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

No. 8: Fred Warner can strike at any moment on anyone, and the 49ers defense was a nightmare for this team twice

The 49ers defense set the tone in Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers, which limited the Packers to only 81 passing yards. Yes, the Packers only managed 81 yards through the air.

San Francisco’s defense was, and hopefully still will be, that great.

Not even two minutes into the game, and the Niners’ elite defense had already forced a turnover. And the offense, via running back Tevin Coleman, capitalized with a touchdown on the 49ers’ first offensive snap of the game, as shown in this link here.

The turnover came thanks to Nick Bosa recovering a fumble forced by… Fred Warner.

Who else?

Robert Saleh called for seven players to crowd the line of scrimmage. However, the 49ers blitzed five, with two of the seven on the LOS, dropping out and into coverage. Warner was the fifth blitzer, along with the defensive line. However, Saleh had also called for a delayed blitz from K’waun Williams, who blitzed off of the defense’s left. This blitz collapsed the pocket and put Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers under pressure almost immediately.

With Rodgers trying to escape and not being down, Warner found the quarterback and punched the ball out just before Rodgers went down. The ball came loose and Bosa was on hand to pick the ball up, giving the 49ers offense great starting field position.