San Francisco 49ers: Disastrous 2015 Offseason Not to Blame for Current Team Woes
By Peter Panacy
DE Justin Smith’s Retirement and LB Aldon Smith’s Release
On the surface, veteran defensive end Justin Smith’s 2015 retirement hurt a lot. After all, Smith’s pocket-wrecking ability was the primary reason linebacker Aldon Smith emerged as one of the league’s premier pass-rushers in 2012.
Smith’s release from the team, following a wake of off-field incidents, was the right course of action for San Francisco. But this is viewed as a main cause for the 49ers’ current pass-rushing woes.
At least on the surface.
Yes, Justin Smith was still playing effectively in 2014. But his snap count that year had already dropped down to 649 from 780 and 820 in 2013 and 2012, respectively.
And remember when Smith was injured back in 2012? Remember how Aldon Smith’s sack totals dropped significantly once the elder defensive end was out?
Had Justin Smith stayed, how much longer would the then-35-year-old veteran been able to contribute? A year? Maybe two, at a stretch?
What about Aldon Smith? He had 3.5 sacks over nine games with the Oakland Raiders last season — nowhere close to what fans saw in 2012.