Across The Field
Oaky Afterbirth
I'd argue without Bosa, they're not in the Super Bowl. Jimmy G wasn't the reason they went to the SB, he was supported by the 2nd best rushing offense in the NFL that set the tone for every game for them. Bosa was a game-wrecker, especially in the playoffs, while Jimmy G was an afterthought. Look at his numbers against Green Bay and Minnesota. They could've started CJ Beathard and made the Super Bowl. I'm not saying elite QBs aren't important (obviously we saw they are with who won the SB), but Jimmy G is far from being an elite QB. Bosa, on the other hand, was a wrecking ball all year and he's only 22 years old.The 49ers without Jimmy G were not going to the S.B. Say what you want about the play, but it's rare that you get to the SB without really good QB play. However, you can have defensive help from anywhere on the field. Bosa is a great player, but the offense was already pretty much set up, which is my entire point. You can draft a guy like Bosa when you already have the other areas of need filled out. Adding his brother to SD hasn't done anything, Clowney hasn't added anything, and as good as JJ Watt always is - he's not leading his team to the SB is he? They are all great players, and can be a franchise kind of player - but not like a QB can. Which is why, if the choice is down to a Franchise caliber QB or DE/DL you go QB every single time.
I watched Young a lot. He does a lot of great things, and no, sacks are not the be all end all … but there were a lot of times in the final 4-5 games where you sometimes wondered where he was. If he's that dominant - that shouldn't happen.
I'm not sure how much you watched Young if you think he didn't show up in the last 4-5 games. Again, I think you're looking at sack stats and thinking that's the only way he changes a game. He was getting in the backfield constantly. When you're facing double/triple teams, chip blocks, cut blocks, and offenses are running plays away from you, it's not going to jump off the stat sheet. However, there's no doubt he was dominant.