SANTA CLARA – Last season, Aldon Smith played about half of the Niners’ defensive snaps and recorded a whopping 16 sacks. This offseason he’s working to become an every-down player, and today he talked to reporters about his progress. Here’s what he said.
Q: How’s the transition going to being an every-down guy?
ALDON SMITH: It’s going good so far. I’m enjoying the learning process and the watching-myself-get-better process.
Q: Where do you see yourself making the most strides so far?
ALDON SMITH: The coverage – being able to cover the receivers better out there.
Q: That’s not something you’ll have to do a whole lot during the season, is it?
ALDON SMITH: If I do, I’m going to be ready for it.
Q: Parys Haralson did such a good job against the run last season. Do you watch film of him?
ALDON SMITH: I learn from Parys, the way he attacks the run and the way he was able to put up a run defense. I get a lot of tips.
Q: What’s the key to that?
ALDON SMITH: Just attack it, really. That mentality.
Q: Are you competing with Haralson for a starting job?
ALDON SMITH: I’m competing with everybody.
Q: Different mentality for your team this year, being the hunted instead of the hunters?
ALDON SMITH: People know who we are, considering what happened last year. But we still have the same mentality – we’re hungry and we’re working hard every day to get better.
Q: What do you expect for yourself next season statistic-wise? You had so many sacks playing about half the time.
ALDON SMITH: Hopefully my stats will increase because I’m in a lot more now.
Q: What do you think the potential is for this defense?
ALDON SMITH: As long as we keep getting better, the sky’s the limit for us. We’ve got a lot of guys who work hard and do their job.
Q: Does anyone work harder than Justin Smith?
ALDON SMITH: Me (smiles). No, he works hard. He’s a hard working guy.
Q: What have you learned from him?
ALDON SMITH: Work ethic, how to be a pro, how to enjoy the game.
Q: Has he been a role model for you?
ALDON SMITH: He’s definitely been a role model for me since the day I got here and we worked out at San Jose State. That’s somebody I talked to all season and somebody I’ll talk to as long as he’s around.
Q: Supposedly he’s pretty funny.
ALDON SMITH: He’s alright (laughs). He’s got a good sense of humor.
Q: Are you guys feeling added pressure this year?
ALDON SMITH: No, we didn’t win the Super Bowl. I think whoever won the Super Bowl should feel the pressure.
Q: Are you going to take any snaps on offense this year?
ALDON SMITH: I might. Quarterback (smiles).
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I like this kid ! Hope he tears it up this year.
He looks like him and Veron could be related.
Aldon Smith is the nice version of Charles Haley. Can’t wait to see what he can do as an every down player.
The nice version of Charles Haley? So he asks the reporter’s permission before flopping his junk on her notebook?
Let’s not put Aldon in the same sentence as that creep, please.
Oh shoot!!! LOL, on the field msc, on the field…
I’m pretty sure Aldon only had 14 sacks last year, Grant. A rookie record none the less.
Did Grant add in playoff stats? Legitimate in a review of a player’s season. We 49er fans are just out of practice.
16 counting the playoffs.