Unless the rookie safety Shilo Sanders shows a drastic improvement in the last bit of time before first cuts, he is in danger of getting a one-way ticket out of the city. Based on his last two preseason games, the writing could be on the wall for Sanders’ NFL career. Here are five red flags that could lead to Sanders being cut from the Bucs.
1. Angry Ejection vs. Buffalo Bills
Sanders was tossed in the final game of the preseason as he punched a Bills tight end in a tussle. Head coach Todd Bowles termed the act as “inexcusable,” and it could very well be the reason that Sanders losing his composure could lead to him losing an opportunity in the NFL.
2. Tackling Issues
Sanders had a strong performance in his first game; however, in the following two games, he has experienced some problems with tackling. Against the Steelers in Week 2, he missed two tackles, and against the Bills, he missed a few more, as per Josh Chrysler of Fansided’s Pewter Plank.
3. Faulty Coverage & Communication Clogs in Camp
Sanders got flagged for a defensive pass interference in the Bills game that would extend the drive for Buffalo. The Bills would go on to score on that drive to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Errors such as penalties can become decisive factors, considering how narrow the slots are at the DB positions.
4. Competition Low Preseason Production
Sanders recorded only three tackles in the preseason, behind such peers as J.J. Roberts, despite the relative familiarity of his last name. Roberts had two past deflections against zero by Sanders. Roberts has a secured contract, and regular playing time may give the coaches an incentive to keep the assessed depth chart.
5. Spotlight Pressure & External Expectations
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Sanders also has a lot of external pressure to live up to as the son of Deion Sanders. As fans are always watching him, NFL teams are likely to prefer players whose success is based more on their performance rather than their names and pedigrees during early evaluation in their careers.
Bottom Line
Athleticism is not in question with Shilo Sanders, but the red flags are too abundant to put him on the safe side of the roster, including special teams misalignment and emotional outbursts coupled with inconsistent production. A disciplined, focused, productive finish could still impress coaches, but there isn’t a lot of time left on the clock.
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