DeForest Buckner believes Colts can replicate success of 49ers' defense

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The 49ers knew they had a choice to make. Keeping both Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner at the money they would require would be very hard to finagle. 

So, the 49ers elected to re-sign Armstead to a five-year deal and trade Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 13 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Buckner, the recipient of the Bill Walsh Award this season, was a key cog on the 49ers' dominant defense that got them to within one quarter of a Super Bowl title before it all unraveled against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The 49ers' meteoric rise from 4-12 to Super Bowl runner-up can be traced to the work of the defense, mainly Buckner and the front line. The now-former 49ers defensive tackle explained what made the group in Santa Clara so special during his Wednesday introductory conference call with the Colts. 

"It all started with one trust," Buckner said of the 49ers' defense. "That whoever it is, they are going to do their job. Make sure you do your job and the guy next to you will do his. Just having that trust among each other and at the same time, it was preached from OTAs when (defensive line coach Kris Kocurek) got in that it all starts up front. Obviously, we brought in some key guys with (Nick Bosa) and (Dee Ford) and all them. Obviously, (Kwon Alexander). But we just believed in each other and told each other that it starts up front.

"Everything is won or lost in the trenches, whether it is on offense or defense. So we just had to bring the mentality of playing championship defense. That was the mentality from Day 1. As the season caught on, we caught fire and kept building off of that. So that was the mentality."

Buckner agreed to a massive extension with the Colts upon arriving and is excited to get to work building a tough, hard-nosed defense in the AFC South. With several talented players on defense, Buckner thinks the Colts can replicate what the 49ers built as they look to pursue a title behind new quarterback Philip Rivers. 

"I can definitely see it on this defense," Buckner said. "You know, we got a lot of talent. We got a lot of great veterans like Justin Houston. I'm excited to work with Justin. Dee Ford has told me nothing but amazing things about him, so I'm ready to pick his brain a little bit. Also, the young, talented linebacker Darius Leonard. Sometimes we would watch film on Indy and you see him flying around everywhere. I'm excited to have a linebacker like him behind me, so it's going to be a lot of fun."

[RELATED: Armstead didn't want to leave 49ers, discusses DeFo trade]

Buckner wasn't shocked by the trade to the Colts, but he did admit it was "tough" to leave the 49ers

The Colts hope Buckner, along with Rivers, can be the missing pieces to a team ready to contend for a title now. Perhaps Buckner and the 49ers will see each other again in Tampa Bay next February. 

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