Niners Nation
49ers LB coach Johnny Holland also brought up UDFA Stone Blanton, Nick Martin, and why each of the young LBs are following Fred Warner around
The San Francisco 49ers rookies have the luxury of having some of the best players in the NFL at their positions. Defensive line coach Kris Kocurek said Mykel Williams is following Nick Bosa around like a puppy — as he should.
Linebacker coach Johnny Holland said Nick Martin had done the same with Fred Warner and explained why that’s a good thing:
“One thing about our team, they have some guys to look up to and shadow at just about every position. To be in the shadow of Fred and figure out what he’s eating, how he’s working out, how he’s getting dressed, the things he does off the field, and to pick his brain of what he does on the field, it’s very big. And Nick [Martin] has definitely been shadowing him.”
Holland believes you can gain plenty of “wisdom” from a player by figuring out how they handle themselves outside of the team facilities, from what to study and how to study and know what to look for when you’re trying to watch film. Holland, a former player who said he used to shadow veterans when he played, thinks that players can sometimes gain a better understanding from another player than from a coach on the staff.
Holland singled out Martin and Dee Winters as players from the linebacker group who have been “very good” at communicating with each other.
Holland also provided a quick scouting report on UDFA Stone Blanton, who the 49ers believe can be an asset:
“I saw ball production in college. I saw a violent player who could play multiple positions. He’s been everything we look for here. He’s getting better and better. He takes coaching very well. He corrects stuff the next time he’s up. We’re excited for him. He’s going to be a good asset for us.”
Holland spoke about how Fred Warner has improved with age and how Warner has been fortunate to remain healthy for much of his career. Holland said Warner takes care of his body at a different level than most, and Fred is “an ultimate warrior at taking care of his body.”
Last year was the first season Warner hadn’t played at least 1,000 snaps since 2020. Warner battled an ankle injury he suffered in Week 4 but still never missed a start for the remainder of the season — even in a meaningless game in Week 18. There’s a reason the young players at linebacker are eyeing Warner’s every move.
Something Fred may have to get used to doing again is rushing the passer. Under Robert Saleh, Warner never rushed the passer fewer than 56 times in three seasons. Last season, with Nick Sorensen at the helm, Warner only rushed the passer 37 times.
It’d be understandable if we were talking about some run-of-the-mill player, but not knowing how to...
