Joey Bosa is returning to his roots.
After spending nearly his whole career in one type of defensive system with the Los Angeles Chargers, it's a shift back to Ohio State alignment after signing with the Buffalo Bills in free agency.
For most of his Chargers career, they played a 3-4 defense, meaning Bosa got to be an outside linebacker, standing up at the start of most plays.
Buffalo plays a 4-3, meaning Bosa will line up at defensive end with a hand usually on the ground before the snap.
He's pumped for the change.
"I think going back to this 4-3 [defensive formation] that I played in college, and played early on in my career, is exciting for me," Bosa told reporters at minicamp. "No more outside linebacker. I'm ready to get my hand in the dirt. Get back to the 6 technique and rush the passer."
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Bosa should take to his old position like riding a bike.
The big challenge is returning to health after dealing with a calf injury this offseason.
"I've been doing my best to get mental reps in there," Bosa said. "I'll have plenty of time. I've got all the notes and playbook, so I'll have plenty of time to brush up of all that the next two months."
The Bills don't need Bosa to be an every-down player. But if they can keep him fresh and allow him to pin his ears back and get after the quarterback, he could wind up being a huge addition in their pursuit of knocking off Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to get to the Super Bowl.
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