NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Vinny Curry, DE/OLB Marshall

41 thoughts on “NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Vinny Curry, DE/OLB Marshall”

1. Like this guy alot for a second rounder. Should add much needed depth to our lb squad… Especially if they were to cut the dead weight. Guess it also depends on where they go with 1st round pick. Plus we have konz to think about depending on what happens with our center situation. Is it crazy to suggest they might pick consecutive lbs first and second? This would be the year to do it if they did with the talent pool.

2. Al sez: “Is from New Jersey. That is all…”

   So, is that a good thing or a bad thing? 😀

   1. That means he’s no mamby pamby…

3. This is my choice for #28 if we stay there and don’t need Konz. This guy is not a “depth” pick as stated above. He starts immediately, opposite CMIII. As I mentioned yesterday, he does not have blazing coverage speed, but he makes up for it with quickness and good feet. Watch the video, he is always moving his feet. He’s got them wide when engaged by two blockers and never off balance. Otherwise he is always driving toward the ball. His quickness was evident in his 20yd shuffle and 3 cone times. He has easily the best pass rushing skill set of any of the 3-4 tweeners. His motor is relentless and he chases plays down. In our scheme, any exceptionally fast TE’s are going to be covered by Woodson or a Safety, not by Curry or CMIII. He will be rushing the passer on passing downs. It’s his best attribute and our most dire need in the draft. Pick Vinny Curry TT. GoPack!

   1. didn’t mean to imply he wouldn’t be starting… adding depth could be refering to the starter or back ups. He obviously wouldn’t be playing behind walden lol. I wouldn’t pick him in the first round I’d trade up in the second.

4. He won’t last to the end of the 2nd round. IMO the talent at OLB in this draft isn’t good – and TT will go DL at 28.

   Who’s the stud and who’s the dud at OLB? I’m scared of all of them.

   Go DL TT. Much surer bets there.

5. This is the guy you take at 28 if the DL isn’t ther or if the DL guy is there and taken at 28.TT needs to move up in the 2nd for him.His mutiple techniques of pass rushing out weighs the the combine 40.His cone split and shuttle matters more.If TT DOESN’T get him,this will be his bust pick of 2012.
   Coming from New Jersey is always a good thing as Al and myself will attest I’m sure.
   Can anyone say…Brian Cushing!

6. Granted- this is purely from highlight reels- but I never saw this kid line up in a two point stance.

   I agree that his COD skills and tenacity could help him transition to OLB, and even though he’s got a slow 40 time, his 20 yard split is far more relevant to rushing the passer..

   That said, what makes everyone so sure he’s the answer at OLB?

   It looks to me like his explosion off the line is key to his penetration into the backfield. For many players, that explosion is generated from a three point stance and is often lost without the leverage that having a hand in the dirt can provide.

   Also, with the 20 yard split is clearly more of an asset in rushing the passer than a 40 yard time, remember that we’re projecting him as a OLB, and a slow top end speed can affect his ability to chase down and pursue ball carriers when not rushing the passer. A lot of people forget that the football field from sideline to sideline is a full half as long as it is end zone to end zone- 50 yards wide. once you start accounting for pursuit angles and such, it is not unheard of to cover 40+ yards on a play.

   Just food for thought. He does look like he’s a very active and productive pass rusher from the DE position. I would just advise perhaps people temper their expectations when projecting him to a position he hasn’t played yet. Some players transition from DE to OLB seemingly effortlessly. For others, it just never clicks.

   1. BTW, I think what I like most about him is his length. The Packers could use a long pass rusher, something we’ve haven’t had since KGB.. It can do an awful lot for a guy who’s trying to to disengage and get separation from an NFL OT.

   2. 80% of 3-4 OLBs are going to be converted college DEs that played out of a 3 point stance. That is a technique issue that can be taught and practiced. and i think you mean the 10 yard split. curries was 1.72 which is not good for a 3-4 OLB prospect.

      also, Al, i thought his official time was 4.98…that is a big difference from 4.85. I read somewhere, maybe Bunting, that 4.85 is viewed as the cutoff point for an OLB.

