Getty ImagesJustin Smith has been around the NFL long enough to know that the landscape of the league changes quickly.
Plenty of teams have risen and fallen during Smith’s 11 years as a professional including his own 49ers last year. They went to the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and lost in overtime of the NFC Championship Game to the Giants. Smith wants to be sure that his teammates understand that things don’t stay that way forever as they prepare for the 2012 season.
“The mindset that I’ve been spreading a little bit to the guys is, you know, your team isn’t always stacked forever,” said Smith, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “With free agency (and) the way drafts are set up — if you have successful seasons you get the lower end of the draft — you have certain windows. You don’t want to get into, ‘Is this our window? Do we have two years, three years?’ I wouldn’t say that. I know with some of the guys we have and with free agency, we’re not going to be able to keep this team together forever. Even age-wise, the whole team won’t be the same.”
The 49ers have been able to keep the core of last year’s team intact, including all 11 starters on defense. That is an unusual thing in the current NFL and something that gives the 49ers a leg up on their attempt to repeat as NFC West champs this season. It also helps that Smith is the oldest player on the unit at 32 and that only two other starters are over 30, something that should help guard against too many rapid declines from last season’s key players.
None of that makes what Smith says any less true, however. This is a moment for the 49ers to grab with both hands because there’s no guarantee that things will stay this good in San Francisco for too much longer.
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Captain Obvious approves of this message
Their time is now,the rest of the division will catch up to them soon.STL,Sea,Ari…all will be improved.
Last year Niner fans were told:
New college coach + Lockout + Alex Smith would = Niners being bad.
This year Niner fans keep hearing:
Last year was a fluke + Hard Schedule + Alex Smith = Niners will decline.
I wonder what it will be next year. The Niners will most likely be a better team than last year but with a worse record because of the schedule. Yes this is possible. Save all the idiotic comments.
this team & fanbase is starving for another title, the 9ers are truly on a mission this season. their is enough talent & motivation to get it done, say what you want but, their are not too many teams that can match us in overall talent & coaching!! yea i am a homer & have good reason to agree with justin smith & say are time is NOW!!!!!! BRING #6 to the bay THIS SEASON 9ers!!!
Dudes a beast. Bringing back all the defense was key. Aldon Smith pretty much played in 3rd down situations, and now he’s getting to play a lot more. Expect big things from him. Alex Smith has a full off-season with the same coordinators and now has weapons. No excuses now, prove the doubters wrong. Go Niners!
J.Smith is a heckuva leader. This dude is a beast and has such a motor and genuine passion for the game. I feel confident with JS leading the way that we won’t suffer a decline on defense.
Yeah the schedule is a bit tougher, but with the increased confidence this team gained last year you’ll see them battle. They now know that they can comeback and make big plays when needed.
I like the tougher schedule. Granted it prove more difficult to win 13 games, but we’ll get to enjoy playoff caliber games during the season. Plus our team is tough, so I’m not scared of any team (but do respect them).