SB Nation Bay Area - PFW/PFWA 2011 All-NFL Team: Aldon Smith Wins Defensive Rookie Of The Yearhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2012-01-19T10:45:12-08:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24829992012-01-19T10:45:12-08:002012-01-19T10:45:12-08:0049ers Aldon Smith Named 2011 PFW/PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year
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<p>After finishing the season only half a sack shy of <span>Jevon Kearse</span>’s 1999 rookie record of 14.5, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> <span>Aldon Smith</span> was named the 2011 <span class="caps">PFW</span>/<span class="caps">PFWA</span> defensive player of the year, according to the <a target="new" href="http://www.bayareasportsguy.com/aldon-smith-named-defensive-rookie-of-the-year-by-pfw-pfwa-ap-next/">Bay Area Sports Guy.</a></p>
<p>Smith accrued 37 tackles and 2 forced fumbles along the way as well, edging <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a> rookie <span>Von Miller</span> for this year’s <span class="caps">DROY</span> award. He also broke the franchise record for sacks by a rookie as well.</p>
<p>Although these aren’t the AP awards, the more prestigious of the two, the two entities have only differed in opinion four times since the late 1960’s, with the latest coming in 2004 with the AP picking <span>Dunta Robinson</span> from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a> and <span class="caps">PFW</span>/<span class="caps">PFWA</span> selecting <span>Jonathan Vilma</span> from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a>.</p>
<p>Other 49ers to have won this award include <span>Patrick Willis</span> (2007), Dana Stubblefield (1993), and Bruce Taylor (1970), the opposite of lightweights to say the least.</p>
<p><i><b>For more on the 49ers, make sure you check out <a target="new" href="http://www.ninersnation.com">Niners Nation</a> to get in on the action. </b></i></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2012/1/19/2718993/49ers-aldon-smith-named-2011-pfw-pfwa-defensive-rookie-of-the-yearErnie Pomin2012-01-17T05:00:58-08:002012-01-17T05:00:58-08:00PFW/PFWA 2011 All-NFL Team: Patrick Willis, Justin Smith Among Four 49ers
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<p>Defensive tackle Justin Smith, linebacker Patrick Willis, punter Andy Lee and placekicker David Akers named to PFW/PFWA All-NFL team.</p> <p>The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/01/16/pfwpfwa-2011-all-nfl-team">PFW/PFWA All-NFL team has been announced</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> have four players listed among its ranks.</p>
<p>Defensive tackle <span>Justin Smith</span>, linebacker <span>Patrick Willis</span>, punter <span>Andy Lee</span> and placekicker <span>David Akers</span> all made the squad.</p>
<p>Smith was the key cog on the line for a Niners defense that was one of the league's premier units. He started all 16 games and made critical play after critical play for San Francisco.</p>
<p>Willis made 97 tackles despite missing three games. His 12 passes defensed and four forced fumbleswere both career-bests.</p>
<p>Lee is considered one of the NFL's best directional punters and he led the NFL in net average at 44.0 yards, including 28 punts inside the 20.</p>
<p>The 37-year-old Akers attempted a league-high 52 field goals, connecting on an NFL-record 44, including seven field goals (in nine attempts) from 50 yards or longer.</p>
<p><i>For more on the 49ers and their great season, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ninersnation.com/">visit Niners Nation</a>.</i></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2012/1/17/2712656/pfw-pfwa-2011-all-nfl-team-patrick-willis-justin-smith-akersSean Keeley