49ers: Nick Bosa ‘far ahead’ of where Aldon Smith was in camp
Nick Bosa is under pressure to be the San Francisco 49ers’ next great edge rusher and is rising to the challenge in training camp.
Nick Bosa is expected to become a dominant edge rusher for the San Francisco 49ers and, according to one veteran beat writer, is already way ahead of where the last player to carry that burden was at the same stage in their first NFL training camp.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area wrote that a week into camp, second overall pick Bosa is “far ahead” of where Aldon Smith was as a rookie.
Though Smith’s career quickly fizzled out due mainly to off-field problems, that is still a glowing assessment from an experienced beat writer well placed to make the comparison.
Picked seventh overall in 2011, Smith had 14 sacks as a rookie and 19.5 in a dominant 2012 campaign before racking up 8.5 in an abbreviated 2013 season. From there his career petered out, but Bosa will still have a huge challenge to match Smith’s early production.
The fact Bosa is drawing such comparisons speaks to the kind of impact most believe he can have, and the former Ohio State Buckeye has only helped to further expectations with some stunning practice performances.
This past week has seen Bosa make play after play. He had two sacks in practice on Friday, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, and followed that effort up with a sack of Jimmy Garoppolo on the first play of team drills on Saturday. On Sunday Bosa had a sack and a forced fumble on a run play.
#49ersCamp Notes - Day 7:
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) August 3, 2019
-Bosa’s showing off now, sacked Garoppolo on first play of team
-Big day for Kittle, multiple catches, TD
-Garoppolo 7 of 12, pair of TDs and a near pick
-On the last play, Tartt dropped an INT on a late Garoppolo pass intended for Samuel #49ers
#49ersCamp Notes - Day 8:
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) August 4, 2019
-Strong day for Garoppolo, 14 of 21
-Bosa disruptive again, forced fumble, sack, multiple pressures
-Samuel led all wideouts, three catches and big TD
-Greenlaw flashing, PBU, TFL and INT
-Practice ended with successful 1-minute drill for offense #49ers
The 49ers staff initially seemed keen not to over-hype Bosa’s contributions in camp but, as observers continue to dish out universal acclaim for his displays, it is becoming clear he should make the jump to the NFL as smooth as his elder brother Joey did and justify his status as the best player in 2019 class.
In terms of his comparison to Smith, Bosa will find it difficult to match his early-career production, but he will be under no pressure to do so with Dee Ford taking some of the burden by rushing off the other edge.
Next. Clelin Ferrell battling Kolton Miller at Raiders camp. dark
The challenge for Bosa will be to succeed where Smith failed and sustain greatness for a long time. It is very early in his career, but there is little to suggest he cannot do that.