Overview
- Fred Warner publicly singled out young defenders including nickelback Upton Stout and second-year safety Marques Sigle as likely breakout candidates during his youth camp on Thursday.
- Warner described Alfred Collins, C.J. West and Mykel Williams as a “three-headed monster” on the interior line and said Williams is on track to return from an ACL injury.
- The 49ers added veteran defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa in an offseason trade from Dallas and Warner praised him as a steady, consistent interior disruptor.
- Analysts say Odighizuwa stacked with Collins, West and Williams gives defensive coordinator Raheem Morris one of the deepest defensive-line groups the team has had in several seasons.
- Last season’s run-defense splits show how much is at stake because the 49ers allowed a 42% success rate and a 4.9% explosive run rate with Williams on the field versus much worse numbers without him, and Warner’s leadership is being credited with accelerating young players’ growth.