Javon Kinlaw needed only one play to signal a long-awaited step forward in 2023
Former 14th overall pick Javon Kinlaw has, largely due to injury, struggled to make an impact for the 49ers since his rookie season in 2020 came to a premature end. In Sunday's season-opening win over the Steelers, Kinlaw belatedly made the kind of impression of which the Niners have long since thought him capable. Kinlaw […]
Former 14th overall pick Javon Kinlaw has, largely due to injury, struggled to make an impact for the 49ers since his rookie season in 2020 came to a premature end. In Sunday's season-opening win over the Steelers, Kinlaw belatedly made the kind of impression of which the Niners have long since thought him capable.
Kinlaw played only 24 defensive snaps in the 49ers' 30-7 demolition of the Steelers, but the influence he managed to enjoy during his time on the field should raise hopes he can finally vindicate San Francisco's continued faith in him as part of a defensive line rotation that manhandled the Pittsburgh offensive line.
There was one play in particular that caught the eye of head coach Kyle Shanahan when he watched the tape back, and it came on the first play of the 49ers' second defensive series, helping set the tone for a beatdown.
San Francisco lined up with five down linemen, with Kinlaw in the B gap between the left tackle and the left guard. At the snap, he displayed the explosiveness that has often been lacking from his game to work to the inside shoulder of Isaac Seumalo and subsequently occupy both the guard and the center, allowing Fred Warner to surge through a huge gap and smack Najee Harris behind the line of scrimmage for a two-yard loss.
The 49ers drafted Kinlaw in part because of what they believed he could do against the run, and Shanahan felt that play was indicative of the progress he has made this offseason.
Shanahan, speaking on his Monday conference call, said of Kinlaw:
"I thought he took a step forward from last year. I thought he had one play in particular I really liked. He got in the backfield a couple times. On the fourth play of the game when Fred Warner had that tackle for loss, that real violent hit in the backfield where he just shot the C gap, Kinlaw took up the center and the guard, which allowed Fred to be unblocked to make a big play. So, I think Kinlaw did his job."
Kinlaw also made plays in the passing game, registering two pressures according to Pro Football Focus.
His production could have been more impressive had he finished another play where he easily defeated the block of veteran left guard Seumalo in the fourth quarter. Kinlaw beat Seumalo to the punch then clubbed him to the side to get a free run at Kenny Pickett. However, he then inexplicably hesitated, giving Pickett enough time to complete a pass to Allen Robinson.
Kinlaw, without that brief pause, likely would have had a sack to his name, his first since his rookie year. Despite missing out on bringing down Pickett, he and the Niners should be extremely encouraged by his Week 1 display.
San Francisco's interior defensive line already looks vastly improved on last season, the starting duo of Javon Hargrave (three pressures and a sack) and Arik Armstead (five pressures) causing chaos.
On the edge, Drake Jackson's three-sack effort and an impressive debut by Clelin Ferrell (two quarterback hits) are likely to lessen concerns about the edge depth behind Nick Bosa, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year who had four pressures while playing just over 50 percent of the snaps following the end of his holdout.
The 49ers have enough stars up front where they don't necessarily need Kinlaw to step up in the final year of his contract. Him turning into a productive defensive tackle in 2023 would be a bonus that many outside of the building did not expect.
But strength in depth is often most important down the stretch and in the postseason. Kinlaw's potential belated emergence may be a luxury, but it's a luxury that could make a huge difference if he is still influencing opposing run games and passing attacks come January.
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