49ers film room: Why Fred Warner is already a top 3 linebacker

No. 1: Fred Warner can make a case for making the best play of the NFL season

This play against the Ravens is the best a linebacker made in the NFL last season. It could also be submitted for one of the best play anyone in the NFL made in 2019, it was that great.

The Ravens were in an empty formation on 2nd-and-10 on their own 43-yard line. Robert Saleh matched that with Cover 4, and Warner was responsible for the middle hook zone, again. This meant Warner had to line up over one of the fastest wide receivers in the NFL, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Brown was running a crossing route at the first-down marker.

As Brown broke across the field, Warner had to speed turn, then close on Brown and break up the pass.

Sounds near impossible, right? Well, if you check out this film review, it’s pretty amazing to see how Warner made it happen.

Warner made it look like he does that for a living. Well, he technically does. But anyway for an inside linebacker to speed turn, catch up with one of the fastest players in the NFL and then break up the pass intended for the said receiver, that’s downright ridiculous.

Warner is one of a kind and the 49ers will, hopefully, compensate him handsomely when the time comes.