1st Team All Pro - LB Fred Warner

Originally posted by WINiner:

Originally posted by Heroism:
Look, I love Pat, but he pales in comparison to Fred in pass coverage. Fred is already the GOAT cover LB, IMO. He quite literally blankets wide receivers in zone match concepts. No other true stack LB does that. I still remember that play in 2019 where Fred has Hollywood Brown on a deep dig and shuts him down. One of the craziest reps I've ever seen from a LB. Truthfully, you have to watch the all-22 to really appreciate what Fred does. That's really where Fred shines because his single greatest attribute is the plays he prevents from ever happening. His grasp of route concepts and what the offense is trying to do is unparalleled. Then you throw in his high-end athleticism on a 6-3+, 240 pound frame, and you've got the best cover LB ever.

I love Pat. I think he was much better in the box and against the run than Fred, but I'll never forget how Jimmy Graham embarrassed him multiple times in the 2011 NFC Divisional Round. I thought the game was lost after Jimmy Graham dunked on Pat down the seam for a 66-yard TD with less than 2 minutes left. Nobody has worked Fred look like that.

No contest. Fred is the GOAT.

Fred Warner is one of the best LBs in the NFL. Absurd coverage play against Hollywood Brown. Such a fluid hip turn for a LB. Dude is a stud. pic.twitter.com/0y0ZfJEadh

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) May 17, 2020

This play in the 2022 NFC divional game was nutty, too

Linebackers just shouldn't be able to do this. They shouldn't.

This play should be a touchdown to CeeDee Lamb, but Fred Warner… pic.twitter.com/Oqi22WHU24

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 23, 2023

Stats and my eye disagree. Again in 8 seasons and 5 more games played Fred has 2 more passes defensed than Pat did. I am willing to agree that Fred is a better coverage LB, but Willis far from "pales in comparison" and I question the memory or whether the person who would make such a claim really watched Pat play, or is it a combination of not really having watched him play and recency bias?

I agree that the "pales in comparison" comment is a major stretch, as is the "No contest". I would not say either of these two pales in comparison to the other, in any aspect of the game. P-52 is obviously a HOF'er already, and Fred is well on his way to earning it. Both are clearly the best MLB of their era. I've kept my own personal roster of "Greatest All-Time 49ers", based on skill, what they did for the team, and probably some personal bias based on how fun they are/were to watch. The single hardest position on my roster to choose (by far) has been that starting MLB spot!

yes they are hall of famers, so lucky to have them both be Niners.

Originally posted by WINiner:
He's not as good as Pat or Bowe, but man do I like Fred so much more. Dudes a stud and such a good teammate. More of a general on the field than anyone since Cowboy imo.Love me some Drop Dead Fred. Super stud.

I agree with this.

Pat was an absolute beast.

Slightlt different eras (rules) and different defensive coaches but the stat for Willis and Warner are really similar. The biggest differnce is Willis has twice as many sacks and more tackles for loss but some of that is because of what they were sked to do. Warner has better pass defense stats.

All things considered I wouldn't be able to pick one over the other. Both have multiple pro bowls. Willis is in the HOF and Warner will be. Each has 8 seasons but barring a career ending injury Warner will end up playing more years. The ners have really had some outstanding LBs over the years. Back in the 50s they had Matt Hazeltine. Then Dave Wilcox. Mike Walter. Romanowski. Willie Harper. Keena Turner. Fudgehammer. Lee Woodall. Ken Norton Jr. So many more that had really good careers and I'm not even counting guys like Haley and Ahmad Brooks and that were LBs but actually played more like edge rushers.

I would let Bosa walk before Warner thats how good that dude is

Originally posted by Since07:
I would let Bosa walk before Warner thats how good that dude is

Agree with this take

Originally posted by Sickaa:

Originally posted by WINiner:
He's not as good as Pat or Bowe, but man do I like Fred so much more. Dudes a stud and such a good teammate. More of a general on the field than anyone since Cowboy imo.Love me some Drop Dead Fred. Super stud.

I agree with this.

Pat was an absolute beast.

Pat and Bow were beasts. It neither had the coverage skills or speed of Fred. Pat was my favorite LB since Romonowski and still
love him, but I give the edge to Fred.

Originally posted by Cosmo:
Pat and Bow were beasts. It neither had the coverage skills or speed of Fred. Pat was my favorite LB since Romonowski and still
love him, but I give the edge to Fred.

Idk, Bow before the injury had crazy good cover skills. He was so good people started questioning if he was better than Willis

Originally posted by Since07:
I would let Bosa walk before Warner thats how good that dude is

I don't know, it seems like we have a much easier time finding all-pro LBs than we do finding premier edge rushers.

Let's just say fred is what you get if you combine willis and bowman together.

DPOY

look who was waiting for Fred in the lockerroom after the victory I wonder how much time he spends around the team.

Originally posted by Heroism:
DPOY

100%

All Pro Fred is a fitting nickname