I'm not sure this group is quite so big as you'd think from the geography, but I know a large-enough contingent of combination St. Louis Rams/Mizzou Tigers fans—refugees, perhaps, from the sinking Greatest Show on Turf to Gary Pinkel's offense—that was disappointed when the San Francisco 49ers, in a break from hundreds of mock drafts, selected Aldon Smith seventh overall. Get more disappointed, Tigeram fans: He's getting rave reviews in training camp.
This is, admittedly, not an uncommon thing for first-round draft picks, but I think it's worth recounting anyway: The Mercury News of San Jose marvels at his "ferocity" and his refusal to back down; the AP notes the "smooth" transition Smith has made from defensive end to outside linebacker; Mike Sando passes along a Sac Bee story in which Smith's move inside is described in excruciating detail.
↵As for our own Niners Nation, they think he's got a legitimate shot at the starting role as early as week one.
↵I'm a Mizzou alum myself, and I can't deny there's a certain rightness to seeing a player from one favorite team move on to another. But I can't exactly complain about Robert Quinn...
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