Interior pressure is the name of the game on the defensive side of the ball in today’s NFL. The Colts bought into this theory big time when they signed 49ers standout DeForest Buckner to a four-year, $84 million contract during the offseason.
Buckner’s 7.5 sacks in 2019 put him in a tie for sixth in the league among defensive tackles. Most importantly, his impact up front can make a big difference for the guys behind him.
Former Colts CB, Darius Butler, stopped by The Dan Dakich Show to tell us what Buckner’s presence means for the rest of the Indy defense in 2020.
“He’s just one of those guys that changes the math. And the more guys that you have like that on the team, the better,” Butler told Dan.
Buckner’s ability to eat up blocks could pay dividends for the Colts linebacking corps, in particular.
“When you have to put more focus on somebody up front – I see you have some other good players up front as well – you got [Justin] Houston, you got some of the young guys up there – but that allows those guys on that next level – [Anthony] Walker, Darius Leonard – to just fly around and make even more plays.”
Just how many more plays is Butler talking about?
Man I’m so excited about this D. Buckner move for the @Colts . Leonard might have 200 tackles this season! (If it’s played)
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) July 28, 2020
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Now there’s a way to boost The Maniac’s Madden rating.
“I can’t wait to see this group come together,” Butler said.
Neither can we, Darius. Neither can we.
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