49ers Blog and Q&A: Breakdown: 49ers received huge contribution from rookie class

49ers Blog and Q&A

News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

• Ask Matt a 49ers question

January 5, 2012

Breakdown: 49ers received huge contribution from rookie class

Aldon Smith didn't start a single game for the 49ers this season, but he played more offensive or defensive snaps than any of the team's rookies. Smith, who mainly entered the game as a defensive end in passing situations, played 489 of the 49ers' 1,014 defensive snaps this season or 48 percent. Smith on Thursday was named defensive rookie of the month of December (6 1/2 sacks in four games), and he is a leading contender for defensive rookie of the year.

Smith highlights a rookie class that contributed heavily to the 49ers' first trip to the playoffs in nine seasons. Cornerback Chris Culliver played 415 of the defensive snaps (41 percent) while fullback Bruce Miller was in on 324 offensive snaps (32 percent) and Kendall Hunter was in for 288 snaps (28 percent). Miller started the most games - eight - of any rookie. The only other rookie to start a game was Hunter, who started in Week 4 in Philadelphia.

Colin Jones had a big role on special teams while undrafted defensive lineman Demarcus Dobbs also was a regular on special teams during the second half of the season. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, receiver Joe Hastings, defensive linemen Ian Williams and guard Daniel Kilgore also played this year. Seventh-round pick Mike Person and quarterback Scott Tolzien were the only two rookies who didn't play a snap. Neither was active this season.

The snap count changes dramatically when special teams plays are added. Culliver was in on 202 of the team's 463 special teams plays this season, giving him 617 total snaps. Miller played 244 special teams plays, giving him 568 snaps.

Total snaps, (special teams included)
CB Chris Culliver 415 (202) 617
FB Bruce Miller 324 (244) 568
DE Aldon Smith 489 (58) 547
RB Kendall Hunter 288 (67) 355
S Colin Jones 1* (203) 204
DL Demarcus Dobbs 34 (87) 121
QB Colin Kaepernick 20 (0) 20
WR Joe Hastings 18 (0) 18
G Daniel Kilgore 1 (0) 1

* Jones' single play came on offense. It occurred on Sunday.

-- Matt Barrows

About Comments

Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.

What You Should Know About Comments on Sacbee.com

Sacbee.com is happy to provide a forum for reader interaction, discussion, feedback and reaction to our stories. However, we reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments or ban users who can't play nice. (See our full terms of service here.)

Here are some rules of the road:

• Keep your comments civil. Don't insult one another or the subjects of our articles. If you think a comment violates our guidelines click the "report abuse" button to notify the moderators. Responding to the comment will only encourage bad behavior.

• Don't use profanities, vulgarities or hate speech. This is a general interest news site. Sometimes, there are children present. Don't say anything in a way you wouldn't want your own child to hear.

• Do not attack other users; focus your comments on issues, not individuals.

• Stay on topic. Only post comments relevant to the article at hand. If you want to discuss an issue with a specific user, click on his profile name and send him a direct message.

• Do not copy and paste outside material into the comment box.

• Don't repeat the same comment over and over. We heard you the first time.

• Do not use the commenting system for advertising. That's spam and it isn't allowed.

• Don't use all capital letters. That's akin to yelling and not appreciated by the audience.

You should also know that The Sacramento Bee does not screen comments before they are posted. You are more likely to see inappropriate comments before our staff does, so we ask that you click the "report abuse" button to submit those comments for moderator review. You also may notify us via email at feedback@sacbee.com. Note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us the profile name of the user who made the comment. Remember, comment moderation is subjective. You may find some material objectionable that we won't and vice versa.

If you submit a comment, the user name of your account will appear along with it. Users cannot remove their own comments once they have submitted them, but you may ask our staff to retract one of your comments by sending an email to feedback@sacbee.com. Again, make sure you note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us your profile name.

blog comments powered by Disqus

FOLLOW US | Get more from sacbee.com | Follow us on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook | Get news in your inbox | View our mobile versions | e-edition: Print edition online | What our bloggers are saying

Please use the form below to submit your question. Because there is a 100-word limit for questions, a word counter is located directly beneath the box where you enter the your question.