The Eye in the Sky: Uncovering a Diamond in the Rough, Brandon Bostick 

By: Matt Harmon
11/23/13


            It happens every NFL season. From midseason to the closing moments of the playoff weeks, talented but overlooked players begin to rise from the ranks of the unknown to quietly build momentum for promising future careers. Looking for examples? Think about Wes Welker in 2006, Arian Foster in 2009, and Miles Austin in 2008. All of those players were not household names, but showed promising signs in the second half of the seasons before their true breakout year. Even if these sleepers are not stuffing up stat sheets, by looking through the eye in the sky we can begin to dig for diamonds in the rough before the rest of the public gets wise. This week, allow me to introduce you to Brandon Bostick, a young tight end who is showing some big time potential in Green Bay. 

The Background Story

• Brandon Bostick came out of tiny Newberry College in 2012, and received little interest from most NFL teams. Bostick eventually managed to swing a workout invitation from the Packers, was signed to a contract, and spent last season on their practice squad. After displaying some impressive athleticism and downfield ability, the young tight end reportedly drew some trade interest in August, but the Packers elected to keep him around. Bostick has what seems to be the secret for success at the tight end position in today’s NFL, a basketball background. Could Bostick be the next Jimmy Graham or Julius Thomas, a raw talent as a football player, but a former hoopster success story as a tight end? A glance through eye in the sky shows the potential is there. 
  

Through the Eye in the Sky

• Bostick only has four career catches, but they have displayed several key attributes that should predetermine future NFL success: athleticism, determination, and opportunity. Let’s take a look at Bostick’s first career touchdown, which came against the Eagles two weeks ago:

• The Packers come out in 12 personnel here against a zone look from the Eagles defense. Bostick, red circle, has shown a strong knack for finding the open holes in zone coverage in his limited time on the field. Bostick runs an out route, but then takes it up the sideline to the end zone:

• What is important to note here is that Bostick is Scott Tolzien’s first read on this play. The coaching staff clearly likes the young tight end’s potential, as they are already drawing up opportunities for him. Tolzien quickly identifies that Bostick will be singled up with a cornerback, Roc Carmichael (shallow zone), for most of the play. Bostick makes such a quick and violent move on his cut down field that it actually cause Carmichael to fall over. Tolzien’s eyes never leave Bostick, and he delivers the ball to the wide open receiver:

• Here is where the basketball skills come in. Bostick is able to high point pass and snatch it out of the air. Ball skills this advanced are normally only evident in veteran players, not guys coming off the practice squad. With the defensive back bearing down, most offensive players get tackled within five yards of the end zone, not so with Brandon Bostick:

• Bostick lowers his shoulder and lays out the Eagles defensive back on his way into the end zone. Determination and strong run after the catch abilities are some of the positive traits that he exhibits on his first career touchdown. 
• Bostick shows some more of his positive traits on a very similar play against the Giants last week. He was hurt at the end of this play, and that is why it was his lone reception of the day:

• This time the Packers come out in 22 personnel and are going to run a play action fake to Eddie Lacy. The Giants defense is in man coverage against the two primary receivers, Bostick and Jordy Nelson, with a single safety over the top. The Packers offensive line, second tight end, and two backs all sell the play fake and head to the left. The play action also takes the linebackers to that area and will put them in a very poor position to defend Brandon Bostick in the middle of the field:

• Once again, Bostick is the primary read for Tolzien. When Jon Beason bit on the play fake he not only took himself out of the play, but he also bumped into Ryan Mundy, the safety who was in man coverage with Bostick, rerouting him and giving the Packers tight end a ton of space in the middle of the field. There is just too much green space around the tight end for Tolzien not to make this throw:

• Just like his touchdown catch against the Eagles, Bostick does not go down on first contact. He extends his arm and drives the linebacker and defensive back into the ground to gain more yards. For two weeks in a row, Brandon Bostick displayed the ability to get open and gain yards after the catch all while being the primary receiver on a few plays. 
  

Going Forward
            As Bostick continues to make the most of his limited opportunities, it is important to examine how he can fit in the Packers offense in the future. In theory, things should only get better for Bostick when Aaron Rodgers returns from injury, but he must develop chemistry with and earn the trust of the best quarterback in the league. However, Rodgers has been so involved with the coordinating of the offense while on the sidelines, he no doubt has seen how Bostick has performed when plays are designed to go his way. There is also opportunity to be had in the Packers’ tight end rotation. Jermichael Finley is already out for the season, and with the frightening nature of his injury and the lack of a contract beyond this season, it is fair to wonder if he will ever play for this team again. Bostick could legitimately be looking at the chance to be the Packers primary receiving tight end not just for this season, but also for years to come. Everything will hinge on whether Bostick can make the most of his chances this season. He is already of to a great start, and looks to be the NFL’s latest diamond in the rough. 

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