Based on what they did in the 49ers’ season-opening victory over the Rams Monday night, defensive ends Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner could be disruptive forces in 2016.
Pro Football Focus ranked Buckner, the Niners’ top pick from Oregon this year, as one of the top 10 rookie performers in the NFL in Week 1.
“No rookie earned a higher pass-rushing grade than Buckner in Week 1,” wrote Michael Renner of PFF. “He may have been blanked in the box score (he had no sacks), but his four (quarterback) hurries contributed greatly to the 49ers’ win.”
Renner noted that Buckner did miss a tackle in the run game, but it was just one blemish in an otherwise solid pro debut.
Buckner was in on 51 snaps, reported Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
“I thought he had a really good first game,” defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil told Barrows. “He was solid, very disruptive in the run game.”
Buckner’s former Oregon teammate, Armstead, may have had an even bigger impact. He played just 35 snaps – he’s being eased back in after a shoulder injury in training camp – but had one sack and helped force a sack on another play. He had five quarterback pressures. It was a nice encore to his solid rookie season of 2015.
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O’Neil says Armstead is a “difference maker”
“He had some flash plays for us on Monday night,” O’Neil told Barrows. “So he’s a guy we need to continue to bring along.”
The 49ers defense ranks No. 1 in the NFL after one week, but will be challenged this Sunday by the Carolina Panthers, a much more explosive and talented team.
Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. in the Bay Area.
