Draft spotlight: Marshall DE Vinny Curry
Vinny Curry terrorized quarterbacks in Conference USA. (Associated Press)
VINNY CURRY
HT: 6-3
WT: 266
40-yard dash: 4.64 (at Pro Day Wednesday 3/14)
Vertical: 35.5 (3/14)
Bench Press: 28 repetitions (225 pounds) (3/14)
Hometown: Neptune, New Jersey
Key stats: 77 tackles; 22 tackles for losses, 11 sacks and seven forced fumbles.
Let’s move on to the draft.
There are only a few matters left in free agency. What’s going to happen to Curtis Lofton, John Abraham and Todd McClure?
The Falcons are still reportedly interested in defensive end Kendall Langford, but he’s in Cincinnati today talking to the Bengals.
We’ll do this little DRAFT SPOTLIGHT feature leading up to the April 26-28 draft. We’ll try to take a look a guys who’ll be available when the Falcons draft with the 55th pick in the second round.
I haven’t been in the mood to do a Mock Draft since the Falcons don’t have a first round pick. That kind of takes the fun out of it.
But here’s some information from Mr. Curry, who was a team captain for the Thundering Herd as a senior.
Q: How did you perform at the Senior Bowl?
A: My goal going into the Senior Bowl was just to prove to the world that I’m legit and I can play with the best of them. It definitely was a great experience, and I felt like I did a pretty good job for the most part. I just (want to) continue to build on that success.
Q: Do you have to keep proving yourself because you played at Marshall?
A: Oh yeah. Oh yeah. But I like stuff like that. I love being the underdog. I feel the underdog always works harder, always has something to prove. That’s my personality. I feel like I always have something to prove. I just love to work, I love to get better.
Q: Was your production consistent?
A: Oh yeah. That’s one thing about me. Our coaching staff preached competitive excellence. Basically, can you make a play when your number is called? For the most part, me being a team leader I had to always be at competitive excellence, no matter what it was. So I would definitely say yes.
Q: How did you get so many forced fumbles?
A: This year, coming into the season, everybody knew I was coming off a really hot junior year. Basically I knew what I was getting myself into this year as a senior with game planning and double teams and triple teams and chips and sometimes quadruple teams … So my defensive line coach, Fred Tate, he sat me down one day. He said, ‘What you going to do, man?’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean?’ He said, ‘You got to do something else to separate yourself from the rest of the defensive linemen in the country.’ So I worked on stripping every day. If you look at my strips or forced fumbles, they’re not really from the quarterbacks. I only had one quarterback forced fumble. The rest came from running backs and chasing down screen plays. I worked hard at that.
Q: You had a lot of tackles for loss too. Do play honest in terms of playing against the run?
A: Oh yes sir. That’s another thing that I pride myself on, stopping the run and then getting after the quarterback. I feel like I’m an all-around player. . . I’m just striving on proving that each day.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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141 comments Add your comment
ken herock
March 15th, 2012
10:45 am
Here you go. It’s just the 3rd day of free agency and D-Led has already had to resort to using draft profiles. Sad..
chc4
March 15th, 2012
10:45 am
Curry will not be available when our 2nd rounder comes around.
Jimmy Crack
March 15th, 2012
10:48 am
Get him, Langford, and every other prospect and bring them all in. I am so tired of watching 4 guys get absolutely ZERO pressure on NFL QBs. The entire league has known for years that double teaming Abraham gives their QB enough time to go through his progressions TWICE and STILL not get touched. It has been embarrassing to watch, no wonder our DBs get smoked, EVENTUALLY.
All Defensive End hands on deck. No one is safe, even that new guy who looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane.
Falcon James
March 15th, 2012
10:50 am
This kid look interesting. It has to be tough trying to figure out who going to be on the board at pick 55.
I agree with all of DOL responses except we need a Offensive Lineman before a back up QB.
