There’s been a lot of speculation about Shedeur Sanders being hated in the Cleveland Browns organization. From being named the third-string quarterback at the start of the season to not getting first-team reps until his debut, many believe the rookie is treated unfairly by the team.

Sanders got his first start of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12, as Dillon Gabriel remained in concussion protocol after exiting the Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens. He completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown in the 24-10 win.

However, the Shedeur Sandershate controversy went widespread again after the Browns scored two touchdowns via Quinshon Judkins with the wildcat formation. The question was thrown to offensive coordinator Tommy Rees in his media availability on Friday, but he dodged it and went into analytical details.

“When I was working at Notre Dame, we introduced it,” Rees said. “Never got a ton of benefit out of it there, just for whatever reason. I think we had it up a few weeks ago, going into the Miami game. Just felt like we could gain an extra gap in the run game, gain an extra hat in certain places.

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“Makes you really defend in the run-specific looks all 11 without giving up too much of the schematics of it. Like, there are some real advantages to it. Q is comfort in doing it and somebody we trust doing it. And you can kind of define the look you’re going to get to attack.”

Tommy Rees believes the wildcat is a good play to have in their arsenal despite the Shedeur Sanders controversy

While the hate controversy around Shedeur Sanders continues to go widespread after the Browns deployed the wildcat ahead of his second NFL start, Tommy Rees believes it’s a good play to have in their arsenal. The Browns are 3-8 and have to take advantage of any kind of play that comes with benefit.

“Obviously, we’ve had a lot of success here in two small sample sizes in games, but we’ve scored four touchdowns and had some productive runs in the package,” Reese said. “Our fullback was unavailable there throughout the game. So that takes you out of a certain personnel grouping.

“So that’s kind of — Wildcats — another one you can use in those run-heavy situations. And we don’t use it every week, but something we work on and have in our arsenal and have a lot of confidence in that group of guys, making those plays work and you can kind of define the looks that you’re trying to attack.”

It’s worth noting that the Raiders game, which Shedeur Sanders started, wasn’t the first time the Browns deployed the wildcat formation. They also made use of it against the Miami Dolphins in October while Dillon Gabriel was the starting quarterback, with Quinshon Judkins also scoring two touchdowns through it.