      1. Yes, a lot of OLB’s are going to be converted DE’s. And, yes, there’s also a high percentage who never could make that transition. There are no guarantees.

         1. my point is, whether he lines up in a 2 point stance or a 3 point stance is irrelevant. and if anything, curry relies less on his initial burst off of the line than any of the OLB prospects except for maybe upshaw.

      2. Well, I got the 4.85 from the official NFl combine site, but now it looks like they updated it. it now says 4.98. I’ll update the post.

7. I may be getting back on the Vinny Curry starship. I have liked all of the video i have watched of him. Curry, Upshaw and Ingram look like the most complete players in the box. Stack, shed, make the play. I got a little scared off by the 40 time, I think it may be at the point of no return. I was sold on him at 28 before the combine, now i think he is a trade down or trade up in the second to get him. Not real comfortable with him at #28.

   1. I think he goes around picks 40-50

8. HI , There is a another DE/LB fropm Praire view Am that had 20 sacks this year. Same size & more speed & better pash rush moves, we can pick up in the 2nd round

   1. Sean,

      after looking at a few write ups on this kid-

      Adrian Hamilton (Praire View, A&M, DE- I’m assuming this is your guy 🙂 )

      I think you are on to something here.

      This is EXACTLY the type of player that many scouts and GMs take a pass on, but the Packers don’t shy away from small school, small system players that exude talent. TT & co. tend to believe you trust the tape, watch the player, not the competition, and a good football player is a good football player.

      His production is awesome. On the topic of level of competition, I found one site that noted he originally signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma State, but when the program suggested he be gray shirted, he left OSU and walked on, and played for, Texas Tech- no scholarship. His money apparently ran dry and that’s how he came to be at Prairie View A&M.. So he’s got DivI talent.

      This is a guy we could see swept up by the packers- the yearly “Who?!” pick by TT that comes in the mid rounds.

      Thanks for the info, Sean.

      Here’s a link on Adrian Hamilton

      http://www.opposingviews.com/i/sports/nfl/49ers/2012-nfl-mock-draft-adrian-hamilton

      http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2012/2/7/2774883/mirror-image-adrian-hamilton-de-olb-prairie-view-a-m

      This one is probably the most balanced and fair write up on Hamilton’s talent:

      http://nfldraftmonsters.com/scouting/scouting-report-adrian-hamilton/

9. The 40 time might have scared people off. If he falls toward the latter part of the 2nd, I say Ted needs to go up and get him. He looks like a playmaker.

10. I would love to see this guy in a Buffalo Bills uniform. He is a Stud.

11. More questions than answers again. With Capers loving to use his lb’s in coverage 4.85 sounds iffy to me.

    I’m becoming more covinced that if Konz is available in the 1st, go for him. Try and get that rush guy later based on physical charcteristics. Then break with tradition and get the DE from FA.

    1. I will freak if the first pick isn’t defense.

       1. Al, you better set up an emergency contingency plan at the Jersey Al Household, just in case…

          You know TT might grab a long snapper.

12. Does capers love using his lb’s in coverage or was he forced to last year because none of them (walden/Zombo/jones) were getting home so it was a waste of a blitz. The 3-4 is predicated on the olb’s in particular to generate pass rush. He will run faster at his pro day and will rarely be used in coverage. GoPack!

    1. Lb’s in 3-4’s are asked to do a bit of everything.

13. Off topic – New Orleans Saints and ex DC being investigated by the NFL for a “bounty system” 22 players and Williams are targeted.

    1. In a way, that’s laughable. Their defense was a crappy as ours was.

       1. Guess they didn’t get much for their investment.

14. bearmeat you thunk that the talent is better at dl than lb? Respectfully and strongly disagree.

    Oppy this guy is 266 lbs. Although he is strong I don’t think he can contend with NFL caliber o lineman at that size from the de position in a 3-4 defense I think he’d have to put on a good 15 or 20 lbs at least to play effective de in a 3-4 defense. There are already questions about whether this guy is fast enough and one wouldd presume that he would lose more speed by putting on more weight.

