When Aldon Smith visited the 49ers for a pre-draft workout, coach Jim Harbaugh gave him a pop quiz. It was a list of about 50 questions regarding football and its history.
For example, there was: How wide is a football field?
"I got that one wrong," Smith said with a laugh Friday. "I said 50. I think it's 53."
The 49ers took Smith with the No. 7 pick Thursday, and now the Missouri defensive end has gone from answering the questions to prompting them: Can he rescue the 49ers' pass rush? Was he worth such a high pick?
The 49ers raised eyebrows around the league by taking Smith so high, but they envision the 6-foot-4, 263-pounder as the quarterback-terrorizing machine they have long lacked.
Smith was formally introduced at 49ers headquarters Friday, holding up a ceremonial "No. 1" jersey and saying he was ready to take on the NFL. He said of his new home:
"I know that it's a great tradition here with the Super Bowls that have been won in the past," he said. "(We're) just continuing to build and get back towards that goal. That's the direction we're heading in right now."
Smith set a Missouri
On Friday, while visiting the 49ers, the two Smiths chatted along the practice field. Aldon Smith also met new teammates Taylor Mays and Thaddeus Gibson.
Smith also showed off the huge wingspan that made Harbaugh such a fan. Smith said hiseach -- measured at 837/8 inches -- comes in handy on the playing field.
"It helps me fend off blocks," he said. "With the bigger tackles it helps me create space so they can't get their hands on me."
As Harbaugh listened to the press conference from the back of the room, he couldn't resist testing Smith one last time.
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