Sid
March 15th, 2012
10:56 am
With all due respect DLed, “I haven’t been in the mood to do a Mock Draft since the Falcons don’t have a first round pick.” sounds a little lazy to me. The whole point of doing a mock draft is to consider the possibiities then prove to be wrong when the brass does something either extraordinary or totally ordinary. Heck, who is being tossed around at the 55th pick is fun to me because it is a predictor of the future of this franchise. But it’s your blog, I don’t have to answer to your bosses or the Falcons brass…………..and, of course, you don’t answer to me.
Vinny Curry 48th pick to NE.
Sid
March 15th, 2012
11:05 am
Remind me again why we cut Laurent Robinson loose…………….
Joe
March 15th, 2012
11:09 am
I like Bruce Irvin more than Curry Irvin a monster and is everything TD talks about speed quickness “Explosive”
JSS
March 15th, 2012
11:28 am
Sid
March 15th, 2012
11:05 am
“Remind me again why we cut Laurent Robinson loose”
He didn’t fit the “process!” Was supposedly lazy and unmotivated. And they had just extended Michael Jenkins! Ha ha, they’re great!!!
jay
March 15th, 2012
11:35 am
As stated previously Grubbs signs with the Saints. McNeil is visiting the Lions. Williams and the Bills are close to a deal. Nothing ‘Big’ is going to happen. They are being quiet because they aren’t going to do anything. This FA period has been worse than I ever imagined, esp after the so called ‘no sacred cows’ presser.
jay
March 15th, 2012
11:36 am
The best we can hope for is a trade for Osi or Freeny, but what do we have to trade? Not a dmaned thing.
Sid
March 15th, 2012
11:41 am
JSS
March 15th, 2012
11:28 am
Sid
March 15th, 2012
11:05 am
“Remind me again why we cut Laurent Robinson loose”
He didn’t fit the “process!” Was supposedly lazy and unmotivated. And they had just extended Michael Jenkins! Ha ha, they’re great!!!
***********************************************
I know he was injured too but here he is signing a nice fat contract……………..!!
GDawg
March 15th, 2012
11:50 am
Osi would be good Freeney too high would be able to trade The Burner they lost Jacobs need another big back to rotate with Bradshaw.
jay
March 15th, 2012
11:52 am
That would be a great trade for us, but there’s no way they want Turner. He’s just a fatter more expensive version of Jacobs. More of a team player though.
Tdawg
March 15th, 2012
12:02 pm
My question is where is all the money going. Outside of a second teir QB, 2 good recievers and really good TE. The falcons don’t have a single player worth keeping. Not a single player on the defense is worth more than a broken down camel. None of the offensive linemen are worth a crap. So again I ask. Where is all the money at? It must all be going to 4 players because 4 players is all that I see that is even worth keeping. The rest of the team you can just scrap and start over because they haven’t earnd their pay. When was the last time the falcons had a all-pro defensesive player outside of Abraham and even he was about as a pathetic run stopper as there was in the leauge. It’s easy to run at someone when you are taking yourself out of the running plays every single down. I mean every single play he was looping so far around the OT that he was never in place to stop the run. Let him go. Just at least fing someone who can stop the run better if you can’t find a first class pass rusher, which by the way ain’t gonna happen. Maybe there is another Edwards out there. If so the falcons will find him, and sign him and proclaim that he is the next great DE at Atlanta.
Chub Rock
March 15th, 2012
12:23 pm
Man I tried to keep up with The Falcoholic blog site but if I read one more post saying somebody is gonna “flourish in Nolan’s scheme” or Mike Nolan said he would rather “10 players have 4 sacks than 4 players having 10 sacks”, my freaking head is gonna explode. These guys read a quote somewhere and live by it for the rest of their lives.
