Buffalo Bills: Vosean Joseph looks to carve out role after lost season
By Daniel Bruce
Where Vosean Joseph excels
With little to no tape from preseason, and Joseph not being at his best due to presumed nagging injuries during training camp, evaluating the linebackers college career seems like the best course of action.
While being a bit undersized at 6’1″ and 230 pounds, Joseph can blow up ball carriers with earth shattering hits and was an intimidating presence in college. On this play, which is one of his lone noticeable plays during the preseason, he blows up the Colts running back in the backfield with his great hit power:
https://twitter.com/charliejordanuf/status/1160331641073651713?s=20
Joseph has been known to get aggressive at the line of scrimmage and slip through blocks to get to the running back, which is very impressive for an undersized linebacker.
Joseph’s best game in college came against future Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow in 2018, when the Gators took on LSU. Joseph was all over the field putting up 14 tackles and 2 sacks versus the Tigers, one very nice sack on a delayed blitz where he accelerated and sacked Joe Burrow:
Florida LB Vosean Joseph might end up being a 2nd rounder in a weak year at LB. Great speed and range, which to me are the most important qualities in a developmental LB these days. Was on display vs. run, and rushing the passer in big game vs. LSU here. pic.twitter.com/QOcH4hdKXm
— BrianCatNFL (@BrianCatNFL) February 22, 2019
He shows great pursuit to the ball, as evidence by this play, as he reads the run and when he sees the play action he immediately explodes at Burrow for the sack. Most commonly referred to as a see ball, get ball linebacker who can fly around the field.
He also holds strong in the run game at points on his film, as he disengages from blocks and can stop running backs from getting to the second level:
Despite Florida deploying a 5-2 defense, where the linebacker will be forced to cover the shallow areas of the field including the flats, Joseph didn’t show a ton in coverage.
He does have the athleticism to keep up with tight ends and running backs and that will not be a barrier at the NFL level either. With the Buffalo Bills primarily playing in a nickel defense with their 4-2-5 alignment, Joseph fits in well with his explosiveness and raw potential in pass coverage.
While at times showing lapses in decision making, Joseph makes an exceptional play here versus Michigan, he originally pursues the ball and then sees the running back release and makes a great pass breakup on the play:
His great sideline to sideline pursuit shines on tape and his special teams value should be there for the Buffalo Bills and if he eventually is asked to play on defense the potential is there to make an impact.