Here's his recent interview and it will explain everything you need to know. I think it's a good signing myself.
Quote:
--He took a helicopter ride with coach Mike Nolan to see the sights in the Bay Area on Friday. He said he's been on a helicopter before but not like this. He said it was an interesting view of the city, Alcatraz and down the coast line and some of the rural areas.
--The main reason he canceled other visits was meeting coaching staff and some of the players (Jeff Ulbrich and Joe Nedney), and watching the defense and seeing where the team is and where it can go. He was impressed with defensive coordinator Greg Manusky. Top to bottom it's a first-class organization, he said. He said it was a no-brainer.
Quote:
--How does he envision himself being used? "In talking with Greg, it's an an attacking style defense. It's not a 3-4 where you're two-gapping. It's an attacking style of defense." He said he thinks it'll be a great fit.
--Can he play DE in 3-4, as well as 4-3? "Absolutely. In Cincinnati, we switched from 4-3 to 3-4 all the time. A lot of people don't know, but a lot of teams do that, depending on down and distance, the formations offenses are throwing at defenses, and so I've done a lot before."
--On playing outside linebacker in a 3-4 . . . he said it's the coach's call, but he said he could be an asset moving around. He said he can be a moving linebacker, rush from the inside or rush from the outside. "I'll throw it out there," Smith said.
--On his durability: "I haven't thought about it. Every Sunday, you gear up and go out and play with the guys." There are several games he said he could've missed or should've missed, but he doesn't want to leave his teammates hanging.
--He said he planned to go on other visits, but he said after meeting Manusky and coach Nolan, it felt right. He said the city felt right and the situation felt right. He said, "Why go on another visit, if you're going to be right back here?" He also had visits scheduled for Minnesota and, possibly, Jacksonville.
--On his career-low two sacks from last year: "There were a lot of reasons for last year. Both me and Robert Geathers were hampered by injuries that we had with linebackers and secondary, so we were forced into blitzing situations that caused us to have to pinch and penetrate and take up the gap." He added, "I think I bring I bring a lot to the table as far as run and stuffing ability go. If you look at my stats, compared to everybody else over my seven-year career, I think they match up pretty well."
--He said he's not into the specialization of football. He plays first, second and third downs. He rushes the passer and he plays the run. He plays football and he goes 100 percent, and that's all he knows how to do, he said.
