then you have a break, it’s kind of like ‘Dang!’ you kind of miss that. I’m sure you all miss each other, too, during the break, I’m sure. Just having that type of connection and everything is truly exciting.”
Shedeur, when you talk about figuring yourself out between year one and year two, does that lead to more consistency day in and day out? How important is that?
“I think it’s more about like, if you’re consistent with anything, you’re going to be consistent with everything. It’s a simple thing. If you eat at this time every day, then you’re going to be better and consistent at eating everyday at that time. I don’t really know.”
You’re doing a nice job protecting the football so far — how are you balancing that with the processing speed and aggression?
“Honestly, I just want to play football. This stuff is cool and all, but I’m just here to play football, honestly.”
Shedeur, you guys now have Denzel (Ward) and Grant (Delpit) in practice, which you didn’t have throughout OTAs and minicamp. Now they’re in the fold. How challenging is it or how are those guys challenging you as an offense while you’re out there?
“On the defensive side of the ball?”
Yeah, and I mean they weren’t in OTAs or minicamp. So how have they kind of brought up the intensity on that side of the ball for you to go against?
“I would say of course, they’re great players. They’re overall great players. So, when they come in, of course it’s a little different, but offensive side, we don’t really care. We try not to care about who’s on the other side and we try to attack them. That’s what it is. Them being great makes us greater than we are, so it just helps out overall.”
How did it feel that yesterday you had that huge crowd of kids screaming for your name — you had fans from the youngest being like a baby to the oldest fan that you had. What’s it like having that support from Cleveland in year two?
“It feels amazing. I wouldn’t say that’s anything new, I would say it’s just new here. I’m thankful that I am able to have a platform and that I’m an inspiration for a lot of people, but I wouldn’t say it’s super surprising. I think the work and everything that we’ve put in and overall how life is going so far, I think that’s just what comes with it, and I appreciate those relationships. Forget the kids, what about the parents that brought the kids? That’s a big sacrifice, right there. I think the parents who weren’t able to get in that had to stand outside the gate and watch their kids. Overall, it’s a great feeling, but right now I’m focused on practice, and like, this isn’t really helping us win games, so I’m not really interested.”
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