Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers vs. Colts: 5 key storylines to watch for San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Pierre Garcon #85 of the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 18-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 01: Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Pierre Garcon #85 of the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 1, 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts won 18-14. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers hits quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner #99 of the San Francisco 49ers hits quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Defensive Tackle DeForest Buckner vs. Colts O-Line

Speaking of the pass rush, second-year defensive tackle DeForest Buckner might be in for a field day in Week 5.

Buckner was a force in Week 4 in Arizona, picking up his first sack of the season and six pressures, according to Pro Football Focus (h/t Jennifer Lee Chan of Niners Nation):

That’s good. Like, elite good.

Meanwhile, the Colts will be rolling out center Ryan Kelly for the first time this season. Kelly replaces rookie free-agent center Deyshawn Bond, who landed on season-ending injured reserve with a quad injury.

Kelly, the Colts’ first-round draft pick from a year ago, practiced for the first time this week after suffering a broken bone in his foot last August.

Needless to say, Kelly might be a bit rusty.

This is an advantage the Niners need to exploit, and Buckner is the perfect commodity to make it happen.