Joey Bosa is no J.J. Watt

I’m all for comparing players that you think are going to be good to players that already good. But the player you compare to the star should have a lot in common with him. So I don’t understand why NFL.com among others in the media are comparing San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa to superstar defensive and J.J. Watt.

Watt has a frightening combination of size, strength, power, speed, agility, explosiveness, and determination. The determination can’t be measured but at 6’5″, 290 pounds, Watt ran a 4.84 40, bench pressed 225 34 times, posted a 37-inch vertical leap and ran through his 3-cone drill in 6.88 seconds at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.

All Bosa, at 6’5″, 270 pounds, has in common physically with Watt, is his 4.86 40 and 6.89 3-cone drill time being a little slower. But the fact that Bosa is 20 pounds lighter diminishes those times. He doesn’t have the strength Watt has with only 24 times of 225 nor his explosion with 32-inch vertical leap.

At 270 pounds, Bosa is supposed to be quicker and more explosive but he’s average physically while Watt is a freak. Bosa is a tweener that’s light and not very strong for a 3-4 end and not very quick for a 4-3 end. He has great technique, which will keep him in the NFL.

But to be a superstar at his position, you have to be physically unique. San Diego Chargers fans should expect a good, solid player for a good 10-12 years, starting in 2016. But unless he takes something to add size, speed, strength, power, and explosiveness, the shouldn’t expect a terror.

The Chargers are talking as if they’re going to use Bosa in ways similar to how the Texans utilize Watt. That means the Chargers plan to move Bosa all over his defensive front in order to find a favorable matchup to exploit and the 5-technique will be his listed position.

But the Chargers will not get near the same production out Bosa.

Bosa doesn’t have the transcendent talent Watt has!