San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis Rams: Aldon Smith Needs More Playing Time

The San Francisco 49ers host their ailing divisional rivals, the St. Louis Rams, at Candlestick Park this weekend. This game should be a bloodbath. The 49ers have been lacking one thing on defense lately, though: pass rush. Rookie outside linebacker Aldon Smith needs more playing time.

Smith didn't play much of the game in Baltimore against the Ravens on Thanksgiving night because the 49ers stuck to their base 3-4 alignment most of the time. The 49ers have been bringing the rookie along slowly this season, and they primarily use him in their "nickel" package.

The time is now for the 49ers to give Smith starting snaps in their base defense. 

Smith is an athletic freak as an outside linebacker, much in the same way Vernon Davis is at the tight end position. 

He has shown an exceptional variety of moves as a pass-rusher this season. He can bull rush, he has an excellent understanding of how to use his hands to get past his man, he can speed rush to the outside and he has the ability to stunt around to the inside. 

But most of all, Smith has shown the quality most necessary in elite pass-rushers: He never quits. 

In the running game, Smith might be slightly behind starter Parys Harrelson. I've seen quite a few occasions this season where Smith made an athletic play Harrelson could have never made, however. 

With a light schedule and opposing quarterbacks that don't scare anyone in the near future for the 49ers, now is the time to give Smith the invaluable in-game reps and teaching the young superstar needs to develop his game to even higher levels.

Heck, while they're at it, the 49ers should give guys like DeMarcus Dobbs and Ian Williams some playing time during the final month. 

The 49ers will be sitting pretty as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. If they can give valuable playing time and experience to some of their young players, they will be able to also give their veterans some much-needed rest.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh has a plan in mind, but he hasn't told me what it is. I'm sure he has thought about all these things, and he will unveil his master plan in due time.

But, for my money, the 49ers should give Aldon Smith more playing time and turn up the heat in the pass rush.