San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris believes there are “a lot of exciting things” about the 49ers defense. Morris spoke about how much fun he’s had being in the 49ers building and learning about the Niners roster.
One player Morris kept coming back to was. Fred Warner:
“They’ve all been great. It’s been so much fun to be around all of these guys, but when you’re around a guy like Fred, you’re around [Dre] Greenlaw even though they’re not practicing; it is a little different when you’re around those couple of guys that just put so much into their work, put so much time into it.”
Warner and Greenlaw weren’t practicing on Wednesday, but they were attentive. When the clock would switch periods, Warner would turn into a hype man for his fellow teammates, making sure everybody matched his energy while Warner bounced around the field.
Even when Morris was talking about another player, like Upton Stout, the conversation came back to Warner:
“We have our defensive meeting room, you see those guys, not a rookie, but how they influence [Upton] Stout and how they’re around Stout and how they make him think and behave and sit next to each other every single day. Can’t get Stout to smile, but he has such a serious demeanor, and he’s picking up all the things from Fred and Greenlaw, the guys around him. That knowledge, that spirit that Fred brings.”
Morris said this time of year is more of an experimental period. He’ll tinker with personnel and coverages to see who can do what and where they excel. Stout hanging on every word Warner and Greenlaw tell him will go a long way toward preparation. Stout will be the 49ers’ secret weapon on defense this season.
Morris was asked how much of an impact for someone like Warner to be out there being energetic can have, and if he thinks it resonates and excites the rookies:
“It does—no disrespect to all the great players that I’ve been lucky enough to be around. I don’t know if anybody’s had the juice that Fred has. The greatness, the great mornings, the great days, the great attitude, the mentality to go out every single day and win the day. He brings a different attitude every single day, and it is absolutely refreshing. I’ve seen the ups and downs from some of your great players, whether it’s been the Aaron Donalds or Jalen Ramseys or a Derrick Brooks or John Lynch, a Ronde Barber. I haven’t seen a guy be as consistent as he’s been since I’ve been here as Fred. He’s every single day.”
The 49ers canceled mandatory minicamp. When Morris was asked if there was any plan for the rookies to get them geared up for training camp, he said, “I hate to keep bringing him up, but I know Fred organizes a lot of that with our guys and our guys get a lot of positive peer pressure from each other to make sure they come back ready to go.”
What doesn’t Fred do?
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