Aldon Smith, Frank Gore Take Home Week 6 Honors

by David Fucillo on Oct 21, 2011 6:00 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

As we head into the weekend, it's a good time to be a San Francisco 49ers fan. The team is 5-1 and making their way back to the top of the football world. In particularly interesting news, the team is starting to bring home some weekly awards hardware. The only trophy that matters at the end of the day is the Lombardi Trophy, but it is still nice to see the 49ers players getting rewarded for their strong play thus far.

For the second consecutive week, Aldon Smith was voted the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. He beat out Bengals QB Andy Dalton, Bears DT Stephen Paea, Rams WR Greg Salas and Browns DE Jabaal Sheard. Smith won the award thanks to his two sacks, safety and forced fumble. He also received a $15,000 fine for hitting Matthew Stafford below the knee. It was a legit Tom Brady-rule penalty, but at least he offset it with a strong performance on the day. He actually got off to a bad start with penalty problems before settling in quickly. He even got some extended work in the more traditional 3-4 OLB role when Parys Haralson went down with a hamstring strain.

In addition, Frank Gore was named the FedEx Ground Player of the Week. Gore rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and had a couple huge runs early on when the 49ers were struggling to get their offense in gear. After a slow start to the season, Gore has gotten into gear and is playing strong football the last few weeks. Over his last three games, Gore has rushed for 393 yards and three touchdowns. Not too shabby.

Tweet Comment 40 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Aldon is going to win it again this week

Just have a feeling.

Really though, this guy has pretty much exceeded NN’s wildest dreams. I think even the most optimistic of us here were simply hoping he’d contribute. Not go out there and terrify QBs this early in his career.

by Gitaroo_Dude on Oct 21, 2011 6:26 PM PDT reply actions

If anyone deserves to win Rookie of the Week on their bye it's Aldon Smith

by brianmc27 on Oct 21, 2011 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Exactly.

Stafford is probably going to feel phantom pressure and run into the endzone for a safety. They’ll chock it up to Aldon.

by Gitaroo_Dude on Oct 21, 2011 6:43 PM PDT up reply actions

The dude is a stud!

by gee man on Oct 21, 2011 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't know about that

I have some pretty wild dreams… and a fellow faithful I know keeps talking about 15 sacks! It sure will be fun to see him try. Baalke and co. seem to get smarter every day. I was pissed about not getting Kruetz… now I am just shaking my head.

by Da Bum on Oct 21, 2011 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions

if he has a freakish 4 sack game he could get to 15 sacks

2 games against card
2 against the rams
1 against seatle

decent shot at it.

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Oct 22, 2011 1:04 AM PDT up reply actions

yup

Rams offense is currently in the lead for most sacks allowed in the NFL. Seattle is second. Arizona is tied for 7th. Also there’s still the game against the Steelers, who have allowed the 4th most sacks in the league.

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Oct 22, 2011 1:19 AM PDT up reply actions

that about sums that up. 2 sacks in each of those games and he will exceed 15 sacks lol

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Oct 22, 2011 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Joe Thomas

If hes healthy which I’m not so sure he is then Aldon may go the whole game without a sack. Thomas is an elite tackle and I’m not sure Aldon can hang with that kind of guy yet.

by mikec49 on Oct 21, 2011 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Ill be glued to that matchup

IF Aldon gets a sack against Thomas that will show how good this kid can become. To do it as a Rookie against one of the best Tackles in the league will be a confidence booster for Aldon

"I hate it! It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air."

Norm Sloan

"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."

Weldon Drew

by EcERyda69 on Oct 21, 2011 10:11 PM PDT up reply actions

wouldn't Justin Smith be the one up against Thomas?

I would’ve assumed they would put they’re best tackle with our best/consistent pass rusher

by mtl9ers14 on Oct 21, 2011 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions

He would usually be on the LG

but I bet they would double team him as he is beastly

"Hi my name is Cliff Harris and I am here to lock [site decorum] down" - Cliff Harris introduction at his Freshman Orientation
Reporter : "What do you remember about the BCS title game"
Cliff Harris: "That we lost"
"Stopping the run doesn't come because of scheme. It come because of want to." - Donte Whitner
Follow @manraj76
When Jim Harbaugh says "more is more" I think he is trying to say Moore is more.

by manraj7 on Oct 21, 2011 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions

that's what I would've thought.

If they don’t double team him then they’re asking for trouble

by mtl9ers14 on Oct 21, 2011 10:52 PM PDT up reply actions

Depending on how the defense plays

Colt has been throwing the ball a lot this season. And with how stout the run d has been I can see Fangio going to the Nickel most of the game. Justin will go inside leaving Thomas to go against Aldon

"I hate it! It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air."

Norm Sloan

"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."

Weldon Drew

by EcERyda69 on Oct 21, 2011 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Vic to deploy new tactics..?

