When the Chicago Bears take on the San Francisco 49ers, one of the biggest matchups that will impact the game is Nick Bosa against the duo of young tackles the Bears have. What is most impressive about Bosa is that he will likely have the chance to pick his poison of whether he wants to terrorize Larry Borom or Braxton Jones.
If you recall last season he started the game against Jason Peters, but they moved him to the other side to take on Borom, and he excelled. From there, the 49ers really started to move him around.
Of the top 20 pass rushers last season, only Nick Bosa, Harold Landry, and Shaq Barrett rushed more than 33% from both sides. Bosa rushed from the right side 41.1%, and the left side 58.9%, per PFF.
Nick Bosa was the only edge rusher with six sacks from the left and right sides. He had 45 pressures from the left, and 29 from the right. Of defenders with 29 pressures or more from the right side, only Preston Smith and Shaq Barrett had more than 20 pressures from the opposite side as well. They had 20, and 35, while Bosa had 45.
Of defenders who had 45 pressures or more from the left side, only Rashan Gary had an additional 15 or more from the right side, with 18. Bosa had 29.
So, the Bears are not just dealing with an elite pass rusher, they are dealing with someone who can dominate from both sides in a way that no one else can. This offseason Bosa has been fine-tuning his craft and becoming an even better rusher from both sides.
Nick Bosa will make it a point this camp to switch sides from left to right defensive each 11v11 period. That’ll ensure a 50/50 split in practice and a chance to optimize compatibility with whichever DT will be next to him on any given side, whether that be Kinlaw or someone else
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 29, 2022
The report out of camp is that he is having a 50/50 split between left and right snaps. Essentially, the team looks for other matchups along the line, knowing that Bosa can win wherever they put him.
The reality is that both Borom and Jones should expect to see plenty of Bosa. Bosa had a strong game against Chicago last season, and he is the type of player to study the tackles he faces, and he often gets better the next time. He may be saving something for Borom.
On the flip side, what an introduction to the NFL Bosa could give Braxton Jones. Bosa may not have seen him yet, but he probably wants to give a few NFL moves to the rookie from Southern Utah and see if he can handle them.
It will be a challenge for both, and neither may get spared by not seeing Nick Bosa.