Return of Aldon Smith Gives 49ers Embarrassment of Riches at Linebacker
Linebacker Aldon Smith returned to action for the San Francisco 49ers, helping them knock off the New York Giants in Week 11.
Smith had just finished a nine-game suspension, which had been handed down by the NFL prior to the 2014 season as the result for various off-the-field incidents prior to the start of training camp.
His return was a welcomed need. Smith would help bolster what had, up to that point, been a relatively lackluster pass rush. Before Week 11, San Francisco's pass-rushers had generated a mere 15 sacks.
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Smith has 42 over three-plus seasons.
The 25-year-old linebacker's return will obviously bolster the defense. But it also shakes up the depth chart. Smith's presence will take away snaps from other serviceable—even prominent—linebackers. And few veterans like seeing their playing time taken away.
This has already been the case after just one game following Smith's return. Linebacker Ahmad Brooks was disgruntled at his lack of use and elected to bench himself instead of taking a No. 2 role, per Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com.
Let's get to that in a moment, along with the other implications. But first, we need to explore the context leading up to Smith's return.
Propagating the Numbers
It's hard to fathom that the 49ers defense is ranked No. 4 in the league in fewest yards allowed (3,088). That's averaging just over 300 yards per game.
Mind you, this is a banged-up, makeshift defense that has been forced to withstand the absences of Smith, fellow linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis, nose tackle Glenn Dorsey and injuries suffered by defensive backs Jimmie Ward, Tramaine Brock and Chris Cook.
In spite of these setbacks, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been able to get the most of a defense regardless of said injuries.
Here are some further defensive stats, courtesy of Pro Football Reference:
| Stat | 212 | 3,088 | 886 | 2,202 | 21 |
| NFL Rank | 11 | 4 | 6 | 5 | T-3 |
The linebacker crop has been hit the hardest by injuries. Bowman's knee injury in last season's NFC Championship Game has sidelined the All-Pro deep into 2014. It could potentially end his season, although he has been able to return to practice, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (h/t Mike Coppinger of NFL.com).
Willis' season-ending toe injury also hurts, as did the nine-game suspension of Smith.
But the 49ers have enjoyed standout play from its depth linebackers. Chief among these have been rookies Chris Borland and Aaron Lynch.
Lynch's pass-rushing abilities warranted him placement above second-year pro Corey Lemonier, who struggled in the same aspects earlier in the year. To date, the fifth-round draft pick has totaled three sacks and four passes defensed.
Borland has been even more commendable at the inside linebacker position.
When Willis came out of San Francisco's Week 6 contest versus the St. Louis Rams, it was Borland who got the chance to step up. Since that point, the rookie has worked his way to the top of the 49ers' leaderboard with 47 tackles and 16 assists.
He also has one sack, one fumble recovery, five passes defensed and two interceptions.
San Francisco is getting excellent production out of its rookie linebacking tandem. It will be hard, if not impossible, to take them off the field when other veterans return.
Smith's Impact
While the 49ers defense has done more than its job in keeping San Francisco's postseason hopes alive, one statistic still eluded this unit—the pass rush.
As stated previously, San Francisco had mustered just 15 sacks prior to Week 11—a far cry from the lofty numbers the defense once enjoyed when Smith was a regular on nearly every down.
Lynch had been one of the few bright spots here. But getting Smith back would help propel a solid defense into an elite category.
Prior to the 49ers' contest with the Giants, one might have speculated that Smith would be a situational pass-rusher—perhaps coming in on third-down situations and little more. San Francisco's coaching staff was vague on how he would be used per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, but it would have made sense to question how rusty he would have been given that Smith was not allowed to practice with the team during his suspension.
Smith was scantly used during the first quarter. But he made his presence felt from that point onward. Smith finished the game with 54 snaps per David Fucillo of Niners Nation.
Part of this was due to Brooks' benching of himself—we're not quite there yet—which forced San Francisco's coaching staff to keep Smith on the field. The other part was because Smith was simply making his presence known.
