In this series of 49ers Film Room, we break down the \u201cWide Nine\u201d technique and its effect on the San Francisco 49ers\u2019 2019 defense. In Part 3,\u00a0we review how Nick Bosa and Dee Ford will attack the quarterback \u2014 with the assistance of DeForest Buckner \u2014 from \u201cDouble Wide-9\u201d defensive alignments.<\/h2>\n

This is the third installment in our latest 49ers Film Room series analyzing the wide-9 technique the San Francisco 49ers will implement during the 2019 NFL season. You can check out the first two articles here:<\/p>\n

1. 49ers Film Room: The Wide-9 in San Francisco\u2019s 2019 Defense<\/a>
\n2.\u00a049ers Film Room: DeForest Buckner to Benefit from Double Wide-9<\/a><\/p>\n

In our second segment, we broke down how defensive tackle DeForest Buckner<\/a> is able to dominate as an interior pass rusher when the San Francisco 49ers utilize two \u201cWide-9\u201d or \u201cGhost Nine\u201d defensive ends on obvious passing downs. Today, we\u2019ll demonstrate how Buckner\u2019s presence will help the 49ers\u2019 new premier edge rushers Nick Bosa<\/a> and Dee Ford<\/a> attack opposing quarterbacks during the 2019 season.<\/p>\n

Per Pro Football Focus, Bosa was the top edge defender<\/a> in the 2019 NFL Draft and Ford was the highest-graded pass-rusher<\/a>\u00a0in the NFL last season. With both players slated to rush from the outside on passing downs, San Francisco should be able to get after the quarterback in 2019. But even with journeyman edge defenders last season, the 49ers found success \u2014 thanks to Buckner wreaking havoc from the inside.<\/p>\n

49ers\u2019 Double Wide-9 When Offenses Focus on Buckner<\/h3>\n

In order to protect against inside running plays on probable passing downs, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has used wide-9 or ghost-9 technique defensive ends on the outside paired with a modified 3-tech defensive tackle and a larger DT or nose tackle on the inside. As we discussed previously<\/a>, the job of DT Sheldon Day<\/a>\u00a0is to occupy the opposing center and right guard to allow San Francisco\u2019s three remaining pass rushers to attack the quarterback. Here, Buckner lines up wider than a traditional 3-technique DT \u2014 in what we\u2019ll call a \u201cWide-3 Technique\u201d since it\u2019s not a true 4i-tech \u2014 with his body angled toward Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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By lining up far to the outside, EDGE Cassius Marsh<\/a> is able to quickly get upfield and engage Raiders offensive lineman Ian Silberman<\/a>, who is isolated, off-balance, and ill-prepared for contact. On the left side of the formation, running back Doug Martin<\/a> purposefully sidesteps defensive end\u00a0Ronald Blair<\/a> in order to make contact with Buckner. Meanwhile, left tackle Kolton Miller<\/a> is so concerned with Buckner \u2014 lined up directly in front of him \u2014 that his first move is toward the DT, which allows Blair to bull rush him back into the middle of the pocket, forcing Carr to the ground for the sack:<\/p>\n