Indy’s plan for Cincy: Go at Joe
Colts defense intends to pressure Bengals rookie quarterback Burrow
INDIANAPOLIS — Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner sees an opportunity for the NFL's stingiest defense Sunday.
One week after allowing Baker Mayfield to thrive outside the pocket while giving up a seasonhigh 32 points, the Indianapolis Colts can show everyone what they learned from a loss at Cleveland. This week, they face another young, mobile quarterback, a rookie who has been sacked 22 times this season, 16 in the last three games.
It's a combination the Colts hope to use to their advantage.
“Usually with younger quarterbacks, pressure really gets to them,” Buckner said. “Pressure and tight coverage really gets after them. You try to do that with any quarterback you play, but especially with the young ones. You just need to do a good job up front, dominating, rushing whether it's with four, five or six, we just have to make sure we're affecting him.”
Make no mistake, Buckner and his teammates respect Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (1-3-1).
The game tape provides a glimpse into how talented the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall draft pick is. He's thrown five touchdown passes and only one interception in his first three road games and until last week's loss at Baltimore, he's kept the Bengals competitive.
But they also see someone who, like many rookies, struggles under duress and it's something they hope to exploit.
“You can disguise — maybe you disguise a little bit more than you normally do,” coach Frank Reich said when asked about dialing up different defensive schemes against a rookie. “Certainly, that is in play every week so we'll try and do a good job of that against Joe Burrow as well.”