© Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Even as the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Nick Bosa more than reached expectations. The Defensive Rookie of the Year finished with 13.0 sacks (9.0 in the regular season, 4.0 in the playoffs), and was one of the anchors of one of the NFL’s elite defensive lines. But in year two, he’ll no longer have that second anchor alongside him in DeForest Buckner.
In a conference call on Wednesday, Bosa discussed how he reacted to Buckner and Joe Staley’s departures, as well as their replacements in Javon Kinlaw and Trent Williams and what his offseason has been like in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 49ers are currently underway with their virtual offseason program, a period which officially opened April 20 and will close no later than May 15 (teams have some discretion as to how they implement scheduling of those programs).
Bosa said thus far, it’s just been hour meetings with him, the defensive end group and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek during weekdays, with special teams guys receiving some extra time and rookies being provided their own meetings times. So far, it’s just been affirming fundamentals, though Kocurek has started sharing cut-ups of 2020 opponents.
That included Trent Williams, who Bosa said he’s started watching to avoid being caught off guard in training camp (his brother, Joey, was infamously tossed asunder on a fantastic rep by Williams). Bosa pointed to his elite athleticism and having agile feet “like a receiver,” as cause for excitement in one-on-one reps in camp.
But Williams has to replace the now-retired Joe Staley, whose advice Bosa recalled from last training camp.
“It was huge just to be going against one of the best and me and [Joe] would talk after every practice just about what he saw and how he felt I was as a player and what he thought was the best way for me to approach pass rushing with my skillset,” Bosa said. “I think just going against him and the input he gave me every day helped me a lot, and I really wish he was coming back, but I know it’s a decision that he’s kind of forced into. I just wish we could have gotten him a ring, but it doesn’t happen perfectly all the time, but we’ll win one for him hopefully in the future.”
The other departure, of Buckner, was similarly seismic. He was the clear leader of the defensive line, and one of the leaders of the defense as a whole, especially given the 49ers’ philosophy of great defense beginning at the line of scrimmage. Bosa described him as one of his closest friends on the the team and highlighted not just his leadership, but the fact that Buckner was effectively the quarterback of that line.
Buckner would make sure the defensive line group knew what the call from Kocurek was, especially on third downs. If there wasn’t a call made by Kocurek, it would be made by Buckner, and he’d be tasked with ensuring that each player knew his assignment.
“Buck was definitely one of my best friends on the team and seeing him go is obviously bittersweet,” Bosa said. “He’s obviously got a pretty good contract and he deserves it, but just losing him as a leader, we’re gonna have to really figure out how to step up and fill that void because he was the third down, D-line play caller, he was the hype speech guy, he was everything. And I think he played with the best effort on the D-line which really shows on tape when you see somebody that big sprinting to the ball every play and making those tackles downfield. And obviously his pass rush ability.
“We’re gonna have to step up. We have obviously Javon coming in and I’m sure he’ll be a huge help, but me, Dee, Arik, Solly, DJ, Ronnie, we’re all gonna have to step it up for him.”
To be clear, Bosa is quite excited about Kinlaw.
“He’s just a beast,” Bosa said. “He plays the run like we play it. He gets off the ball really fast and he’s just a giant human. Perfect to replace Buckner, and I’m really excited, he seems like a good dude and I’ve been talking to him a little bit, so I can’t wait.”
Bosa’s also excited about himself.
That is, a year older, a year wiser, a year stronger, maybe (if that’s possible), version of Nick Bosa, who said his body feels “incredible.” He and his brother, Joey, are home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (along with their parents, John and Cheryl, and two dogs, Emma and Joanie). They head out to a local park before 6 a.m. to run before the park rangers arrive (a direct quote), eat breakfast and then head to John Bosa’s gym in Weston, The Gridiron Club, where they lift until about 2 p.m. each day and then fill up on food by a chef the family has hired.
“We have a good food delivery system so we’re keeping the nutrition really good and obviously we’re not able to get out too much, so honestly my body’s feeling unbelievable at this point,” Bosa said.
Aside from the health, there is that added wisdom. Bosa said he can focus more on studying film and his matchups week-to-week.
But there’s also some technical, tangible additions Bosa will add. He had worked with the three-move foundation instilled in him by legendary defensive line coach Larry Johnson at Ohio State: a speed rush, bull rush, and counter.
Dee Ford told KNBR in November that more than three moves was effectively unnecessary: “You only need a few so it’s really just perfecting the move that you do.”
But Bosa told KNBR that he intended to add two more moves this offseason working with his brother: a cross-chop and spin move.
“Obviously you want your main ones to be mastered, but why not learn more if you can?” Bosa said in November. “The technique we learned at Ohio State was a good basis for me, and now I could just add extra things on top.”
Those additions and increased film study could be confounding for defenses.
“I think I’m going to be a much smarter player next year, and I’m just going to know how to approach my opponents much better,” Bosa said. I’m not going to waste rushes. “I’m not going make silly mistakes that I made last year and, hopefully, enhance my game.”