Shanahan on Sherman: ‘he’s not scared to get beat deep’

112915 ATLANTA: — Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan confers with quarterback Matt Ryan on the sidelines after he fumbled the ball away to Vikings defensive end Brian Robison when he was sacked on a fourth down and one attempt during the fourth quarter in a football game on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Atlanta. The Vikings beat the Falcons 20-10. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: Curtis Compton

Credit: Curtis Compton

112915 ATLANTA: — Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan confers with quarterback Matt Ryan on the sidelines after he fumbled the ball away to Vikings defensive end Brian Robison when he was sacked on a fourth down and one attempt during the fourth quarter in a football game on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Atlanta. The Vikings beat the Falcons 20-10. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has an ample amount of respect for Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman.

“He’s a good corner,” Shanahan said on Thursday. “He competes hard. I respect him just for how much of a competitor he is in the run game and the pass game. He doesn’t turn anything down. He’ll challenge you every play.”

The Falcons are expecting Sherman, a four-time Pro Bowler, to spend some time in man-to-man coverage against Falcons All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones.

“He doesn’t mind,” Shanahan said. “He’ll get up on the line and try to choke you. He’s not scared to get beat deep.”

Shanahan has been working on a plan to free-up his receivers.

“The more you understand the scheme, the more you learn about the players and the better it gives you a chance to help beat him,” Shanahan said. “It’s never an easy task with him. We have to be at the top of our game. We know that he’s going to get some, but we’ve got to get ours too.”