04 Aug Preseason Scouting Notes: Joshua Kaindoh, EDGE, Florida State
Redshirt Junior | 6’7” 265 lbs | Baltimore, MD
An EDGE defender who has very good size and can win with power as a pass rusher and run defender
Overview:
Joshua Kaindoh came to Florida State as a 5-star recruit and was a starter last season before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 3 after serving as a rotational player behind first-round pick Brian Burns in 2018. Considering that he played behind a top-tier talent in Burns and has only participated in 24 career games, Kaindoh has been fairly productive with eight sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in Tallahassee. He has primarily played as a standup outside linebacker or defensive end in defensive coordinator Harlon Barnett’s 3-4 scheme. The Baltimore native has some impressive size and strength that will hopefully be maximized by the Seminoles’ new coaching staff and scheme this season.
Strengths:
– Solid hand placement on the front of the shoulder with good play strength to get arm extension and hold his ground against offensive linemen and close the gap with tight ends
– Good at block shedding against base blocks with good tackling form in his gap, using good pad level and strength to minimize running back’s yards after contact
– In pass rush, he can get pressure with power using solid hand placement and good play strength on his bull rush
– Showed flashes of a good long arm pass rush move
– Uses good pad level and play strength to get offensive tackles off balance using a dip and rip move
– Shows good acceleration/closing speed on the quarterback
Areas to improve:
– Adequate get off due to a lack of explosion off the line of scrimmage and a slow reaction to the snap, diminishing his ability to win with speed in pass rush
– Late timing with his hands against the run and has to rely on his strength to get extension
– Struggles to recognize blocking schemes leading to him getting washed against down blocks, failing to secure the edge against reach blocks, and failing to get underneath pullers as the spill player
– Lacks the agility and quickness to make tackles in space in 1-on-1 situations
– Stick moves aren’t effective because of a lack of quickness and offensive linemen aren’t threatened vertically
– Consistently misses with his chop to start finesse pass rush moves
– Lacks the bend to take efficient routes to the quarterback off the edge
– Little to no pass-rush plan as he doesn’t use counter moves if his primary doesn’t work
Injury concerns:
2019: Pulled Hamstring (Missed part of Summer Camp), Lower Right Leg Injury (Missed nine games)
Projection:
Kaindoh was granted a medical redshirt for the 2019 season, so he will have the option to return to school at the end of the year. Right now, he projects as a Day 3 pick who could fall anywhere from the sixth-round or become a PFA. A team that uses a 4-3 defensive system and is looking to add depth along the defensive line could fall in love with Kaindoh’s rare size and impressive strength.
What to watch in 2020:
How does Florida State’s new coaching staff use him, and will he be able to improve his athleticism to become a more effective pass rusher? New defensive coordinator Adam Fuller uses a more traditional four-man front, which should help compensate for some of Kaindoh’s limited athletic ability. Also, if the defensive lineman can add some weight, he could slide inside and take snaps as a 3- or 4-technique in the new scheme, which would reduce his need for bend as a pass rusher and allow him to show position versatility. Regardless, Kaindoh needs to improve upon his quickness and agility, and that won’t be easy coming off a serious lower leg injury.
- A Bay Area native who has a dysfunctional relationship with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.
- Matt played college football and was a recruiting assistant at Division 3 Willamette University, where he received his BA and MBA.
- He has worked in the industry as a journalist, film analyst for PFF, and graduated from the Scouting Academy.