As the season progresses don’t be surprised to see more stunting along the defense line, and possibly as early as the Browns. It would be interesting to see if Smith, with his speed, can split the gap between Thomas and Pinkston. Duane ‘Pee Wee’ Board used to do that with perfetion.

by JTay on Oct 21, 2011 11:20 PM PDT up reply actions

bye week? lol

by Aazoba Yuzuki on Oct 22, 2011 12:19 AM PDT up reply actions

bye week or improvement week

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Oct 22, 2011 1:02 AM PDT up reply actions

But Aldon ain't no linebacker...he is a Pass Rushing Defensive End

just saying.

by BigMar on Oct 21, 2011 7:03 PM PDT reply actions

if he could catch he'd be an OLB

by reedkrase on Oct 21, 2011 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Patience

by gee man on Oct 21, 2011 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions

kinda thought catching was more important to players on offense

I don’t really care if he has bad hands if he can rush the passer, stuff the run and bat down passes

by Andrew9erfan on Oct 22, 2011 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

For you youngsters...

Please try to remember how Fred Dean and Charles Haley were used with us! It takes a heck of an athlete to know how to be both a pass rushing terror and a drop back lineman/lb? Just do a bit of research how Walsh used them and how Harbaugh is using Aldon, alright? Us elderly types that have truly been there before this Internet stuff became reality can remember these times! Why do I not hear from peeps that can actually remember watching Brodie to Gene Washington in the day? Dang I’m sooooo old, I guess!

Enough said above! I can't believe the "t-raiders" are going to play in OUR stadium! Bastards!

by 23mjheart on Oct 21, 2011 8:26 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Heck, I remember Y.A. Tittle to R.C. Owens (half of the "Initial Backfield" *)

Can you name the other two?

*The 49ers “Initial Backfield”, in which all 4 players on the field simultaneously (QB, what was then called “halfback” but now called “running back”, FB, and what was then called “flankerback” or simply “flanker” but now called “wide receiver” and designated “Z”) were known by initials rather than first names (ie Y.A. and R.C.). This occurred for a season or two circa 1960.

After all was said and done, a lot more got said than done.

by OldJock on Oct 22, 2011 12:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I read

Mr, Gore may surpass Rodger Craig next week for career rushing yards.

by gee man on Oct 21, 2011 7:17 PM PDT reply actions

yep

Frank needs 110 rushing yards against Cleveland to pass Roger Craig. And he’s currently just 1734 yards behind Joe Perry for 1st place in Niners history.

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Oct 22, 2011 1:26 AM PDT up reply actions

so the knock against Aldon is he hit the QB with a move that was legal in the NFL for all but the last two years

I can live with that

by reedkrase on Oct 21, 2011 7:22 PM PDT reply actions

And I would be happy to volunteer some cap space to pay that absurd fine every week for that kind of pressure!

by Da Bum on Oct 21, 2011 7:25 PM PDT up reply actions

not sure my checkbook could handle it

but I’m sure Jed’s can!

by reedkrase on Oct 21, 2011 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions

Impressive for both player's , considering how long it took the line to come together and all the folks saying Gore was done , this is nice ...

… As for Aldon way to Man-up young Man , P.H.goes down and and Aldon is all over the place , nicely done Niner’s …!!

I'm your " Huckelberry "...it's just my game ...Jimmy Raye your no daisy ...!!

by Edggy on Oct 21, 2011 7:27 PM PDT reply actions

I hate the fines

Would be nice if there was at least the lowest level of logic, like say our legal system.

Harbaugh will find a QB and he will succeed.

by goatfather on Oct 21, 2011 8:49 PM PDT reply actions

Accordiing to football outsiders

Aldon has had 3.5 sacks which took longer than three seconds. I’d like to see him have more quick sacks. Also, it shows how important the secondary has been in generating those sacks for Aldon.

If you're watching a blowout, you can pass the time by counting the double teapots.
Samurai Champloo > Macross

by doubleteapot on Oct 21, 2011 10:28 PM PDT reply actions

It also shows that he does not give up on a play.

by Mindless on Oct 21, 2011 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions

At the end of the year . . .

The only trophy that matters at the end of the day is the Lombardi Trophy . . .

I’m not sure I agree. A few years down the road, I suppose, all that most NFL fans will remember about the ‘11 season is who won the big one. Does that mean the other 31 teams failed? Not in my book. If my 49ers continue to play at this level for the next 10 games, I’ll be thrilled, even if they flop in the postseason.

Now, is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York
--Richard III, Act I, Scene 1

by silverjay on Oct 21, 2011 10:32 PM PDT reply actions

Super Bowl

I meant simply that the whole point of the football season is to win the Super Bowl. I won’t be crushed if they come up short, but that is still the end game.

Follow @NinersNation

by David Fucillo on Oct 21, 2011 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions