Aldon Smith May Start Out As Nickel Rush Defensive End?

Dan Pompei of the National Football Post writes that the plan is for Aldon Smith to get on the field quickly for the 49ers, but where remains a little uncertain. The team ultimately plans on playing the first round pick all over the field, at right and left outside linebacker, and as a defensive end on passing downs.

They believe he has the versatility to help the defense a lot of ways, but given the fact that the 49ers haven’t been able to work with Smith all offseason, the chances of him being able to integrate everything he needs to know to play everywhere before the start of the season aren’t good.

So what could happen is Smith will start out as a nickel rush end and then maybe he graduates to playing linebacker on one side on first and second down. The more comfortable he gets, the more he’ll do.


Link

Originally posted by VDSF:
Dan Pompei of the National Football Post writes that the plan is for Aldon Smith to get on the field quickly for the 49ers, but where remains a little uncertain. The team ultimately plans on playing the first round pick all over the field, at right and left outside linebacker, and as a defensive end on passing downs.

They believe he has the versatility to help the defense a lot of ways, but given the fact that the 49ers haven’t been able to work with Smith all offseason, the chances of him being able to integrate everything he needs to know to play everywhere before the start of the season aren’t good.

So what could happen is Smith will start out as a nickel rush end and then maybe he graduates to playing linebacker on one side on first and second down. The more comfortable he gets, the more he’ll do.


Link

So does that mean we need to sign Lawson? If not, Haralson, Brooks and maybe Laboy are our starters.... Am I forgetting someone?

So he basically is stated the obvious... the plan for any OLB drafted with DE versatility is to get him on the field where he is most comfortable... DE in a Nickel/Dime situation, then progress him in as an OLB as they are able to work with him. And the other obvious statement that this lockout is limiting the coaches being able to teach him the position they want him to play.

Originally posted by 5280High:
So he basically is stated the obvious... the plan for any OLB drafted with DE versatility is to get him on the field where he is most comfortable... DE in a Nickel/Dime situation, then progress him in as an OLB as they are able to work with him. And the other obvious statement that this lockout is limiting the coaches being able to teach him the position they want him to play.

this

Aldon will beast. Please believe it.

Originally posted by JayBee:
Aldon will beast. Please believe it.

Originally posted by JayBee:
Aldon will beast. Please believe it.

I sure hope so after all of the misses in the draft/FA signings over the years that were supposed to upgrade the pass rush.

Originally posted by Oakland-Niner:

Originally posted by VDSF:
Dan Pompei of the National Football Post writes that the plan is for Aldon Smith to get on the field quickly for the 49ers, but where remains a little uncertain. The team ultimately plans on playing the first round pick all over the field, at right and left outside linebacker, and as a defensive end on passing downs.

They believe he has the versatility to help the defense a lot of ways, but given the fact that the 49ers haven’t been able to work with Smith all offseason, the chances of him being able to integrate everything he needs to know to play everywhere before the start of the season aren’t good.

So what could happen is Smith will start out as a nickel rush end and then maybe he graduates to playing linebacker on one side on first and second down. The more comfortable he gets, the more he’ll do.


Link

So does that mean we need to sign Lawson? If not, Haralson, Brooks and maybe Laboy are our starters.... Am I forgetting someone?

Nah, Haralson is already signed LT and his focus will be back on purely pass rushing en route to stopping the run, something he did well coming off the bench. He'll split time with Aldon Smith which is a good thing for both. Lawson will walk most likely. Brooks will be your FT starter at the SAM and remember, we also have T. Gibson and a chance to resign LaBoy. Pass rush is the premium mindset now en route to stopping the run under Fangio. And we have't even hit FA yet either...even Bruce Miller can provide some pass rush as noted already. Aldon will be moved around all over the field as predicted to create mismatches designed by Fangio's game planning of our opponents from week to week ala Clay Matthews. But it's true, he'll play both OLB positions, up at the LOS as a pseudo DE and he'll also play inside as well which makes him even more unique and versatile IMHO.

Originally posted by 5280High:
So he basically is stated the obvious... the plan for any OLB drafted with DE versatility is to get him on the field where he is most comfortable... DE in a Nickel/Dime situation, then progress him in as an OLB as they are able to work with him. And the other obvious statement that this lockout is limiting the coaches being able to teach him the position they want him to play.

Yip.

I'd just start Aldon Smith and let him loose on the QB. Travis LaBoy and Parys could be our NRDE's. Really would love to Lawson, I think him and Smith would make a solid duo at OLB.

