Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:
IMO, Bosa has stepped into one the best situations a blue chip ER prospect could ever step into. He has a creative head coach that likes to score points and he's is playing with elite line talent along side Buck and Dee Ford. Not to mention he's had the benefit of letting his body heal for almost a year, while getting expert coaching from his brother. If he can't get 10 sacks out the gate this year, he will be a disappointment. Like RBs, ERs seem to be a kind of position that you either have it or you don't. Not saying it can't be developed and players cant evolve, but the talent should be recognizable within a few games, rookie or not.
I don't agree with that.
It very much depends on the context. If he gets 8 sacks 40+ pressures, makes key stops in the running game while the rest of our DL combines for 50+ sacks on their own that will certainly be far from disappointment.
Only so many players can get a sack on a given play. We've got Buckner and Ford who both had double digit sacks last season. If Thomas or whomever else plays as the main 4th player on that DL steps up his game all I care about is how the unit does as a whole.
Sure easiest way to evaluate an edge rusher is seeing how many sacks he has but flat out saying if he doesn't hit 10 sacks he's a disappointment is wrong.
Khalil Mack had 4 sacks with a crapload of pressures as a rookie.
Brandon Graham is a perfect example of someone who never cracked 10 sacks but is always a force.
But having said that I hope Bosa gets 10+ easily, and the rest of our DL has their own double digit numbers and this unit dominates every game.