Aldon Smith wins DRoftM

[clyde_carbon]

49ers rookie linebacker Aldon Smith, whose role on the team has slowly increased, won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month award. He recorded 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a safety, and a pass defensed in October.

It’s remarkable to think that Smith was considered a reach at No. 7 overall. He’s part of a very strong rookie class, especially at the top of the draft. Smith and Von Miller look like top candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Aldon Smith, Arian Foster, Joe McKnight are award winners | ProFootballTalk

 

[tallglassofwater007]

Awesome. Hope he continues this kind of play for the entire season. He will be huge come playoff time.

 

[SRPnVA]

Great pick based on how he fits the scheme. Instead of getting Awukamara or Gabbert we drafted Smith and picked up Carlos Rogers. Working out well for us. Culliver has played well too. Baalke doing a good job.

 

[davidin.fan76]

I was gonna start a thread on him. Was excited about him when we drafted him because of his athleticism but holy hell, he's so young and inexperienced but paying dividends already. Schemes have deffinitely benefited him but looks like the sky might be the limit.

 

[Arete Tzu]

I'm considering buying a Aldon Smith rookie card while they are cheap.

I have a pretty good success rate of choosing the valuable ones. I still got my JJ stokes cards. I know that one of these days, the single JJ fan you always see on TV is going to need it. Me and him have a bond. It has to be the right time though, I can't pay $.40 a week for that long to sell a $3 card.

 

[Jikkle]

Wasn't this the guy that was a huge reach and was a horrible pick by Baalke?

 

[Ray_Dogg]

I'm sure some felt that way. I was OK with it. It wasn't like he passed on Von Miller or Peterson to take him. So I don't understand what the fuss was about. I wasn't hell bent on Locker or a fan at all of Prince. It was also no secret that the Texans wanted him. So huge reach is laughable.

 

[MW49ers5]

I'm sure some felt that way. I was OK with it. It wasn't like he passed on Von Miller or Peterson to take him. So I don't understand what the fuss was about. I wasn't hell bent on Locker or a fan at all of Prince. It was also no secret that the Texans wanted him. So huge reach is laughable.

My only concern with Aldon was scheme. His athleticism out of college was very apparent but I still thought it would take him the better part of this year to become comfortable in a two-point and in coverage. I didn't think he was a reach but he is exceeding my expectations.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

He probably still isn't comfortable at that but it is all about pass rush baby. I hope we keep playing against lots of 3 WR sets!

 

[MW49ers5]

He probably still isn't comfortable at that but it is all about pass rush baby. I hope we keep playing against lots of 3 WR sets!

Agreed! His ceiling is among the highest of any player on our team right now.

 

[CalamityX11]

My only concern with Aldon was scheme. His athleticism out of college was very apparent but I still thought it would take him the better part of this year to become comfortable in a two-point and in coverage. I didn't think he was a reach but he is exceeding my expectations.

This, however I did think it was a reach... I honestly believed he was Manny 2.0 all over....

but he's making progress much sooner than expected and he's a joy to watch coming from his most disgusted fan after draft day.

 

[MW49ers5]

This, however I did think it was a reach... I honestly believed he was Manny 2.0 all over....

but he's making progress much sooner than expected and he's a joy to watch coming from his most disgusted fan after draft day.

At least you have the brass to admit it - most wouldn't. After watching his film and seeing how dominate he was from just about anywhere on the line I knew he was a player, but I expected him to be a huge liability in coverage. At one point I thought, like a few others, that he alone might be worth switching to a 4-3. Yet, he has even impressed me in coverage and nearly had a pick against Detroit.

I am as much impressed with our coaching staff as I am the players. Seely, Fangio, Roman & Harbaugh are a team of player experts of the likes we have not seen since the 80's. When you have coaches that smart and players as talented as ours, good things happen. Like Harbaugh has said, something magical is happening here. I just hope we can keep this staff together long enough to make it happen all the way.

 

[Arete Tzu]

Wasn't this the guy that was a huge reach and was a horrible pick by Baalke?

I was very underwhelmed by the pick, I wasn't pissed like some people, but I had watched a few Missouri games to watch Gabbert, and Aldon didn't stand out enough for me to take notice in those games. I usually at least have our first round picks on my radar, The last time I was blind sided by a pick it got us Balmer, and before that it got us Woods, so I was thinking "oh no they did it again"

but it turns out I really just didn't know shit about Smith. The guy is looking like he could be a beast for us.

 

[MW49ers5]

I was very underwhelmed by the pick, I wasn't pissed like some people, but I had watched a few Missouri games to watch Gabbert, and Aldon didn't stand out enough for me to take notice in those games. I usually at least have our first round picks on my radar, The last time I was blind sided by a pick it got us Balmer, and before that it got us Woods, so I was thinking "oh no they did it again"

but it turns out I really just didn't know shit about Smith. The guy is looking like he could be a beast for us.

The Balmer pick, what the hell was that.

 

[CalamityX11]

At least you have the brass to admit it - most wouldn't. After watching his film and seeing how dominate he was from just about anywhere on the line I knew he was a player, but I expected him to be a huge liability in coverage. At one point I thought, like a few others, that he alone might be worth switching to a 4-3. Yet, he has even impressed me in coverage and nearly had a pick against Detroit.

I am as much impressed with our coaching staff as I am the players. Seely, Fangio, Roman & Harbaugh are a team of player experts of the likes we have not seen since the 80's. When you have coaches that smart and players as talented as ours, good things happen. Like Harbaugh has said, something magical is happening here. I just hope we can keep this staff together long enough to make it happen all the way.

I also was prepared to give him 3 years to make something happen.... but to Aldon's credit, his success is both hard work and natural gifted....

lol at the Balmer pick.... Pozz actually had rumblings that either he liked him as a prospect or chances the Niners would select him prior to the draft....

 

[stilla9er]

Im not going to lie. I didnt know too much about Aldon Smith before the draft. So i thought we might of over shot on a guy that was supposed to be a late round pick. Glad I was wrong ..

 

[mem49er]

At least you have the brass to admit it - most wouldn't. After watching his film and seeing how dominate he was from just about anywhere on the line I knew he was a player, but I expected him to be a huge liability in coverage. At one point I thought, like a few others, that he alone might be worth switching to a 4-3. Yet, he has even impressed me in coverage and nearly had a pick against Detroit.

Hate to nitpick ya', M-Dub, but that play he was dropping into a zone and Stafford basically speared him with the ball. Aldon should have caught it, probably dropped out of surprise, but I don't think the play necessarily demonstrated any coverage ability. I'm much more worried about him covering a man than an area.

 

[MW49ers5]

Hate to nitpick ya', M-Dub, but that play he was dropping into a zone and Stafford basically speared him with the ball. Aldon should have caught it, probably dropped out of surprise, but I don't think the play necessarily demonstrated any coverage ability. I'm much more worried about him covering a man than an area.

I can't argue with that one bit, Brother Mem...

 

[Flyingiguana]

Wasn't this the guy that was a huge reach and was a horrible pick by Baalke?

he was a reach. his leg injury limited his play during his final year. so basically he only had one full season, which could have been a fluke season. he's showing a lot more agility and quickness so far, something i didnt see last year when i watched him.