49ers training camp: Biggest winners, losers after first week

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Javon Kinlaw, San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

49ers Loser: Javon Kinlaw

Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is a supremely talented player, but he is a player who is a bit raw and will need some development to realize his potential at the next level.

While Kinlaw has been good at stuffing the run with his leverage generated from his short but powerful frame, he’s not been able to get to the quarterback too much.

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There’s not really any reason to be alarmed. Kinlaw was far from a finished product when he was drafted out of South Carolina, and he’ll have the benefit of being able to learn from some talented defensive linemen around him.

The issue for Kinlaw is he’s too reliant on trying to use brute strength to force himself through his opponent, a technique that was effectively in college but requires a bit more science and subtlety in the pros.

Kinlaw might still start from Week 1, but expectations on him going out and rag-dolling offensive linemen immediately might have to be replaced by something a bit more realistic.

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Luckily, he has all the time he needs and all the talent around him he could want to allow him to get better and reach his potential.