Joey Bosa has faced questions surrounding his perceived lack of fit in a 3-4 front throughout the draft process. Is he an outside linebacker or defensive end? Can he transition to the stand-up edge rusher spot and play pass coverage?
While certainly relevant, these questions fail to analyze the variety of 3-4 schemes and number of sub packages run in the NFL today, instead relying on generalizations about the ideal player profile to fit a defensive scheme that has rapidly evolved over the last decade. Simply put, all 3-4 defenses are not created equal.
Before moving on to the film it is vital to understand the difference between the traditional 3-4, 2-gap defensive front and the modern 3-4, hybrid front that has taken the NFL by storm.