Wilks foresees 49ers’ star-studded D-line taking another leap

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers' defense is ranked near the top of the NFL in most defensive metrics but is tied for 15th with eight quarterback sacks through three weeks. While the focus this week is on the Arizona Cardinals, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks still is excited about the long-term future of his group, knowing they are capable of much more. "The potential that this unit has, not just up front at the D-line but as a unit, the sky is the limit," Wilks said on Thursday. After the club's Week 3 win over the New York Giants, Nick Bosa shared that as a group, the defensive front had their best game yet in terms of winning rushes and pressuring the quarterback. Per PFF, the unit racked up 23 pressures facing against the Giants. Through three contests, they boast the top pass rush grade in the league (91.0). Wilks agrees with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, but believes the group still has so much more room to improve. The defensive coach is certain that while the talent level in Santa Clara is unquestionable, there is another element that separates them from the rest of the league. "I've never been around an elite group like this before," Wilks said. "And it's not...