No. 3: Defensive Tackle DeForest Buckner
The 49ers defense has notably improved since last season, and one of the key reasons has been the emergence of second-year defensive end DeForest Buckner.
In Week 2, Buckner had nine quarterback pressures and four hits against the Seahawks, earning a pass-rush productivity grade of 17.3, according to Pro Football Focus:
DeForest Buckner is having a breakout second season so far pic.twitter.com/aQJArqj3Qt
— PFF (@PFF) September 19, 2017
Overall on the season, Buckner’s PFF grade is 88.4 — ranking fifth among all interior defenders through two weeks.
That’s pretty good. And Buckner should have a chance to keep his stride going against Rams left guard Rodger Saffold, who owns an overall PFF grade of 56.2 and a pass-blocking grade of 43.2.
This is a matchup Buckner should be able to win, and the interior pass rush might be an aspect in which San Francisco has to exploit to keep Rams second-year quarterback Jared Goff off balance.