Smith did not quite impact the stat sheet in the way most would have hoped. He finished the day with zero tackles, but he did post two quarterback hits.
Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com describes how Smith made his presence known in other ways:
"Since entering the game in the second quarter, the Giants' third offensive series, Smith basically played the remainder of the game and New York had to account for him, throwing double- and triple-teams at him on occasion. ... [Eli] Manning threw five interceptions, after coming into the game with six picks on the season. And the way strong safety Antoine Bethea saw it, Smith's presence may have had more than a little something to do with what Borland referred to as Manning having "happy feet" against the 49ers.
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Combined with Lynch, Smith's pressure was critical in forcing a number of Manning's five picks. Sacks are great, but pressure is the name of the game—forcing an opposing quarterback to deliver the ball earlier than he would like.
Smith felt good about his contributions, stating such via Tom Pedulla of the San Jose Mercury News:
"Obviously, a sack is definitely a stat and everybody loves that. But as long as I'm in and affecting the game by making a play, that is all that matters to me. It was really exciting when I came out for pregame warm-ups. It was a good feeling. When I came in, I heard the crowd get a little loud, so it was cool.
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Defensive lineman Justin Smith was also quick to praise his teammate.
"He's going to change up the way teams protect against you," Smith said via Pedulla. "It's kind of like having that No. 1 receiver. You will roll coverage to him. You know they are going to roll the line toward him."
The Giants were forced to do this, and it came at the expense of allowing pressure. San Francisco recorded a total of seven quarterback hits during the contest.
The Repercussions
Aldon Smith's return offsets the incumbent group of inside linebackers in San Francisco's base 3-4 defense.
Lynch has become an every-down player, such propelled by the recent ankle injury to fellow linebacker Dan Skuta. Prior to Smith's return, Brooks was the outside linebacker who enjoyed the vast majority of playing time.
Brooks, who was unhappy with his newfound role on Sunday, benched himself after playing just 12 first-half snaps per Fucillo.
Rosenthal describes what happened next:
"Brooks did not even stand on the sideline with his helmet after getting benched. He sat on the bench without his helmet on, his cleats off, and his ankle tape cut off. After the game, Brooks confirmed that he's healthy. Brooks started over Smith on Sunday, but wound up sitting behind him for most of the game.
Lynch also played ahead of Brooks and responded with one sack, two quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss.
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One might understand Brooks' frustration to a certain extent. The 2013 Pro Bowler was the hero in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints. It was his overtime sack that forced a fumble, recovered by San Francisco, and set up a game-winning field goal.
But his subsequent actions in Week 11 stood in stark contrast to any team-first mentality.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh was quick to snuff out any elongated discussions about Brooks' actions after the game—the details of which are provided by Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
“We have something we’re working through,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh followed up on Brooks a short time thereafter, stating that the 30-year-old linebacker was needed to win a championship.
The situation between Brooks and the 49ers coaching staff apparently worked itself out, per Maiocco. The two sides have apparently come to an agreement, and Harbaugh expects the veteran to play this upcoming week.
But one thing is clear: Lynch, and now Smith, will certainly take away snaps from Brooks over the rest of the season. There is simply too much talent to be had at those outside positions. As long as each player is OK with his respective snaps, it is a situation that ultimately benefits the 49ers.
San Francisco may have to answer a similar question when, and if, Bowman returns in 2014. Michael Wilhoite has done a solid job filling Bowman's stead. While he did endure some coverage gaffes in the 49ers' 16-10 victory over the Giants, Wilhoite was able to have a positive impact—seven tackles, one pass defended and one interception.
Whatever the starting lineup may be, and whoever winds up being relegated to a No. 2 role, San Francisco can now reap the benefits of having one of the deepest front-seven groups in the NFL. The defense has held its own over 10 games.
Combined with the playmaking abilities of Borland and Lynch, Smith's return makes this group that much stronger.
All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.
Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the San Francisco 49ers. Be sure to check out his entire archive on 49ers' news, insight and analysis.
Follow him @PeterPanacy on Twitter.
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