The statistics lie. The tape reveals that Ohio State DE Joey Bosa is having a great season. So much so that he still could be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft. It has been easy to try to knock down the performance of the Buckeyes in general, given their less-than-smooth ride this season (while still winning all their games), or of Bosa, who has a mere 3.5 sacks in seven games after he was suspended for the season opener against Virginia Tech. But a close look reveals that Bosa might be the best trench player in college football — still. And that puts him in the discussion of being the top pick. [ Yahoo Daily Fantasy Football: First place wins $100K in our $500K contest for Week 9 ] “Forget all that [talk about stats],” said one NFL talent evaluator who has seen Bosa play this season. “He’s still getting it done. He’s in the backfield. He’s taking on combo [blocks] and converting speed to power better than anyone I have done up [written scouting reports on] this season.” In 2014 Bosa tallied 13.5 sacks, which put him on many early media radars for top-pick honors entering this season. But he fell off of many of those lists after the suspension and starting the season with one sack in his first four games. Now Bosa has had at least a half sack in each of the past three games and — more importantly — is creating consistent disruption. It’s clear that opponents have done whatever possible, either slanting blocking protection or using backs and tight ends to chip, in order to contain Bosa. The Ohio State coaches have tried to counter that by moving Bosa around, flipping him from the right to the left side, or kicking him down inside where he’s able to use that power (and his 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame) to win battles against more stout, less quick players. And in having teams sell out to slow down Bosa, it has allowed the Buckeyes to generate sacks from other sources. Ten other Buckeyes have at least a half sack, including bookend DE Tyquan Lewis, who has a team-high 5.5. Bosa leads the team with 11 tackles for loss, and the rest of the defense has totaled 56. Although he’s playing on a defense with several future NFL starters, Bosa is the biggest X-factor. “I like what he’s done. Watch the Indiana game … [he] played every damned snap,” said the evaluator of Bosa, who — according to Pro Football Focus — was on the field for an incredible 95 of 98 snaps. “Up big against Penn State, he’s out there late, still tossing guys around. “He’s hitting the quarterback; he’s pressuring them. He’s the best run stopper I’ve done this season. The guy kicks down inside, closes down lanes, messes up your blocking. I love him. I’ve seen one so-so game from him [against Maryland] this season. That’s it.” Bosa is doing what he can to adjust in a statistically frustrating season, playing within the confines of the gameplan and trying to alter games in other ways besides sacks. It’s showing up, and NFL scouts are not overlooking it. This is not a case of Jadeveon Clowney, coming off a three-sack final season, being the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft because of his obviously rare physical talent even with some NFL teams questioning his desire and willingness to play through pain. Bosa checks those boxes off and should be able to fit in most schemes, although the evaluator said he would prefer to see Bosa in a “40” front. “Reminds me of [New Orleans Saints defensive end] Cam Jordan a little, like that Greg Hardy style end,” he said. “I want him rushing upfield, inside or out, because he has the strength to fight through combos and then flatten out down the line and make plays from behind. I don’t want him two-gapping or dropping, although he can do it.” A quick look at the current NFL standings of the bottom 10 teams shows several teams that could consider taking Bosa very high, even first overall. The Detroit Lions have lost a lot up front and need a complement to Ziggy Ansah. The Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars — even with Dante Fowler going third overall this year — need rush help. The Cowboys still need to re-sign Hardy; otherwise Bosa might be a natural replacement. A slew of 3-4 teams find themselves near the bottom of the league: the Tennessee Titans (assuming the next head coach doesn’t change systems), the San Francisco 49ers (ditto), Cleveland Browns (ditto?), San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears. So perhaps those teams are not ideal fits for Bosa. But you can bet that he’ll be in the top-five picture, and NFL people are not ruling him out for the top slot. Top five 4-3 defensive ends for 2016 1. Joey Bosa, Ohio State — Power end with white-hot motor who could start in the league right now. 2. Shaq Lawson, Clemson — Powerful, violent hands and good first step. 3. Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky — Great burst and terrific athlete rebuilding his image, but major character concerns remain. 4. Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State — Lithe, quick edge rusher whose motor can wax and wane. 5. Emmanuel Ogbah, Oklahoma State — Hard-hitting, strong-rushing base end who still has room to improve. - - - - - - - Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
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