2020 NFL Draft: Scouting South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw
By Ian Higgins
Technique
The second major area of any defensive tackle’s game is his pass-rushing technique and ability to utilize a variety of moves as well as win the leverage battle. Each pass-rusher has a different arsenal based on their experience and play-style. Combining these moves with good leverage create opportunities to be in on the quarterback.
Kinlaw is an athleticism-first pass rusher who uses his burst and strength to move blockers downhill. Once a blocker is off-balance and leverage is won, Kinlaw usually resorts to a one or two-hand shuck paired with lateral movement to get to the outside hip of the blocker and win the snap. When pinned by a blocker and in a losing situation, Kinlaw does well to move laterally and change his angle of attack to create new opportunities.
Kinlaw has one of the best bull-rushes in college football and should be able to translate that pure power to the NFL with some effectiveness. He is also focused on getting into the chest of a defender first, using his 84-inch wingspan to create space and guide blockers into the backfield.
That being said, Kinlaw does have some work to do in regards to his pass-rushing technique. Kinlaw lives and dies by the bullrush-shuck combination and needs to add some new weapons to his arsenal. His overpowering strength has worked with some consistency at the collegiate level, but won’t be as efficient in the NFL. Adding in moves that can be paired with a bullrush such as a swim or spin move would be very beneficial to the soon-to-be rookie.