San Francisco 49ers LB Aldon Smith looking to improve – NFL News
After having a tremendous rookie season last year, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith is hoping to further improve and give even better performance in the 2012 season.
Smith, who will turn 23 next month, was drafted by the 49ers in the first round of the 2011 draft and he proved his selection by displaying outstanding performance on the field.
In the regular season, Smith recorded a total of 37 tackles, forced two fumbles and managed impressive 14.0 sacks.
According to the details present on the team’s website, Smith said:
“I don’t have a number set but I want to improve on what I did last year.”
Since Smith was a rookie last year, the opponents had not seen him before and that is why he was able to surprise them. As the 49ers prepare for the preseason and regular season games, Smith knows that the opponents will carry a plan to control him.
He said:
“I kind of expect them to pay more attention. I’m not flying under the radar – they’ve seen what happened last year. So, whether that causes double-teams, chips, or whatever, I’m preparing for it.”
Smith is going to play at outside linebacker in the 2012 season and his performance at the position during the offseason has pleased 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Fangio is not only excited to see Smith performing on the field; instead the defensive coordinator is thrilled with the prospects of watching many young players taking the field. According to Fangio:
“I’m anxious to just see everybody play, both as an individual, particularly the young guys, and as a unit. Just wanting to see good playing, guys have been coached out there, they’ve learned what we’ve put in and they can execute it. So, really, evaluate
the individuals and the unit as a whole.”
49ers are going to play their first preseason game on Friday August 10 against Minnesota Vikings. They will play three more preseason games: against Houston Texans on August 18, against Denver Broncos on August 26 and against San Diego Chargers on August
30.
They will start their regular season campaign with a game against the Green Bay Packers on September 09.
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