There was absolutely no question about Javon Kinlaw’s talent, and his status as a high first-round prospect in the 2020 draft class. While Kinlaw’s sack numbers weren’t great at South Carolina, all you had to do was watch the tape, and you’d understand that good things were going to happen for any defensive coordinator who got his hands on this guy,
201. That’s the number of snaps Kinlaw played at nose tackle last season for South Carolina, which really wasn’t ideal — the 6’6″, 302-pound Kinlaw is best-suited to a three-technique role in which he can use his strength and quickness to get to the quarterback. Despite this positional malfeasance, he still amassed six sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 26 quarterback hurries in 352 pass-rushing snaps.
The 49ers selected Kinlaw with the 14th overall pick they got from the Colts in the DeForest Buckner trade, and as the season has gone on, he’s been better and better. Last Sunday against the Saints. he put up 1.5 sacks and three total pressures, and three stops.
The only thing Kinlaw hadn’t done yet was have any snaps in coverage through his first NFL season, and after this 27-yard pick-six, Jared Goff probably wishes that would have been maintained.
BIG MAN TD!! @JavonKinlaw with the Pick 6 and dive 😂#SFvsLAR on FOX/49ers app pic.twitter.com/6UwAiGX5aA
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 29, 2020
“I feel like that’s where Kinlaw is with regards to, he’s had some opportunities, he’s missing a step and that just comes with time and reps and learning,” 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said in early November, just before the rookie busted out. “I believe that he’s going to get all that. He is just hungry for knowledge and just constantly trying to learn from everything. So, I believe that he’s a guy that won’t fail.”
Indeed. With that pick-six, per Pro Football Reference, Kinlaw put himself in an interesting niche. Since 1950, just six rookie defensive tackles have returned an interception for a touchdown: Greg Johnson of the Buccaneers in 1977, Warren Sapp of the Buccaneers in 1995, James Jones of the Browns in 1991, Jamal Williams for the Chargers in 1998, Kinlaw today, and a guy who did it for the 1998 Cowboys named… Danny Noonan.
Noonan’s secret was obvious: Be the ball. Kinlaw appears to have the same mindset.