Coach has told you jackasses(sorry D) Turner ain’t going nowhere but you just won’t listen to anything you don’t wanna hear. DOL told you what was left under the salary cap but you didn’t wanna listen because it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. STFU, sit down somewhere and let the professionals handle this. If they sign Mario half of you gonna whine about how much money he got and if they don’t sign him half of you gonna whine about how bad we need him. Everybody was in love with Brent Grimes all the way up until it was time for this man to get paid for his services now you don’t want him. Turner was the Burner this and the Burner that until you thought he stood in the way of you getting Mario Williams so now we need to cut the best RB in the history of the team.He’s fat he’s slow yes and you’re an idiot. If a fat man can run for 1340 yards on 4.5 yards per carry then everybody better go looking for fat men. News Flash couch potatoes GM’s high level players come with a high level price tag. As much as Brian Finneran stayed on IR and was basically a non factor in the passing game I never ONCE heard ya bums clamoring for that guy to get cut. Heck some of you still think he should be on the team huh?
GDawg
March 15th, 2012
12:31 pm
Williams agrees with Bills
GDawg
March 15th, 2012
12:37 pm
@Chub Rock If we don’t try to get something for Turner now it will be to late next year bank on it. I think we should try to get a decent DE in trade and draft Lemichael James in the second round.
Mario Left
March 15th, 2012
12:48 pm
Oh goodness. Bills sign Mario…………..all hope is lost.
By the way, Lamichael James would be a neat pickup, but we already have his rival school back, Rodgers.
Big Crimson 75
March 15th, 2012
1:03 pm
This is complete junk from the Falcons.
Mario is gone to Buffalo.
The Saints also signed Ben Grubbs to replace Nicks.
TD will spin the usual We are like the Giants, Pats, Packers…..blah blah….We don’t make SPLASHES in FA!!!
This is absolute garbage. The PAts are about to ink Laron Landry. Jets sign S Brandon Meriweather — they started with less cap space than We had.
This is complete junk. Make a move to help the Team — TD.
All these neutral signings are for the Birds!!!
J.J.M.
March 15th, 2012
1:04 pm
lmao@ new stadium when we cant even win a playoff game
Big Crimson 75
March 15th, 2012
1:05 pm
Help me out Dawg fans….
Is Akeem Dent a legit NFL Middle-Backer?
Lofton possibly to Cleveland or Jax — according to reports.
STRETCH
March 15th, 2012
1:14 pm
J.J.M.
You beat me to it! LOL!
STRETCH
March 15th, 2012
1:15 pm
Im still trying to figure out this city and why it cant win something or atleast show effort.
Terrible city to be a sports fan!
The Real Falcon
March 15th, 2012
1:22 pm
So now that Grubss has signed with the Saints they’re as strong as they were with Nicks. And here we sit!
PMC
March 15th, 2012
1:27 pm
well here’s hoping we find some kind of LT in free agency. Can’t believe we let the Saints get Grubbs.
PMC
March 15th, 2012
1:28 pm
So this is establishing the team on both fronts…..
PMC
March 15th, 2012
1:30 pm
Amongst the worst right guard position in football last year and we want to make THAT guy the center.
Awesome. Matt Ryan is going to have about .3 seconds to throw the ball. Good freaking luck with 4 verticals and a weak arm without a perfect foundation.
Big Crimson 75
March 15th, 2012
1:41 pm
@ the very least — get Mark Anderson or Kendell Langford for the D-line & McNeil for the OL. All 3 would be UP GRADES.
We have not made 1 single move that has up-graded the Roster from last Season.
Right now, We hang our hopes on the Offense being the offense they never were last season.
Julio will be better in yr 2. Roddy, Turner & Gonzo hopefully still maintain their production for another year.
Matty Ice makes the next step to elite QB. The OL looks no better than last year!
On defense — ?????
We were one of the best teams in the League last yr against the run — hopefully that will continue.
Even though I’m no fan of Grimes – He & Donta are above avg CB’s & Moore & DeCoud are above avg Safety’s.
Spoon is the best Player on D. No reason to think his production declines. Nicholos has to earn that $$ this year. Maybe, we get lucky out of the Dent/Tatupu combo.
