SEATTLE – Aldon Smith's first and perhaps most important NFL lesson this season: Stick close to Justin Smith, and good things will happen.

After he was drafted seventh overall by the 49ers in April, Aldon joined the veteran's workout group and found out how hard Pro Bowl players train in the offseason. Today, the Smiths form one of the league's most fearsome pass-rushing duos from the right side of the 49ers' defensive line.

Monday night against the Steelers, a national audience watched San Francisco's defense pounce on Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger like lions on an injured gazelle. Leading the way was Aldon Smith, who finished with 2 1/2 sacks and had another wiped away because of a penalty.

He enters today's game against Seattle with 13 sacks and needs just two more to pass Jevon Kearse's record for most sacks in a season by a rookie.

Aldon Smith's strength, balance and drive have been impressive, and he has become a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. But 49ers coaches noted this week that he has been aided by Justin Smith, who has helped pave a path to the quarterback and has allowed the younger player to avoid double teams.

The Smiths have been particularly effective at stunting on passing downs – one player looping under the other to create confusion and mismatches along the offensive line.

"Those guys have done a good job running some games over there, and part of that is Justin's experience," said defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. "And I think they've worked well together. They've kind of had a good relationship of big brother-little brother, and I think Aldon has been able to elevate his game because he's seen how much toughness and tenacity enters into this equation."

Aldon Smith says there has been an easy chemistry with Justin. Both were first-round picks out of the University of Missouri. In 2009, Aldon Smith broke Justin Smith's season sack record at the school.

"We understand each other. We understand what needs to be done," Aldon said. "The chemistry's good."

Justin Smith is known as "Cowboy" for his rural Missouri roots, his stoicism and his decidedly unglamorous appearance.

"He doesn't care how he looks," said inside linebacker Patrick Willis. "I tell him all the time, 'Justin, can you get some pants that fit?' He says, 'Man, I'm a blue-collar guy. I just go out there and play.' He's a guy a lot of people don't talk about."

The younger Smith has been dubbed "The Condor" for his impressive 84-inch wingspan, which has allowed him to keep blockers at bay and to snare ballcarriers.

Shortly after the draft, Aldon Smith slipped into Justin Smith's workout group at San Jose State. The lockout was still in effect, and veterans such as Smith, Parys Haralson, Ray McDonald and Isaac Sopoaga met throughout the spring and summer.

Led by Smith, the players ran up and down bleachers. They bear-crawled across practice fields. They raced, two-by-two, up the side of Spartan Stadium.

The summer sessions have paid dividends in the fourth quarters this fall.

Earlier this year, Fangio called Justin Smith's late-game forced fumble that preserved a win in Philadelphia the defensive equivalent of "The Catch." On Monday, Jim Harbaugh, an offensive coach, said Justin Smith was the team's MVP.

During the lockout, Harbaugh could not contact his players, but he followed their offseason workouts in the newspapers. Harbaugh said he made note of the influence Justin Smith had on younger players, including the 49ers' first-round pick.

"It's not just the offseason work," Harbaugh said. "I've also said this: Justin's a five-day-a-week workout guy during the season. He's in here on Monday lifting and running. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. He gets five workouts in a week. And we've talked about that with some of our other players. And I think it's a great example for other players when your best player has that kind of work ethic. It's a form of leadership and doing it by example."

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