Fred Warner has already noticed a difference with the much-hyped and, hopefully, much-improved defensive front. The San Francisco 49ers' second-year linebacker asserted himself as a leader on the team during his rookie campaign. And what a rookie campaign it was.
Warner had a team-high 124 total tackles while starting all 16 games last year. The next closest player, Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, had 67. It isn't just Warner's tackle total and the linebacker starting every game that is impressive. He also handled the communication duties for the defense — as a rookie. You know, that little green dot slapped on a player's helmet to tell you who is responsible for relaying information to his defensive teammates.
Warner, who joined KNBR on Friday, is expecting 2019 to be even more fun. That improved defensive line I mentioned earlier, the one that already had Buckner terrorizing opponents from the middle, added some talented pass rushers along the edge. The 49ers traded for veteran Dee Ford in March and drafted Nick Bosa in April. The defensive line now boasts five former first-round picks.
Warner believes that the defense's woes at forcing turnovers might be solved thanks to the offseason additions.
"It's close, and the difference is so small," Warner told Greg Papa and John Lund. "I feel like we're right there but having the guys we have on this defense now, [turnovers] should be coming. They should come now.
"I don't want to make any predictions or anything, but I think the way that we're practicing and the mindset we have, it should come."
How does that bolstered defensive front help Warner?
"I could go on and on about every single guy in that room right now," Warner said. "People outside all talk about how we have such and such first-rounders. We brought in Dee Ford. It's kind of hard to put into words right now what I'm seeing. I can't wait for when we get into real live-action, but it looks sweet from my view.
"I'm able to quicken up my play clock in my head in terms of when I'm in coverage, being able to break on stuff a lot quicker. It's nice."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Warner below.