Which leaves the Line. Peters is solid. Walker is what he is. Babs must get back to form. Anything from Jerry will be more than what we’ve got so far.
The Falcons are still better than the Bucs & Carolina — but the gap is closing!
PMC
March 15th, 2012
1:42 pm
Ok, so the best teams don’t typically go nuts in FA choosing to build through the draft. I’m perfectly fine with that strategy, but what I’ve seen is the Falcons bash up less talented teams for the most part and not be able to compete with the really good teams.
Part of it was scheme obviously, the offensive scheme against the Giants was one of the worst ever conceived in the playoffs. But the line talent we have drafted, hasn’t matched up whatsoever, last year or the year before. How can I logically believe the same players will be better next year????
It’s not like this team just appears uber talented like Houston did. We’re picking the wrong players too Thomas. We’re losing to teams that are more physical and talented on the LOS.
Ray
March 15th, 2012
1:48 pm
Well just to chime in We lost out on Super Mario, but you know what maybe it was for the better he didn’t even go around and look at other teams it was basically a first com first get type deal with him. We’ll see soon if this guy is overrated or just plain stupid.
Always remember this let us not end up like Philly Eagles all that talent they brought in last offseason they won the sweepstakes for virtually everyone only to end up 8-8 and miss the playoffs. You know heralded as the Miami Heat of the NFL and what not.
Sid
March 15th, 2012
1:59 pm
So in our division our rivals have signed the 4th, 6th, 11th (I don’t really count Colston) 16th, and 65th ranked Free Agents………………why did Dunta restructure to make cap room……..??
Kramer
March 15th, 2012
2:01 pm
Big Crimson 75, he is more of an every down backer then Lofton. Then again, he will get his chance to prove it.
BiggDawgK
March 15th, 2012
2:06 pm
Why a backup qb? I thought the falcons locked down Grandpa Redman yesterday.
JSS
March 15th, 2012
2:07 pm
Man, the cheerleaders are out again! DeCoud “above average?” Please, it hasn’t happened since game 3 of 2009. Moore and Weatherspoon (to a lesser extent Nicholas) have durability issues. I blame Jeff Fish and his staff for more these issues than the players. But you guys are just reaching for hope… Jerry? Did you learn from JA 98? You have to know when to lessen your expectations!
JSS
March 15th, 2012
2:10 pm
The Robinson restructure gave you Douglass back (over 5 years)…
Big Crimson 75
March 15th, 2012
2:19 pm
DeCoud is above avg.
Aside from Spoon & Lofton — He was the top tackler on the Team last year. Is he the next Ronnie Lott — No, but DeCoud is not the Falcons problem on Defense. At the very least, He plays every game — which William ” the hammer ” Moore has yet to prove he can do. I’ll take DeCoud over James Sanders.
Ichabod
March 15th, 2012
2:26 pm
Since we re-signed Redman are we still looking for a backup qb? Why do I get an uneasy feeling that we are losing talent instead of gaining at this stage? It is obvious now that we don’t have the chips or cap to have played for Mario or Nicks, but an established FA would have been nice. It’ll be a long wait til 55 but I can just guess that TD is getting all wound up for that moment!
Khaos
March 15th, 2012
2:28 pm
0-3 in the playoffs. Blown out by NY(no offensive TD or FG)and Green Bay. The two best players of what was an average defense (Lofton and Abe)are leaving and the remaining free agents are probably not as good. A marginal OC is replaced by the OC of the worse offensive team in the league. No first rounder in this years draft. But we’ve resigned Biermann and Decoud.
What, me worry?
Fire Smitty and Dimitroff.
S. Jones
March 15th, 2012
2:31 pm
Any word on Atlanta going after Levi Brown?
