Shedeur Sanders … and four other things to watch tonight in preseason opener

The buzz is undeniable.Shedeur Sanders getting the start, even in the preseason, qualifies as must-see TV. That's rare for football in August.The rookie quarterback is expected to play at least a half tonight, so there should be plenty to watch and discuss.The appearance isn't just about excitement. Evaluation and evolution are more important.Excitement surrounds Shedeur Sanders' preseason start FridayIf organized team activities, minicamp and training camp are any indication, Sanders will make plenty of good throws against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina. The best will be on intermediate and deep routes. The struggles will come before the snap — penalties or confusion getting everyone lined up — and when the pocket is compromised.Those are the two areas that deserve the most attention with Sanders against the Panthers.He took 94 sacks in two years at the University of Colorado. That was the biggest red flag in the scouting reports during the draft process.Quarterbacks aren't allowed to be sacked in camp, although there have been plenty of times when he would've been and the play continues and he throws a completion. He has also just held the ball to end the play or thrown it away too late. Sanders must avoid negative plays against the Panthers if he's going to prove development and that he will be ready if called upon during the regular season.Zone Coverage PodcastHe's expected to open the game with the second-team offensive line against Carolina's starting defense. That could lead to early pressure, which requires quick decisions and precise footwork. If Sanders can get the offense into the proper plays and get the ball out of his hand in a hurry, he should gain confidence and have a chance to throw the ball down the field when the Panthers turn to backups. He's consistently shown he can deliver the ball on time and on target if he's protected.Before the snap, he needs to be efficient in the pressure of a game situation. He's only been calling plays in a huddle and getting 10 guys lined up since May — and never in a game — so this will be a good test.In an end-of-game situation Monday in practice, the chance to pull out a victory was almost ruined by presnap penalties before he made a great throw under pressure to set up the winning field goal. When he got a second chance in the same situation — down two points in the last 22 seconds — he took a sack on third down and threw the ball away on fourth down.Ups and downs are to be expected tonight.The game won't be all about Sanders — believe it or not — and here are four other things worth watching.Dillon Gabriel's pro career is off to rough start with struggles, injuryBUSY MANDiontae Johnson could have the most intriguing roster situation for a non-quarterback.As a former Pro Bowler, it's easy to see him earning a spot as the No. 2 or No. 3 receiver for Week 1. It's also not a stretch to envision him being cut before the season.After a slow start to training camp in which he didn't make a play for days, he's come on strong for more than a week. He's able to get open consistently with a set of moves that leaves cornerbacks wondering where he went. That's a good first step for a receiver.He needed time to get in shape and learn the playbook after he wasn't around for much of the offseason program. The question is whether he'll stay locked in mentally.He nearly played himself out of the league last season, getting traded and cut multiple times and suspended after he refused to enter a game. He must continue to show that's behind him.Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman won't play vs. the Panthers, leaving Johnson as Sanders' top option. He should look for him early and often.If Johnson is engaged and productive, that would be a great sign for an offense that needs all the help it can get.READY FOR PRIME TIME?Multiple unknown receivers have made plays during camp. The Browns need to find out if the success travels away from Berea.Undrafted rookies Luke Floriea and Gage Larvadain and Kaden Davis (he's appeared in one game in three years) are competing for the final roster spot at wideout and soft landings on the practice squad.Floriea is already a fan favorite with his Mentor and Kent State roots. He's undersized (5-foot-8, 179 pounds) so he'll need a lot more production to stick around.Larvadain is also small (5-8, 171) but has come up big lately. Davis has more size (6-1, 193) and has been getting a lot of reps with the starters.The first two preseason games should go a long way in helping general manager Andrew Berry make his decisions.OFF TO A GOOD STARTSanders will be the rookie most in the spotlight, but this is an important night for the draft class as a whole.Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a third-round pick, won't play because of a tight hamstring, and second-round running back Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned following a misdemeanor domestic violence arrest.Coach Kevin Stefanski said he won't play most starters, but defensive tackle Mason Graham (No. 5 pick) and linebacker Carson Schwesinger (No. 33) could be the exceptions. They've looked good in camp and would take the next step in their transition to the NFL. If they can make a play or two in a couple of series, that would qualify as a good night.Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and running back Dylan Sampson are the other draft picks and will also be counted on Week 1.Fannin will pair with David Njoku in the regular season, and Sanders should look for him a lot tonight.Sampson could be the No. 2 back behind Jerome Ford to start the season with Judkins not expected to be available. Sampson needs to show he can break tackles and make defenders miss when the hitting and tackling aren't monitored.CORNER MARKETWith Martin Emerson Jr. (Achilles) out for the year and Greg Newsome II (shoulder) out this week, the opportunities are there for other cornerbacks. The Browns will need at least a couple of them to prove they're up to filling the void created by Emerson's injury.Cameron Mitchell is first in line to be the No. 1 nickelback, with Myles Harden another option. Chigozie Anusiem has been taking Newsome's reps at the No. 2 outside corner spot and will get another chance to lock down a roster spot.Tony Brown II, LaMareon James and Dom Jones are also fighting for spots. The post Shedeur Sanders … and four other things to watch tonight in preseason opener first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.