1 Ann Killion: Firstrounder Nick Bosa goes where no Niner has gone before.
There might not be a player in the NFL whose onfield demeanor is more polar opposite from his offfield persona than Nick Bosa.
On the field, Bosa — the second overall 2019 draft pick — is a human wrecking ball. On Sunday, in the 49ers’ clinical unraveling of the Carolina Panthers, Bosa had three sacks, four tackles and an interception (which he returned 46 yards).
He is absolutely terrifying in uniform.
Off the field, Bosa is like a college kid who perpetually seems as if he just woke up. He’s mellow, softspoken and, though he grew up in Florida, has the vocal stylings and demeanor of someone searching for the perfect Cali wave, dude.
“Just who I am,” Bosa said after the 49ers’ 5113 romp. “I’m super happy, don’t get me wrong. “It’s just me.” “Just me” had a historic day for the 49ers. No other 49er has ever had a threesack, oneinterception game. The other players to have threesack games since 1991: Aldon Smith (2012) and Bryant Young (2005).
And all this from a young man whose mommy called him Wednesday morning to sing him “Happy Birthday” because he was turning 22.
“He’s an incredibly poised player,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “He’s everything you can ask for. He’s probably one of the best picks in 10 years.
“He plays like a 10year vet. He plays with such a savviness and such a poise and such an aggression. You can tell he was coached up great at a young age. He’s an incredible talent. And he’s so humble. A humble nice guy.”
Bosa arrived as a question mark. His play in college at Ohio State was limited because of injury. He made some questionable socialmedia decisions as a teenager that led one to wonder how he would fit into an NFL locker room, with grown men of different backgrounds.
Bosa, not only by his play but also his demeanor, seems to be putting those questions to rest.
“I don’t know what he does in his free time. I think he plays video games,” Sherman said. “But he comes to work, and he wreaks havoc. He deserves player of the week, rookie of the week, rookie of the year. If he just kept his stat line as it is right now, he could win rookie of the year.
“He should be in line for defensive MVP.” Whoa. Sherman nominates Bosa for defensive player of the year. George Kittle nominated his teammate for honorary tight end.
“He could be a little bit better, I guess,” Kittle deadpanned. “I’m really happy he’s on my team because I don’t want to block him. He got cut block, stood back up, intercepted and ran 46 yards while stiffarming two guys.
“So, he’s an honorary tight end for National Tight End Day.”
The interception, coming after all the sacks on secondyear quarterback Kyle Allen, got the entire team engaged.
“I was like, ‘What in the world?’ ” receiver Deebo Samuel said. “I actually went down and celebrated with the defense.”
The 49ers have a quick turnaround before they head to Arizona for a game Thursday. The game could be called the Bosa Bowl: The Cardinals were expected to select Bosa first, before they changed coaches and fell in love with Kyler Murray, making the quarterback the top pick.
Now the two top draft choices will be facing each other on the field, and Murray will see the Mr. Hyde version of Bosa. The man who is almost inaudible in his postgame interviews will be replaced by the aggressor who planted an imaginary flag after sacking Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield (in retaliation for Mayfield’s planting of the Oklahoma flag on Ohio State’s field), did a fullbody slide after sacking Case Keenum in Washington and gave an animated shrug after his sacks of Allen on Sunday.
Bosa doesn’t think Thursday’s game will be about him.
“It’s a division game,” Bosa said. “I’ve never done a game this quick. That’s a challenge for me.”
All of this is new territory for Bosa. He didn’t have a threesack game in college. Didn’t have an interception in college (though he did have a picksix in high school).
But he comes from an NFL family. His father, John, played for the Dolphins. Brother Joey plays for the Chargers. Like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, sons of NBA players, and like Barry Bonds, son of a baseball player, he’s not overwhelmed by the environment. Bosa seems like a natural slow breather and is taking the experience in stride.
“He’s very evenkeeled, very confident in himself,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “People like that are very impressive.”
On Sunday, Joey Bosa also had a multiplesack game, with two in the Chargers’ win over the Bears. Nick (whom the Fox crew called Joey on more than one occasion) and his brother talk on Sunday nights and break down their games.
“I got to watch some” of the Chargers’ game, Bosa said. “He got the win, and I know he’s really happy. He’s been working his butt off.”
The defensive line has become the heart of this undefeated 49ers team, the core piece that is making everything else click into place. Elevating the secondary, flipping field position, putting the offense in position to not only succeed but to be bold.
The 49ers’ fans recognize that. Though this is a franchise with a history rooted in dazzling offense, at the moment, the defense is the prettiest part of the team. And the rookie pass rusher is quickly becoming a superstar.
As the game progressed, and Bosa’s image filled the video boards, the Levi’s crowd grew more and more enamored, chanting “Bosa, Bosa.”
Did he hear it? What did he think? “I liked it,” he said. You had to strain to hear what he said.