Aldon Smith: Just Enjoy This Stuff

SANTA CLARA -- His Twitter name is aldonsmithJETS. And it has nothing to do with the New York football team.JETS, he says, is an acronym for Just Enjoy This Stuff.The 49ers' rookie pass-rusher is certainly enjoying his first NFL season despite a Pro Bowl snub this week. Smith is a half-sack from the single-season rookie record, set by Tennessee's Jevon Kearse at 14.5 in 1999.
"I watched him (Kearse), admired him, but I never talked to him," Smith said Wednesday at his locker. "(We're) both athletic guys who know how to get to the passer."RELATED: Aldon Smith 2011 game logs
Smith's friend and locker neighbor Parys Haralson interjected, "That's what you consider yourself?""Yeah, pretty much," Smith responded, laughing.With 14 sacks, Smith, the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, has set the 49ers rookie record. It's the most sacks a 49ers player has recorded since Chris Doleman had 15 in 1998.Smith is closing out the regular season strong. He has 6.5 sacks in the past four games, beginning with a two-sack performance Dec. 4 against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park.RELATED: NFL sack leaders
Smith's first sack was one of his more impressive of the season. He bull-rushed eight-year veteran Adam Goldberg, knocking him straight back onto the ground en route to the quarterback. Smith is expecting bigger things on Sunday in the regular-season finale."I got to get more than two; got to improve every game," Smith said. "I think probably they know I'm coming, so I have to take advantage of the opportunities that I have."Smith has taken advantage of his opportunities at a high rate this season.He is listed as an outside linebacker, but he rarely played that position as a rookie. Instead, he has been used predominantly as a defensive end when the 49ers shift to a four-man line as part of their nickel pass defense.When asked what position he considers himself, Smith answered, "Outside linebacker-slash-defensive end."And that might be part of the reason Smith was not named to the NFC Pro Bowl team -- or as one of the 49ers' 10 alternates. His position is hard to define. Each of the defensive ends who made the NFC team have more sacks. And he really does not play outside linebacker.RELATED: Why Aldon smith got snubbed
Still, Smith should've been listed somewhere as an alternate. At 21, Smith should have plenty more opportunities for individual honors.
"I can't say I wasn't disappointed, but it's not a big deal," Smith said. "This isn't my last year of playing football."The Pro Bowl is voted on by fans, players and coaches.Smith is a leading candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, along with Denver's Von Miller, who plays every down. The Associated Press polls media members on that award at the end of the season.