![\"Minnesota](\"http:\/\/67.222.96.246\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/the-shanaplan-where-does-the-49ers-defense-rank-among-the-teams-in-the-nfc-west.jpg\"){kind=icon}
Plus, the defensive coordinators<\/p>\n
Last week, we discussed where the 49ers’ offense ranked<\/a> among their counterparts in the division. On this week’s episode of The Shanaplan, Akash and myself did the same, but for the defensive side of the ball.<\/p>\n We didn’t waste any time discussing who had the best defensive line. Instead, we discussed the depth the Niners have and circled back to today’s topic about potential defensive breakout stars<\/a>.<\/p>\n It’s telling that if you were to ask five different people, you’d likely get five different answers. I explained my answer earlier. Here’s Akash on why his pick is Javon Kinlaw:<\/p>\n \u201cHe just seems to be in the right headspace. That\u2019s part of the battle in the NFL. Just staying positive and upbeat. With the injuries over the past few years and what he\u2019s gone through, it feels good to be healthy. I\u2019m sure a little bit of the pressure has come off.<\/p>\n Now, you don\u2019t have the expectations of living up to being a top-15 pick. Honestly, if you\u2019re a productive player, if you\u2019re what D.J. Jones was to this defense, while you may not have lived up to the expectations of the pick, you\u2019ll still be viewed as a productive player.<\/p>\n I think that, and combination by all accounts his knee is finally healthy, he\u2019s finally working out, and he\u2019s mentioned how healthy he is. I don\u2019t know, I feel like alongside Armstead and Nick Bosa, I think Kinlaw is going to be the guy that breaks out.<\/p>\n On this defensive line, I feel like he\u2019s been forgotten a little bit, and he\u2019s going to remind people why the 49ers drafted him that high.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Kinlaw was a good player as a rookie. He didn’t put up gaudy numbers, and 1.5 sacks didn’t help, but he was productive, was a dominant run defender, but couldn’t stay healthy.<\/p>\n Where does the #49ers<\/a>‘ defense rank among teams in the NFC West?@KP_Show<\/a> & @akashanav<\/a> broke it all down on today’s show! Plus…<\/p>\n Are ESPN’s FPI rankings too hard on the Niners?\n
Do the 49ers have the best linebacker duo in the NFL?<\/h3>\n
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Breakout candidates on the defensive linehttps:\/\/t.co\/LGZKdTEdjN<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/nNYeMu7Lbn<\/a><\/p>\n