    1. Zack, I think i can speak for Oppy here. Talking about an OLB/DE conversion project, it’s usually between 3-4OLB and 4-3DE. Not 3-4DE, which requires an entirely different type of animal.

       1. Agreed. which was the point I was coming to depending on the response. =P

       2. I still think he can pull off a 3-4 OLB with a little depth behind him to rotate when they want the lb in coverage or bringing some secondary help against the better recieving cores in the league but he’s definitely not a 3-4 DE.

       3. Yessir.

    2. Zack – look at the number of upper echelon prospects that would play DT in a 4-3 Defense. Over 6’3″. No less than 290 lbs. Strong as a bull. That’s the body type we’re looking for in a 3/4 D – even at 5 technique.

       Take a look at nfl.com’s combine page. If you sort out the DT’s (not DE’s, who are often around 270 lbs) – look at the number of players with scouting grades over 80%. I count seven players. That’s a lot.

       Now take a look at OLB’s that fit the 3/4 mold (players from 245-270) – you can even include some DE’s we’ve talked about (Perry, Ingram, Irvin and Merculis to name a few.)

       There are 6 prospects. And all but Brown/Perry/Ingram and Upshaw have red flags such as: “one year wonder” Or “Small school with inferior competition” Or “doesn’t try hard all the time”.

       Of the top 10 DT’s available – only Poe (small school) and Worthy (inconsistent effort) have red flags.

       Go DL TT. Go DL.

15. think* lol I swear I’m not illiterate

16. oppy just read what you said on the other article acknowledging th bulking up sacrificing speed. Sorry didnt mean to echo something you already acknowledged. Are you saying that you don’t like this guy for a second round pick or are you saying that you do but you just have questions about whether he’ll work for us?

    1. My comment that you’re referring to was a direct response to Al’s concerns that Curry’s rather slow 40 yard dash time would result in a shift from NFL teams’ perception of him as a OLB prospect, to his being typecast as a 4-3 DE.

       Al stated he feared Vinny Curry would be picked up by a 4-3 team looking to keep him at DE; I was simply stating that teams might look at Curry and wonder if he bulked up 20 lbs, which I think he would need to do (at least) to play 4-3 DE, his physical talents that make him attractive (quickness, agility, change of direction) may suffer…

       As far as if I want him in the green and gold? I don’t know. There are few players that I fall in love with going into the draft. I typically feel as though there are many players who would fit the bill at every given slot. I do find myself being drawn to certain players- last year, I had a keen interest in Jabaal Sheard- would have liked to seen him a Packer. This year, there aren’t too many guys who jump out at me thus far.

       1. At one point you compared him to KGB because he is a long pass rusher. That coupled with your discussion about whether he is a LB or DE implied to me, thought you didn’t outright say it, that you think he could be a 3-4 DE. I don’t think he can be. I’m with Al he’s either a 3-4 OLB or a 4-3 DE. that’s the point I was trying to make.

          1. KGB was a pass rush specialist from the 4-3 DE position.. I can somewhat see where the miscommunication came from- I didn’t intend to draw a comparison between KGB as a 4-3 DE to Curry as a 4-3 DE. If the Packers picked up Curry, I would imagine he’d be converted to OLB (But then again, they didn’t convert Wynn, so who knows.) I was only comparing Curry’s reach and length when rushing the Passer to KGB’s. They are both long limbed, and that can help a guy keep lineman’s hands off of him.

             Curry is currently a 4-3 DE, and the the question is whether he’ll be looked upon by teams, or able to play, as a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB.

             Undersized 4-3 DE’s, if athletic enough, often have to attempt to transition to 3-4 OLB in able to find a viable job in the NFL. Otherwise, they often have to add weight and/or gain strength to play 4-3 DE in the NFL.

             At any rate, it seems everything is all cleared up.

       2. thought= though. Sorry I can’t type today.

       3. He’s plent big to play DE in 4-3. Elvis dumervile (sp?) is like 260 and dwight freeney is 268. Depends on how his strength translates to the NFL.

          1. You are correct, and both are rare players. They do not constitute the typical NFL DE.

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