‘We all know about 97’: Cowboys prepare for Chargers OLB Joey Bosa’s strengths—and one soft spot

FRISCO, Texas—Dak Prescott was not welcomed back into the NFL gently.

The Cowboys quarterback returned from an 11-month injury hiatus to a Buccaneers defensive line featuring the likes of Shaquil Barrett, Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul.

Entering a Week 2 matchup with the Chargers, the red alert returns.

“Obviously,” Cowboys right guard Zack Martin said, “we all know about 97.”

Three-time Pro Bowl edge-rush nightmare Joey Bosa awaits. He knows what to expect as well.

The Cowboys travel to Los Angeles with an array of weapons around the perimeter. They bring Bosa’s former college roommate and 2016 fellow first-round draft selection, running back Ezekiel Elliott.

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But the Cowboys must protect Prescott to execute that game plan. And that challenge is made steeper by a five-game suspension for starting right tackle La’el Collins. Instead of a reliable, 62-game starter facing Bosa on the edge, the Cowboys are expected to suit up second-year undrafted tackle Terence Steele. Even with team praise of Steele’s offseason strength addition and technique improvement, shutting down Bosa will be a trying feat.

Rookie Washington left tackle Samuel Cosmi learned that the tough way in Week 1, when Bosa disrupted both run and pass plays in the Chargers’ 20-16 win. Bosa downed running back Antonio Gibson three times, including once for a loss. He mauled starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to the tune of a strip sack. Bosa also drew two penalties for roughing the passer.

The Cowboys hope to exploit that intensity.

“His get-off is kind of what gets guys in trouble,” Martin explained. “He’s off the ball so fast that you’re kind of playing catch up from the initial snap, so the big thing is using the cadence to our advantage. We know when we’re starting the play, then obviously getting to your spot and going to work from there.”

Bosa has wrecked games in the six seasons since the Chargers selected him third overall. The Ohio State product has hit quarterbacks 111 times in 64 career games, notching 48.5 sacks against 32 different quarterbacks. Six times Bosa has forced a fumble; three times he has recovered them. The 6-5, 280 aggressor threatens with length, twitch and defensive versatility. The Cowboys expect the Chargers to shift defensive fronts in the contests, keeping Prescott and Co. on their toes.

“We got to really make sure our guys are dialed in to the recognition of who's in the game,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “(Bosa) was definitely at the top of the list for offensive guys. Just an excellent player, great understanding. They're moving him around, they're a multiple defensive front football team.

“So we got to be really good at locating him and knowing where he is at all times."

Bosa said his unit has “only scratched the surface with all the different blitzes we can run.”

And yet, there’s one place Bosa hopes Cowboys and Chargers fans will find him most often: busting up a tenuous right edge of Dallas’ offensive line en route to Prescott.

“It really comes down to rushing as a group, as a four-man or five-man group and keeping him in the pocket,” Bosa said. “We know Dak’s a really talented quarterback (and) obviously they have some weapons.

“If you neutralize Dak, then obviously he won’t be able to get the ball to those weapons.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys prepare for Chargers OLB Joey Bosa: 'We all know about 97'