also: 9 technique · 9-tech · wide nine
The widest alignment on the line, outside the tight end or outside the last man. The speed rusher's spot.
2 meanings, all below. Jump to the one you heard.
A defensive end aligned outside the tight end, or wide outside the tackle when there is no tight end, further from the ball than any other lineman. The width buys a better angle to the quarterback and makes him the contain player, at the cost of being the furthest man from an inside run and the easiest to reach on a play run away from him.
How far outside is not settled. Some put him a couple of feet outside the tight end; others put him well wide of the tackle and outside even the tight end. Some writers use nine and wide nine for one spot, while others treat the wide nine as its own, wider alignment.
9 techniqueseven technique, six technique, five techniqueA player archetype, in the same way as three technique. A nine technique end is a speed rusher, and the phrase describes what a coach is looking for rather than only where he will stand.
9-tech, speed rusherstrongside end, five technique end