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Dee Winters will be looking to replace Dre Greenlaw as the starting linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. Moreover, the team’s front office gave Winters a vote of confidence by not bringing in a replacement and letting him have a runway to take the job and run with it.
Winters appeared on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” and shared his thoughts on the 49ers having faith in him to be Greenlaw’s replacement after the 28-year-old left as an unrestricted free agent to join the Denver Broncos.
“I think after putting a little bit of film on tape last year, I think that gave [49ers general manager John Lynch] and [49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan] some confidence to believe in me and just give me the opportunity,” Winters said.
“So, when I heard Dre was leaving, I just took that as it was and just tried to make it my best offseason possible, come in here, improve myself, and help my teammates along.”
49ers’ Fred Warner plays the mentor role
Winters came to the Bay Area as a sixth-round pick, and over his first two seasons, he’s seen what it takes to succeed as a starting linebacker in the NFL. The 49ers standout also credited Warner’s mentorship for helping him get ready to step into a bigger role alongside the 28-year-old.
“He allows me to play a little bit faster,” Winters added. “He played this game for a very long time, and he has seen it all at this point. So anytime he’s in the game, he gives alerts. And probably 95 percent of the time, he’s right, whether that’s run or pass. So just having that vet on the team, that guy has been very helpful for me in the linebacker room for sure.”
Dee Winters talks about playing alongside Fred Warner
Last season, Winters appeared in 15 games for San Francisco’s defense, recording 44 total tackles and four passes defended. If the 49ers opted not to look for a Greenlaw replacement, it’s because, as Winters said, he took advantage of the playing time to become one of the starting linebackers to start this season.
The 24-year-old will slide into the starting linebacker unit alongside veteran Fred Warner. In the same “Willard and Dibs” interview, the TCU product outlined what it takes to play alongside Warner.
“I think you just need to bring in physicality and being able to do your job,” Winters said. “If you can manage those two things, I think the pairing is always well. I think that’s what him and Dre had, and that was really good.
“Dre was going to be very physical, and he was going to do his job, and it complements both linebackers if you do that. I think, like I said, if you have those two things and communication, you two can go a long way. So, very excited for this opportunity to keep building chemistry with him and take on this season.”
There will be growing pains as the two build chemistry, but Winters has said all the right things to show he’s ready to step in alongside Warner and become the 49ers’ next linebacker duo.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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