Nick Bosa is enjoying like a Defensive Participant of the 12 months for 49ers – San Francisco 49ers Weblog

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Because the San Francisco 49ers made their last preparations for the Miami Dolphins on Saturday evening, coach Kyle Shanahan determined to have slightly enjoyable at his line of defense’s expense. Or so he thought.

Within the midst of that assembly, Shanahan turned to defensive finish Nick Bosa and Co. and advised the Niners’ linebackers had outplayed the entrance 4 within the earlier week’s shutout towards the New Orleans Saints. Shanahan made the remark in jest, hoping to attract a smile or giggle from the workforce’s most respected place group.

Bosa stared again blankly.

“I believed they might smile at it, however he did not smile in any respect,” Shanahan mentioned.

Whereas Bosa is understood across the Niners’ facility for his quiet, dry humor, what he is completed in 2022 isn’t any laughing matter. In his 11 video games (he missed one with a groin damage), Bosa has 14.5 sacks (most within the NFL), a compelled fumble, 36 tackles, 41 pressures (tied for third) and a 13.4% stress share (ninth). Opposing quarterbacks are 10-of-23 for 110 yards and a QBR of 8.0 when Bosa will get the primary stress, and his 39 sacks trails solely Aldon Smith’s 44 for probably the most by a Niner in his first 4 seasons with the workforce.

All of that has been sufficient to make Bosa a frontrunner for Defensive Participant of the 12 months and positions him to land the most important contract ever for a defensive participant within the offseason.

“He brings a confidence and a real playmaker that each protection wants,” coordinator DeMeco Ryans mentioned. “Each protection, if you are going to be an incredible protection, you want that man on the sting who can rush the passer, who can get on the quarterback at very important moments, always all through the sport. And that is what Nick offers for us, he can go shut out video games … He is a big-time playmaker in his league, irrespective of who he goes towards, he at all times has an opportunity to win, so that is what he brings.”

For the reason that Niners used the No. 2 total choose on him in 2019, they’ve by no means wanted Bosa’s game-wrecking capability greater than they do now. With beginning quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo misplaced to season-ending proper ankle and left foot accidents, respectively, and seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy taking on, the onus to hold the 49ers to Tremendous Bowl heights falls even additional on their top-ranked protection.

By means of 12 video games, the Niners rank first within the NFL in fewest factors allowed per sport (15.8) and fewest yards allowed per sport (283.9) with an eye fixed towards enhancing much more.

“Everytime you lose any person, offensive or protection, it’s important to step it up and I believe we’ve the protection that may do this,” Bosa mentioned.

On the coronary heart of that protection is Bosa, who has been one of many workforce’s greatest gamers since being drafted and has continued to get higher in ensuing seasons, particularly now that he is two years away from the season-ending torn left ACL he suffered in 2020. Bosa stunned himself with how he bounced again in 2021, when he posted a career-high 15.5 sacks.

The problem for Bosa coming into this 12 months was to not solely duplicate that efficiency however enhance upon it. With 5 video games to play, he is executed simply that. Ryans sees a participant who will get loads of credit score for his pass-rushing prowess whereas being doubled teamed on 20.4% of his snaps however can be an elite edge setter and key to the 49ers holding opponents to league lows in dashing yards per sport (75.6) and dashing yards per try (3.35).

Greater than that, the Niners have seen Bosa’s elevated capability to ship when it issues most. In opposition to the Saints, he supplied the fourth-quarter sack that killed a New Orleans drive deep in San Francisco territory. In opposition to the Dolphins on Sunday, Bosa confronted a pair of backup offensive tackles and subsequently dominated the sport, posting three sacks and a compelled fumble that led to a game-sealing scoop and rating by linebacker Dre Greenlaw.

“I believe everyone right here is aware of that he’s simply elite and he’s one of the best,” linebacker Fred Warner mentioned. “He put the stamp on it. That’s what you want out of your greatest gamers to make performs the place it issues probably the most. I am so comfortable for him and I am so happy with him.”

The 49ers hope that Bosa’s domination of the Dolphins is a harbinger of issues to come back. It was the second three-sack sport of Bosa’s profession and he is registered no less than one sack in six straight video games and one in each sport he is performed from begin to end this season.

Maybe Bosa’s efficiency towards Miami was no coincidence given the matchup. Or perhaps one thing extra was at play after Shanahan’s pre-game prodding.

“He threw slightly shade at me and the D-line, so we form of talked in our assembly,” Bosa mentioned. “We do not like being referred to as out like that. It is our head coach, so he clearly has the proper and he watches the tape greater than anyone and he expects probably the most out of us.”

After Bosa sacked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and compelled the fumble Greenlaw recovered, Bosa ran to the sideline and beelined for Shanahan.

“He got here proper as much as me,” Shanahan mentioned. “I believed we had been going to rejoice collectively and he goes, ‘that is what occurs while you speak s— about me in a workforce assembly.’ And I am going, ‘I will make an observation, I will be sure that to do it much more.'”