Cowboys Draft: How Joey Bosa Compares to J.J. Watt
By Reid Hanson
The Cowboys may want to compare the pre-draft profiles of Joey Bosa and J.J. Watt because they are noticeably similar.
The Cowboys hold the number four pick in this April’s 2016 NFL Draft and with this great opportunity comes enormous responsibility – a responsibility like drafting a cornerstone player that the team can build around.
A pass-rusher like Joey Bosa may just be that player. In three seasons at Ohio State, Bosa has registered 26 sacks and 51 tackles for loss, often while facing a double-team. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Bosa was regarded as the top defensive end in the draft and a sure-fire top-5 selection – possibly even going #1 overall.
But draftniks in and out of Cowboys Nation have been poo-pooing Joey Bosa as of late. Many are calling him a high-effort player who lacks the explosiveness needed to be a top pass-rusher at the next level. They are calling him safe, smart, but not the dynamic player you expect in the top-5. Many of their backhanded complements smack of stereotypes thrown at former first rounder J.J. Watt in 2011.
Let’s clear some things up first:
I’m not going to go around proclaiming Joey Bosa as the second coming of J.J. Watt. J.J. Watt is a once-in-a-generation type player that broke the mold of what a dominant pass-rusher can look like.
What I am saying is that prior to the NFL’s 2011 Draft, many of the profiles and criticisms of Watt resemble those being heaped upon the Ohio State Buckeye Joey Bosa. Let’s take a look at a few of those:
Cowboys Draft: J.J. Watt Draft Profiles
NFL.com Official Profile (complete profile here):
"“Watt is an ideal fit as a strong side 4-3 DE but some may like him more as a 3-4 end. A hard-working, intelligent, relentless player…Doesn’t possess great initial quickness…Watt will give you everything he’s got and is certainly a first-round selection.”"
CBS Sports official draft profile (complete profile here):
"“Relentless rushing the passer in obvious passing situations… able to penetrate gaps with a nice first step and works through double-teams with aggressiveness when lined up inside. Doesn’t have the typical explosive first step of most rush ends because of his girth and and lack of ideal height…he has arguably the strongest punch and most effective hands in the class.”"
Russ Lande, The Sporting News:
"“Wins battles with a great effort. Lacks any real explosion from a two-point stance. Appears to lumber in his chase from the backside. Lacks the pure speed and closing ability for a 4-3 scheme…Always hustles to the whistle, but lacks the speed and closing burst to make many plays that aren’t right at him…”"
Nolan Nawrocki, Pro Football Weekly:
"“Looks very much the part with NFL stature – thick, well-proprtioned build with long arms and meat hooks for hands…Not an elite athelete and a lot of his production comes on second effort…Not overly sudden- does not accelerate off blocks. Ordinary closing speed…Lacks a ‘wow’ factor and never will be an elite sack artist…”"
Gary Horton, ESPN/Scouts, Inc.:
"“Lacks elite first-step quickness…not an elite pass-rusher…Shows exceptional hand usage. Shows violent, quick hands and knows how to use them.”"
Now, 2011 was a long time ago and many draft sights don’t keep their profiles up very long. Luckily the fellas at Blogging the Boys do and that’s where I was able to procure those pre-draft profiles from 2011. After reading them, I’m pretty sure I know why their original links lead to nowhere!
How do these draft profiles compare to Joey Bosa? If you’ve been gathering as much info as I have the past few months, you’d almost swear these were talking about Bosa and not Watt. Here’s a taste of some of Bosa’s profiles…
Cowboys Draft: Joey Bosa Profiles
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com (complete profile here):
"“Has NFL-ready frame…booming power in his hands…active hands can completely wipe out a tackle’s weak outside hand…Not as twitchy and sudden as expected. Feet are a little heavy and it takes just a second to accelerate up to speed after quick direction changes…might not have the pure edge speed to be an elite pass-pusher…”"
Dane Bulger, CBS Sports (complete profile here):
"“…terrific upper body strength and technically-refined hand usage. Strong hands and wrists to be a reliable striker and finisher…not taking himself out of plays due to hustle and ball awareness. Active on stunts and experience lining up inside and outside…not as quick as some of the NFL’s elite edge rushers. Not a quick-twitch rusher and doesn’t play with consistent explosion.”"
The similarities between the two players’ draft profiles are striking. Both are/were projected best as a strong side defensive end with versatility to play inside as a 3-technique. Watt could also play DE in a 3-4 while Bosa as an OLB in a 3-4.
Both are physically dominating players with strong hands and motors. Both lack the quick-twitch athleticism and both are strong run-stoppers. Watt entered the draft at 6’5” 290lbs and Bosa is said to be 6’6” 275lbs.
And supposedly, neither of them can be elite pass-rushers…
It’s easy to fall in love with the physical freaks and quick-twitch edge-rushers but history has taught us the value of inside moves, strong hands, and good technique. Not to mention a hardworking motor is secret of success for any player looking to make the leap to the NFL.
Next: Cowboys: Joey Bosa is a No-Brainer
Again, that doesn’t mean Joey Bosa will be anything close to what Watt became but it offers up “what could be” based on similarities. When reading the experts opinions be sure to look at it as an inexact science rather than the gospel truth.