Kyle Shanahan’s club not only entered Week 9 with a 7-0 record but owned the NFL’s top-ranked defense. Has a rookie elevated the San Francisco 49ers?
Even before John Lynch was hired as the San Francisco 49ers general manager in 2017, the team’s front office at the time was using the first round of the draft to rebuild its defensive line. In 2015, the club added Oregon standout Arik Armstead and one year later his teammate with the Ducks in DeForest Buckner.
In 2017, Lynch continued the parade up front by Stanford’s Solomon Thomas. But over that stretch, due to a variety of reasons, there just wasn’t a lot of production coming from that area, with the exception of Buckner. He’s played and started all but one game for the team since entering the league and in 54 contests has racked up 24 sacks, including 12 quarterback traps during his Pro Bowl campaign of 2018.
Then this past April rolled around and with the second pick in April’s draft, Lynch went defensive line once again and took Ohio State talent Nick Bosa. The former Buckeye was coming off an injury-shortened season but, earlier in his career, he showed all the signs of being a standout at his position.
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It’s also worth noting this offseason that the Niners acquired Dee Ford from the Kansas City Chiefs via trade. That gives the club five players selected in the first round of their respective drafts.
Now seven games into this season, San Francisco’s pass rush has been nothing short of relentless and the play on this side of the football has been exceptional. Bosa has brought an attitude to Robert Saleh’s defensive unit in general.
Last season, the club set dubious NFL records with two interceptions and just seven total takeaways. This year, the standout rookie leads the club with seven sacks, followed by Armstead (career-high 5.5) and Ford (4.5). The 49ers have allowed the fewest total yards and passing yards per game in the league, rank fourth with 27 sacks (in seven games) and have already picked off 10 passes and forced 16 turnovers overall.
It’s safe to say that Nick Bosa’s ferocity has lit a fire within the San Francisco 49ers’ defense. It’s a unit playing with incredible passion. It’s been the catalyst, along with head coach Kyle Shanahan’s ground attack, to the team’s amazing start. And could the young pro not only be destined to capture NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors but Defensive Player of the Year as well?
There’s still a lot of football to be played but few if any are playing it better these days at his position than Bosa.