Nick Bosa, the San Francisco 49ers‘ star defensive end, has become a monster over the last couple of seasons, and many feel he is the favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
When one looks at his stat line for the season – 17.5 sacks (an NFL high), 18 tackles for loss and 42 quarterback hits – along with the fact that the 49ers have the league’s best defense, it’s no wonder why.
But at age 25 and in his fourth pro season, it’s scary to think he can become even better.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan talked about this on Wednesday and mentioned one specific area Bosa has room for improvement.
Shanahan believes Nick Bosa still has room to grow 🤯 pic.twitter.com/QOer4FC8Ko
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 28, 2022
“He’s still young, he’s not perfect,” Shanahan said. “He’s got four personal fouls this year. I told him that’s why his Madden awareness rating is 99, not 100. So yeah, he could get better right there. He’s playing at the top of his game.”
Bosa Seems To Be The Heart And Soul Of San Francisco’s D
The 49ers have multiple Pro Bowlers on defense this season, but Bosa is the best of the bunch.
He is having a season to behold, and he is closing in on the franchise record for most sacks, which was set by Aldon Smith just 10 years ago.
Nick Bosa is at 17.5 sacks. 2 away from Aldon Smith’s 49ers 19.5 sack record. 5 away from the NFL record. You’re watching a historical season from Nick Bosa. Enjoy! pic.twitter.com/HeCuz2fyFW
— Ryan G Hensley (@ryanghensley) December 27, 2022
Nick Bosa said he’s aiming for Aldon Smith’s single-season 49ers sack record, 19.5. He’s at 17.5 with 2 games to play
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) December 25, 2022
For reference, the NFL record for most sacks in a season is 22.5, set by both Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.
But beyond sacks or even stats, Bosa’s mere presence has become a scary sight for opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks.
He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 266 pounds, and some have remarked on how huge he really is – in fact, Pat McAfee recently called him “a stallion of a human being.”
The even scarier thing is that the main parts of the 49ers’ defense are all young.
Bosa, linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Charvarius Ward are all 26 years of age or younger, meaning that the team could continue to have an elite defense for at least five more years.
If Brock Purdy is truly their franchise quarterback, as more people think, the 49ers could be set up for a magical extended run.
