Vinny Curry, Marshall

[FalconJim]

I like this guy! Bring him home TD!!!

What do you guys think???

This week the Mock Monitor is littered with names of prospects from a variety of positions. With the Falcons selecting at No. 55 in the second round, the debate is open regarding what Atlanta will do with their first pick in the draft. This week, we turn to Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller, the website’s lead NFL Draft scout for help in our spotlight.

Vinny Curry, a defensive end from Marshall, is one of the names that appeared this week, a sound selection as the Falcons may look to improve a pass rush that ranked 19th in the league with 33 sacks in 2011.

In Curry, Miller sees an athletic player with pass-rushing skills that has him ranked among the top-10 defensive ends available in this year’s draft. Although Curry, according to Miller, at times over-pursues on an individual play, causing him to misdiagnose a run play, the talent as a force that can get after the quarterback is there.

“Vinny Curry of Marshall is a very interesting prospect,” Miller said. “When you see him on film he flashes as a natural pass rusher. The overall athleticism is there, the burst is there and the agility to bend around the edge is there.”

The red-shirt senior and team captain finished his final season at Marshall with 21.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. Those numbers were good enough to rank the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Curry among the nation’s best defensive lineman. In addition to his athleticism, the book on Curry describes a player that plays with explosion and relentless effort.

Miller says the player in the NFL that comes to mind when considering Curry is Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, a similar sized and first-step athlete. While Curry isn’t the defender against the run that Cole is, Curry has the ability to improve his game to a level potentially matching the two-time Pro Bowler.

The bidding on Curry figures to be strong since he’s an interchangeable 4-3 defensive end or a 3-4 outside linebacker. His stock may rise to a point that he won’t be available when the Falcons select in the second round, but if he’s there he could be worth the pick on potential alone.

“If Curry is on the board when Atlanta comes up at No. 55, Thomas Dimitroff should have his guys sprinting to the podium to hand in this pick. Curry fills a need, which is how Dimitroff runs his war room, and he’s also a great value at this spot in round two,” Miller said.

With the Falcons’ history of using speed rushers, Miller sees Curry as a great fit at defensive end. The Marshall defensive end showed an all-around game as a senior adding 72 tackles, one fumble recovery and three block extra points to his playmaking stats.

[DirtyBirdInThe610]

I initially was on the band wagon for us to draft Melvin Ingram DE,South Carolina now it seems that Ingram might go in the top of the first round so I went looking for a replacement and that's when I came across Vinny Curry he's strong,quick,he get's to the QB and even if he doesn't get the sack he still can affect the play one way or another,in other words if he fell into our laps and we drafted him he will be our premiere pass rusher for years to come.

[Master Exploder]

I like Vinny Curry, but I think he's extremely underrated in the draft world. I can definitely see NFL teams being higher on him that draftniks are. If he blows up the combine then I would say he'll be out of our reach. He's a great pass rusher and has an unbelievable motor.

[A-TowN.-]

I've liked Vinny since last year. It's who I want too

[BlazerHarvard]

I'd love to have Curry, but I doubt he falls to us in the bottom of the 2nd.

Here's to wishful thinking, though...

[delaigle]

Wild thought

Any relation to former Falcon LB Buddy Curry?

Edited February 16, 2012 by delaigle

[jbrinson]

i want a TE or RB with our first pick or maybe a good interior linemen who falls

[mrobinson3803]

I'm seeing mocks of him takin in the mid 20's of the 1st round. I doubt he makes it to us in the 2nd

[DirtyBirdInThe610]

i want a TE or RB with our first pick or maybe a good interior linemen who falls

I don't know about a RB but a TE should be a need I can see us waiting to draft Tyler Eifert next year but there's Dwayne Allen,Coby Fleener,and Orsen Charles me personally I'm a fan of Fleener so if we do draft one of those TE's this year I still think we should go for Eifert next year so we can run two TE sets.

[jbrinson]

I don't know about a RB but a TE should be a need I can see us waiting to draft Tyler Eifert next year but there's Dwayne Allen,Coby Fleener,and Orsen Charles me personally I'm a fan of Fleener so if we do draft one of those TE's this year I still think we should go for Eifert next year so we can run two TE sets.

if we draft Fleener this year we can run two tighend sets with Palmer because i think he is better than people think

[FalconJim]

I like Vinny Curry, but I think he's extremely underrated in the draft world. I can definitely see NFL teams being higher on him that draftniks are. If he blows up the combine then I would say he'll be out of our reach. He's a great pass rusher and has an unbelievable motor.

Yea, if he blows it up at the Combine, I'm sure his "stock" will go up, and that may put him out of reach.

Maybe TD could put a bug in his ear beforehand, and tell him to "throw" his performance, so we'll have a better chance of drafting him. Haha!. Nah, probably wouldn't work.

But, the dude's gonna be a "monster" for some team.....I just hope it's US!!! I mean, it's definitely a position of need, big time, and personally, I'd be willing to wheel and deal some to get him, if necessary. But that's just me...

[egoprime II]

I don't know about a RB but a TE should be a need I can see us waiting to draft Tyler Eifert next year but there's Dwayne Allen,Coby Fleener,and Orsen Charles me personally I'm a fan of Fleener so if we do draft one of those TE's this year I still think we should go for Eifert next year so we can run two TE sets.

We already have good tight ends, and good TE's hit free agency fairly regularly.

But try to find a good LT or pass rusher who is still in thier prime. In free agency it just does not happen often, and when one of those is available they cost a LOT of money and cap space.

We have too many needs, we need to pass on a TE in this draft at least in the early rounds.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

I dont know. I see another Vernon Gholston in him

[egoprime II]

Some of you guys here seem to know a lot about Curry, so...let me ask a few questions.

First off he played for Marshall. Not exactly a powerhouse in the college football world, right? Who did they play that was good, and...who did Curry directly line up and play well against?

Curry is 6'3" and 265 lbs, thats rather short and light for a three down DE. Seems like if he gains some weight he loses some quickness, then what is he?

Plus I do not see how anyone can project what a player will be in the pros...even the folks paid to do it have a hard time being accurate.

[The Falcon Jedi Knight]

Some of you guys here seem to know a lot about Curry, so...let me ask a few questions. First off he played for Marshall. Not exactly a powerhouse in the college football world, right? Who did they play that was good, and...who did Curry directly line up and play well against? Curry is 6'3" and 265 lbs, thats rather short and light for a three down DE. Seems like if he gains some weight he loses some quickness, then what is he? Plus I do not see how anyone can project what a player will be in the pros...even the folks paid to do it have a hard time being accurate.

He's too short to play DE

[wilco]

lets hope he doesn't blow up the combine

@ jedi,

He's anti Gholston. I believe his measurables are ok but nothing eyepopping.

Edited February 17, 2012 by wilco