JSS
March 15th, 2012
2:39 pm
That over pursuing and always out of position DeCoud wouldn’t be above average even if you gave him a numerator substantially above the divisor! Hakeem Nicks, Jeremy Maclin, and Robert Meachum all made him look foolish…
jay
March 15th, 2012
2:40 pm
@Chub Rock – let me help you out.
Tampa Bay game 1 – Turner 11 carries 20 yards
Seattle – 20 carries 70 yards
GB – 16 carries 56 yards
MN – 19 carries 60 yards
NO game 1 – 22 carries 96 yards, but couldn’t get one damn yard to keep the drive going
Houston – 14 carries 44 yards
NO game 2 – 11 carries 39 yards
Yep he’s the best RB in our franchise history, but unfortunately that ain’t saying much. He needs to go.
Bluto
March 15th, 2012
2:42 pm
It is awesome to live in a city with so many experienced coaches and GM’s giving their free time to help out the Falcons staff. Where were they when we could not get back to back winning seasons, or when our big free agent signings were Perice Holt, and Chris Doleman. Sounds like I am reminiscing about the old times when 6-10 were promising years…..
That was sarcasm for the Jr coaches and GM who do not seem to remember what this franchise was before the current staff showed up.
jay
March 15th, 2012
2:43 pm
Oh yeah the playoff game. 15 carries and 41 yards.
Pluse dude only had 17 receptions as a starting RB in the NFL. That’s just sad. Snelling had 26 receptions in a back up roll and as a FB. We can live without Turner buddy.
jay
March 15th, 2012
2:46 pm
I hate to agree with JSS because he is a straight up hater, but Decoud is DOO DOO. He would be a great back up just like Grimes would be a great nickel back. Both currently will be overpaid next season.
GDawg
March 15th, 2012
2:52 pm
Agree with jay Turner was great don’t get me wrong I am not taking him for granted but it is time to move on. We need a fast back that is not 5′ nothing Quiz is a good change of pace but we need an every down back.
slydog
March 15th, 2012
2:52 pm
Look here fellow Falcons fans, you have to start peeping game. The defense is switching to a 3-4, and will use a 4-3 look. They just didn’t come right out and announce it. They knew from jump street they didn’t have enough cap space and/or money to re-sign everybody or pursue an actual elite talent on defense. Plus you have to remember, they are changing schemes, play-calling, and philosophies on both sides of the ball. Anyway, here goes: Babineaux will move out to DE, Peters and Jerry will flip flop at NT, Ray Edwards will be the hybrid DE/OLB, but he will primarily be a pass rusher. If they sign one more LB and/or start Akeem Dent (a 3-4 gives him less responsibility), which is a lot easier than signing another “skill” position player, then the defense is set. In a 3-4, the secondary will play more man and not look so darn lost in those quarter-package zones of the former DC. The offense needs a spark at RB (Lamichael James, anybody?), but realistically, Orson Charles, Branden Boykin, and Ben Jones should be seriously considered as draftees. Get Jones in the 2nd round, Charles will be there in the 3rd, if not, pick up Boykin to replace Weems and gives us an SEC-caliber DB who never got burned.
slydog
March 15th, 2012
2:54 pm
I meant to say Peters and Jerry will flip flop between NT and DE.
JSS
March 15th, 2012
2:58 pm
” At the very least, He (DeCoud) plays every game”
That is not an asset in his case! And they benched him once last season because of his toast consistency…
GDawg
March 15th, 2012
2:59 pm
@slydog You can’t but be a Dawg fan huh? If though we go with 3-4 why didn’t we try to get Paul NT from the Dolphins seeing as Nolan was a huge fan?
JSS
March 15th, 2012
3:05 pm
I’m so tired of these folks pumping Brandon Boykins like he is a NFL ready corner. He’s not Champ Bailey… His main asset in college was his kickoff returns, not his punt returning… Chris Houston was an “SEC caliber DB.” The SEC is not the NFL, it just a stepping stone… People threw on and at Patrick Peterson last season, and Boykin is not on that plateau…