The San Francisco 49ers have big expectations for linebackers Fred Warner and newly-signed Kwon Alexander. The team hopes the pairing will result in a lot of future success for the defense. San Francisco's decision-makers believed in Alexander so much that they signed him in March to a four-year deal worth up to $54 million.
Warner joined the latest 49ers Insider Podcast and discussed his new teammate, who will likely be lining up next to him for years to come. Warner was among the first to welcome Alexander.
"After we signed him, I reached out to him, and let him know how excited I was for him to join the squad," Warner told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. "We've been talking ever since. He's back at the stadium rehabbing from the knee. He looks great. We watched film together, and just kind of started building that chemistry up a little bit."
Warner, who is entering his second NFL season, was already familiar with Alexander's play when San Francisco signed him as a free agent.
"I was actually very familiar," Warner explained. "I've been a big fan of his game ever since college. I started watching tape on different guys, and he was one of the guys I watched. It was pretty funny."
Warner can't pinpoint what initially attracted him to Alexander's play. Obviously, Alexander is a fit in the 49ers' defensive scheme, but Warner started studying his film while at BYU when Alexander was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I'm not even exactly sure how I started watching so much tape on him," Warner said. "I feel like, obviously, he was a great player. Something that attracted me was the way he played. He plays with a lot of passion, and that's kind of how I like to play the game as well.
"You think about the type of defense we play, there were probably two values that we pride ourselves on. It's speed and physicality, and that's exactly the type of player I feel like he is. And obviously playing with that passion, that's kind of what brought me towards spending more time watching his game a little bit."
The 49ers coaching staff will have to decide who handles the communication for the defense during the upcoming season. Warner wore the green dot on his helmet and managed those duties in 2018. That's a tall order for a rookie, but his handling of the task left cornerback Richard Sherman impressed.
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"I think even moments where we don't necessarily get a play call in on time or the offense is hurrying up and kind of catching us off guard, he'll calmly give us a play and bang, we're playing good football," Sherman told reporters in December. "Those moments are very underrated."
Will Warner continue to handle the communication duties in 2019 or will that task be given to Alexander?
"It hasn't come up in our conversations, at least," Warner said. "In our defense, the MIKE and WILL are almost interchangeable. It's kind of the same position. Obviously, one gives the calls, and one doesn't, but at the end of the day, I feel like the coaches are going to do whatever is best for the defense."
Warner and the 49ers are hoping that additions like Alexander, among others, will be enough to turn things around in 2019. San Francisco has won just 10 games since head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch took over in 2017. Last season left a bad taste in the team's mouth, and the players are eager to redeem themselves.
"It's no secret," Warner said. "Obviously, that last season was a huge disappointment. Obviously, we lost (quarterback) Jimmy (Garoppolo) early on, and we lost a lot of guys throughout the year to injury. We didn't play very consistent football. That's what ended up giving us the record we had.
"I feel like a lot of guys are hungry right now, including me. Hungry to obviously get that taste out of our mouth; just work super hard to put the type of team that we want out on the field for 2019. Super excited to get to work and get the team back together."
While team expectations are high, Warner's expectations for his own play may be even higher. He has lofty goals for his NFL future, which should excite fans.
"I want to be the best defensive player in this league (and) make a lot of plays for this defense to ultimately win a Super Bowl," Warner said. "I want to hold that Lombardi and bring one home to continue that tradition that we have here at the 49ers. Like I said, I've been working my butt off and will continue to just do that to be the best player that I can for this team."
You can listen to the entire interview with Warner below.