San Francisco 49ers: Breaking Down Aldon Smith's Rookie Campaign

In 2011, the rookie seventh overall pick from Missouri evolved into an absolute terror in the league for offenses. San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith finished the regular season with 14 sacks, which is only a half-sack shy of the rookie record set by Jevon Kearse in 1999.

As a situational player, Smith had a miraculous rookie campaign that was accompanied by team success. Smith led the league’s No. 1 defense in sacks, and at times, made it look utterly effortless.

For someone who was strictly a pass-rush specialist last season, Smith sure made a name for himself as a defensive player. He demonstrated his versatility as a pass-rusher, as well as establishing himself as a factor week-to-week.

In the following slides, we will break down the performance, attributes and future of blossoming 49ers star player Aldon Smith.  

Bull Rusher

Smith displayed an uncanny ability to get to the quarterback in his first year in the NFL. One of two notable rushing techniques we saw him excel at was the bull rush.

Even in a shortened offseason, Smith obtained and utilized numerous tips and techniques to make himself a better pass-rusher. In his bull rush, Smith generates an extraordinary amount of power from both his arms and legs simultaneously. When his arms and legs are pushing and churning in synchronicity, Smith is unblockable. 

In 2011, he was a young man bulldozing seasoned veterans right over like they had never played a down in their lives. And when he wasn't burying quarterbacks with his fierce bull rush, he was often pressuring them and creating havoc in the backfield.

Smith has the power to close a pocket by himself. With such great burst off the line, it gives him tremendous straight forward push, by beating his opponent off the snap. His bull-rush technique got offensive lineman unbalanced and on their heels countless times during 2011.

He's learned to use the physical tools he was blessed with. In addition to his raw strength, Smith uses his long arms to keep blockers at bay while he drives them backward.

Finesse Rusher

During the season, the 49ers first rounder also showed his abilities as a finesse rusher.

On more than a couple occasions, Vic Fangio has dialed up stunts for his young superstar—and they've yielded great results. Smith was tremendous stunting in between Justin Smith, Isaac Sopoaga and Ray McDonald. The defensive line would absorb blockers, and Smith found his way right through.

Since his college days, and now into the pros, Smith has shown a knack for being able to get skinny. A term used typically for running backs is slippery, but that's what he's been as a pass-rusher. Smith has proven to be very hard to slow up and get hands on.

As a finesse tactic, Smith has been developing excellent use of his hands. He uses them very well to deflect attempts by blockers trying to get a grip on him. He bats hands away while he keeps his legs moving and finds his desired route to the quarterback.

Something else that's great about him, is that no matter the journey there, he's constantly progressing towards his target. Whether he sweeps around or is pinballing through blockers, Smith is like a homing missile when it comes to quarterbacks.

Momentum Changer and Playmaker

One thing Smith definitely made clear is that he's a big-time playmaker as a defensemen. The skill set that he brings to the table is game-changing and will prove to be highly valued in San Francisco. For someone who was switching positions as a rookie, he transitioned beautifully.

This was the first sign of Smith's high football IQ, as well as what a diligent and focused worker he is.

On the field, Smith is able to seek out and identify the weakness in an offensive line or lineman and exploit it through the duration of the match. And like the rest of his teammates, Smith goes after the ball. He forces and recovers fumbles and already has a safety to his name.

While the 49ers defense played good in years past, Smith really brings those splash numbers to the unit. As an individual, the 49ers haven't had someone of his caliber at the pass-rushing position since Charles Haley.

X Factor in the Front Seven

Going forward, Smith will be the X factor the 49ers defense has been looking for—a force of a pass-rusher with an undeniable ability and great work ethic. Aldon Smith complements the other players in the front seven so well because he can do things they can't, and vice versa.

Matching him up with every starter in the defensive front, he's a perfect counterpart—from Ahmad Brooks to Patrick Willis to Justin Smith.

He has a truly unique ability as a pass-rusher, and it's going to be electric what he does in the future. Transitioning into the starter, Smith will have to develop his game as it pertains to pass coverage. But if he learns to use his burst, closing speed and long arms in that aspect, he should do just fine.

Getting a starter's amount of reps in season two, his numbers are almost certain to rise. With more attempts going after the quarterback, Smith could break Michael Strahan's single-season record for sacks in a season—if not in 2012, eventually.

With Aldon Smith, we're looking at the dawn of one of the premier pass-rushers in the NFL. He could develop into a tremendous all-around outside linebacker with the 49ers, as his potential is sky high.

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