Is Javon Kinlaw the next DeForest Buckner?
The 49ers certainly hope so. They traded Buckner for the Colts and used the pickaxe they received to take Kinlaw. These two play the same position – defensive tackle – and the 49ers even gave Kinlaw the same jersey number that Buckner wore – # 99.
Kinlaw could eventually become as good or better than Buckner. We will see. But they definitely have different skills, even if they are both defensive tackles.
Here is Kinlaw’s screening report.
GOOD
Kinlaw appears to be a better candidate than Buckner as a defenseman for the 49ers’ Wide 9 defensive front.
The Wide 9 moves the two defensive ends outside the tight ends. Thus, in racing games, the two defensive tackles are often doubled, which means that four offensive linemen block two defenders.
Last season, Buckner was often overtaken by attacking tackles and attacking guards. And Buckner is skinny and skinny – 6’8 “, 300 pounds. These double teams pushed him like waves in the ocean. He is not built to withstand these blocks. He is better suited to traditional defenses rather than Wide 9 (although Buckner could easily have gone defensive in basic defense and replaced Arik Armstead, but that’s a story for another day).
Kinlaw is 6’5 “and 320 pounds – built like a nose tackle. He even played tackle on the nose frequently in college. And he will likely tackle in the 49ers’ nickel defense when Armstead makes the defensive tackle.
Kinlaw is heavier than Buckner, has a lower center of gravity than Buckner and is more difficult to move than Buckner. So Kinlaw will likely improve on a 49ers defense that gave 4.5 yards per carry last season – 10th more in the NFL.
NOT SO GOOD
Kinlaw is strong, powerful and mean – great qualities for a defensive lineman – but not a sophisticated pass hunter. It has a bull run and a rip movement. He’s like a two-pitched pitcher.
Buckner entered the NFL with a full arsenal of moves. Swimming movement. Relocation of the club. Rip move. Bull rush. All. And he was graceful. Kinlaw is not particularly gracious. And he doesn’t have Buckner’s conditioning either. Buckner always chased the ball off the pitch and “played the whistle,” as the coaches say. He set an example and never got tired. He was in supreme shape, as should be the big players in the NFL.
Kinlaw is not in supreme shape. Not yet. He is heavier than Buckner and sometimes gives up games after his first race. Does not always play through whistles or chases in the field or on the sidelines. Instead, Kinlaw jogs and watches.
Arsmtead has the same trend. He and Kinlaw don’t always lead by example like Buckner, but they are still extremely powerful, talented and productive.
Kinlaw seems to be the next Armstead, which would be a good result for the 49ers – they got Kinlaw with the 14th pick. Buckner was the seventh choice in 2016. It’s hard to expect to find the next Buckner outside the top 10.
