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In an NFL.com story, former NFL linebacker Willie McGinest beleives Joey Bosa may have a sophomore slump.
Here is what McGinest has to say about his sophomore slump pick.
Chargers' Joey Bosa will garner much more attention
I'll admit it: I underestimated Joey Bosa. He missed camp and several games, but because of his motor and relentless playing style, he surprised me last season. If you have 10.5 sacks in your rookie season, you're not a secret anymore.
It's incredibly hard to sack a quarterback. That's why guys are so ecstatic when they finally get one. You can get a lot of hits, but quarterbacks are so quick to get the ball out. If you're a known pass rusher, you will get more attention. It's going to be tough for him to duplicate last year's season because teams will start to scheme against him.
After winning Defensive Rookie of the Year and breaking all kinds of records in just 12 games, Bosa is riding high. He finished the season with 10.5 sacks and 41 tackles and was one of the few bright spots in a 5-11 season for the Chargers.
Now, the Chargers are trying to create a fan base in their new Los Angeles market and Bosa has become the face of the franchise.
Could the added pressure of becoming the star in LA, and added attention of opposing offenses lead Bosa to struggle next season? Time will only tell.
It certainly isn’t impossible for Bosa to struggle in 2017. Teams are going to focus on him over any other player on that defense and it could effect his stat line. Maybe Bosa doesn’t have double-digit sacks or have as many tackles for loss.
Bosa’s sack numbers provide only a piece of his impact on the field. He does a great job at stopping the run and if teams are going to focus on him more it could make things easier for the rest of the front seven.
It is also important to remember that Bosa missed training camp, the preseason, and the first quarter of the regular season because of a contract dispute. Despite all of that, he still was the best defensive player on the Chargers roster.
What’s your take on this? Is Bosa going to take a step back? Or continue to develop and have a great sophomore season?