Greg Cosell’s Draft Preview: Ohio State’s Joey Bosa can do it all
One reason I like defensive end Joey Bosa is when you try to make an NFL comparison for him, many different ones jump to mind.
Teams could see him as a base 3-4 outside linebacker and an outside pass rusher in sub-packages, like Ryan Kerrigan of the Washington Redskins. Bosa mostly lined up at left defensive end in Ohio State’s four-man line, but he did align at times in a two-point stance, and he even dropped into coverage at times.
Or, perhaps a team will use Bosa like Michael Bennett of the Seattle Seahawks, aligning at defensive end in a base 4-3 front and defensive tackle in a sub-package 4-3.
Or he could also be a Willie McGinest-type player, not a pure pass rusher but an athletic edge player who can be used in multiple ways and will move around the defense.
Bosa is an athlete. He moved well with deceptive quickness. He has the ability and the athleticism to be whatever you need him to be. That’s why the more I watched him on film, the more I liked what I saw.
That’s not to say Bosa is a finished product. He’ll need some coaching in the NFL, although that could be said for any prospect in any draft. Bosa is interesting to project as a pass rusher. There’s talent there, and some obstacles too.
At this point Bosa is somewhat limited as a pass rusher, when it comes to moves and counter moves. That’s where coaching and refinement will come into play. But there are some key attributes that stand out.
At Ohio State he could win to the outside with his lateral quickness and contact. He had quick and active hands, balance and body control to clear the offensive tackle. His hands were very strong as a pass rusher and a run defender and that’s important at his position; he could drive an offensive tackle back into the pocket or squeeze down running lanes.
But he’s more a technique pass rusher than a quick-twitch explosive rusher. He’s not a true bend-the-edge pass rusher, because he didn’t show that kind of lower body flexibility. He was a speed-to-power rusher in college (and he had excellent arm extension and leverage), and could move college offensive tackles with his hands and powerful lower body. But he’s not an explosive edge rusher, so there is some question if he can win off the edge and finish in the NFL, but there are also reasons to believe he can develop into a very good two-way end.
Here’s a play that illustrates a few things about Bosa’s game. He’s lined up inside at tackle in a passing situation against Penn State, which I discussed as a possibility in my Bennett comp before. He also uses his hands well to gain leverage and overpower the guard, pushing him back and getting a sack.
Bosa has an excellent natural feel for recognizing when an offensive lineman is not on balance, and attacking him with quickness and strong hands. His hands are a major strength of his game.
When you watch Bosa, you realize that he can do a lot of things well, and can fit in any scheme. He’s a very good prospect, one I like a lot, because he fits the NFL game that has an emphasis on sub-packages, and he’ll provide many dimensions for whichever defensive coordinator gets him.
PREVIOUS NFL DRAFT PREVIEWS FROM GREG COSELL
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Jared Goff’s strengths and flaws
Laquon Treadwell’s NFL WR comparisons
The case for Josh Doctson as draft’s No. 1 receiver
Ezekiel Elliott’s NFL transition
Derrick Henry needs the right scheme fit
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NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.
