Aldon Smith working his way through sack drought

Aldon Smith has not had a sack since Week 14 but the San Francisco 49ers are still feeling good about their outside linebackers.

Smith had 19 ½ sacks on the season – all in the first 13 games – but he’s been noticeably quiet since and has not produced one in the postseason. Some have linked his drought – now five games – to the absence of defensive end Justin Smith, who missed time with a triceps injury and is now playing but far from 100 percent. When Justin Smith cannot dominate and take up the attention of opposing offense, it makes it easier for linemen to zero in on Aldon Smith.

Aldon Smith said he’s getting double teamed more but he was getting that all season after a strong rookie campaign in 2011.

"It's freeing somebody up," Aldon Smith said of double teams, according to Steve Corkran of the San Jose Mercury News. "Somebody's going to get to the quarterback. It might not be me making the play, but somebody's going to get there."

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune