Colts' DeForest Buckner Reveals Goals for DL vs. Texans
As the Indianapolis Colts kicked off the 2023 season last week, most of the focus was on rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, and rightfully so.
The rookie quarterback put together a solid debut in the Colts 31-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Richardson went 24-of-37 (64.9%) for 223 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and a QB rating of 79.0. The rookie also ran the ball 10 times for 40 yards and a touchdown.
But on the other side of the ball, the Colts defensive line made quite a bit of noise themselves. Led by former All-Pro DeForest Buckner, the Colts defensive line was able to get pressure on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence throughout the game. The unit finished with two sacks and five tackles, a good start for a group the Colts' defense will rely on all season.
"I think as a group for the defensive line, I think we played a really good game," Buckner admitted. "Obviously, we have some things we need to clean up. We didn’t do enough to win the game obviously, but it was definitely a good stepping stone for us to learn from our little mistakes in certain situations."
Buckner is the undisputed leader of the Colts defensive line. Now in his fourth season with the Colts, Buckner has been fantastic since the Colts traded for him in the spring of 2020 from the San Francisco 49ers. Buckner has racked up 207 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 25.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries with the Colts to go along with an All-Pro selection (2020) and a Pro Bowl (2021).
But last Sunday proved to be a first for Buckner in a Colts uniform. In a wild play, Buckner sacked Lawrence, causing a fumble recovered by the Jags, but Zaire Franklin punched the ball out a second time, allowing Buckner to get the scoop and score. It was the second touchdown of Buckner's career and first with the Colts.
"Yeah, but it was nuts actually," Buckner remembered. "I just remember rushing the guard, beating him with a swim move and I felt like I got the ball out, didn’t hear the whistle blow. I got up and was trying to figure out what was going on and then I just see Zaire (Franklin) or somebody punching the ball out and in the back of my mind I’m like, ‘I didn’t hear a whistle.’ Everyone is like, ‘Pick it up!’ So I scoop it up and I’m running and all of a sudden I see 77 he took a great angle and in my mind I’m like, ‘Should I cut back or just give him the stiff arm?’ and I give him the stiff arm, reach over the pilon and got the score so.”
Buckner was not the only one to have a big game on Sunday. Kwity Paye made his presence known as well, getting a sack of Lawrence and consistently getting pressure in the backfield. Paye looks poised for a breakout year, and Buckner has noticed.
"A lot of guys stepped up, and particularly Kwity had a really good game," Buckner said about the third-year pass rusher. "We just need guys to keep building off of that.”
Now the attention shifts to Week 2, where the Colts travel south to take on the Houston Texans. The Texans also have a rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud, who they are trying to get comfortable in their offense and playing in the NFL. Buckner knows the most impactful way a defense can fluster a rookie quarterback is by getting pressure on him early and often.
“Obviously, they have a young quarterback," Buckner explained. "He can make the throws when he has time. As a defensive unit, we’ve got to do a good job of making him uncomfortable in the pocket. Watching the Ravens game, the game kind of got away from them a little bit. Up front, we’ve got to do a good job of dominating the line of scrimmage, stopping the run game."
The Texans are young at a couple of spots on the interior of their offensive line. Both starting tackles, Laremy Tunsil and George Fant, are also a little banged up. That combination could signal a big day for the Colts defensive line.
The Colts will also need to keep the Texans running game in check. Running back Dameon Pierce is a threat to take over a game. If Pierce gets rolling, it will help take the pressure off of Stroud.
Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
"They really depend on the run game with Dameon Pierce back there," Buckner remarked. "He’s a really good back. He likes to get downhill and he runs hard. As a collective group, we’ve got to do a good job with tackling.”
But the focus will be on Stroud. If the Colts' defensive line can pressure Stroud and force him into mistakes, there will be opportunities for turnovers. That puts the onus on the defensive line to attack and lead the charge.
“Whenever you’re going against a young quarterback, a rookie quarterback, you want to get pressure on him early," Buckner revealed. "You want to hit him as much as you can early and often to kind of get him rattled a little bit – uncomfortable in the pocket.
"I think as a unit, even if we’re not bringing pressure and it’s a passing down, us four up front have to do a really good job in applying that pressure on him throughout the day. You can never let him get comfortable back there."
Buckner and the rest of the Colts' defensive line want to build off their strong start to 2023. If they can keep the pressure on Stroud and force the rookie quarterback into mistakes, the unit may be the catalyst for the Colts getting their first win of the season.
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