Originally posted by Kolohe:
I'd just start Aldon Smith and let him loose on the QB. Travis LaBoy and Parys could be our NRDE's. Really would love to Lawson, I think him and Smith would make a solid duo at OLB.

Agreed, that would be a solid combo. Lawson might not be a premier pass rusher, but he is a really good linebacker.

Originally posted by Memphis9er:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
I'd just start Aldon Smith and let him loose on the QB. Travis LaBoy and Parys could be our NRDE's. Really would love to Lawson, I think him and Smith would make a solid duo at OLB.

Agreed, that would be a solid combo. Lawson might not be a premier pass rusher, but he is a really good linebacker.

Disagree...with Lawson starting and his proven inability to pass rush, teams will easily be able to focus on blocking and effectively neutralizing Aldon Smith no matter where he lines up esp. as a rookie. Like teams game-planned last year to block out Willis, it works. That's not to say scheme can't effectively help one dominant pass rusher ala Clay Matthews but Green Bay also has very very good play from the other eleven guys. That is why we need TWO effective pass rushers on the outside on every single down which will effectively open up things on the inside for Willis/Spikes and even the two DE's (may be McDonald/Smith now) AND equally important, allow the secondary to play tighter, more physical and focus on play-making and creating TO's. We do NOT want to be the most vanilla 3-4 defense ever again, do we?

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Memphis9er:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
I'd just start Aldon Smith and let him loose on the QB. Travis LaBoy and Parys could be our NRDE's. Really would love to Lawson, I think him and Smith would make a solid duo at OLB.

Agreed, that would be a solid combo. Lawson might not be a premier pass rusher, but he is a really good linebacker.

Disagree...with Lawson starting and his proven inability to pass rush, teams will easily be able to focus on blocking and effectively neutralizing Aldon Smith no matter where he lines up esp. as a rookie. Like teams game-planned last year to block out Willis, it works. That's not to say scheme can't effectively help one dominant pass rusher ala Clay Matthews but Green Bay also has very very good play from the other eleven guys. That is why we need TWO effective pass rushers on the outside on every single down which will effectively open up things on the inside for Willis/Spikes and even the two DE's (may be McDonald/Smith now) AND equally important, allow the secondary to play tighter, more physical and focus on play-making and creating TO's. We do NOT want to be the most vanilla 3-4 defense ever again, do we?

Why do you assume the defense will be vanilla? Regardless of pass rush, which Lawson is mediocre at, he is a very good run stopper and above average in coverage. You do not want only pass rushes or you will see your defense getting gashed by draws and screen passes. It takes well rounded players to make a good d, not just pass rushers. Hopefully we see Willis blitzing more now that we have a supposedly more aggressive dc.

I think it would be presumptuous of us to think that based on previous years that the player would play the same. We have had players who have left us over the last decade do way better than when they were here. So some players may actually end up doing better with Fangio while others do worst. Fangio's version of the 3-4 D if the past holds true, is more aggressive and attacking in nature than what the niners have been running.

Originally posted by Memphis9er:

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by Memphis9er:

Originally posted by Kolohe:
I'd just start Aldon Smith and let him loose on the QB. Travis LaBoy and Parys could be our NRDE's. Really would love to Lawson, I think him and Smith would make a solid duo at OLB.

Agreed, that would be a solid combo. Lawson might not be a premier pass rusher, but he is a really good linebacker.

Disagree...with Lawson starting and his proven inability to pass rush, teams will easily be able to focus on blocking and effectively neutralizing Aldon Smith no matter where he lines up esp. as a rookie. Like teams game-planned last year to block out Willis, it works. That's not to say scheme can't effectively help one dominant pass rusher ala Clay Matthews but Green Bay also has very very good play from the other eleven guys. That is why we need TWO effective pass rushers on the outside on every single down which will effectively open up things on the inside for Willis/Spikes and even the two DE's (may be McDonald/Smith now) AND equally important, allow the secondary to play tighter, more physical and focus on play-making and creating TO's. We do NOT want to be the most vanilla 3-4 defense ever again, do we?

Why do you assume the defense will be vanilla? Regardless of pass rush, which Lawson is mediocre at, he is a very good run stopper and above average in coverage. You do not want only pass rushes or you will see your defense getting gashed by draws and screen passes. It takes well rounded players to make a good d, not just pass rushers. Hopefully we see Willis blitzing more now that we have a supposedly more aggressive dc.

Agreed. Lawson does provide pressure when on the field and his numbers have been effected by him not being on the field during obvious passing plays. He is a legitimate play maker. Letting Lawson walk is not a good idea and certainly not a way to build a championship team. His presence on the field and team will only help Smith who will play multiple positions.