The Texans draft watch series continues with a look at Marshall DE/OLB Vinny Curry.
Outside linebacker becomes a need for the Texans if Mario Williams departs in free agency and given there's a decent chance that another player will be wearing #90 for the Texans next season, we need to take a look at the tweener crop at the top of the draft.
Unlike Whitney Mercilus, you won't find anyone saying Curry can't play 3-4 outside linebacker, mainly because he's played the position in college.
"A lot of people forget," (Curry) said. "When we were playing two years ago -- 2009 -- me and Bert (Albert McClellan) would switch and flop. We were running a 3-4 system under Coach Rick Minter.
"It was just the rush. Just coming off the edge. (Linebacker) is basically the stand-up position I had under Coach Rip's (Chris Rippon) defense. You pressure, you get in zones, you drop to the flat." (Ramspacher/Herald-Dispatch)
Curry caught the attention of SI.com's Tony Pauline early in Senior Bowl practice week.
"Vinny Curry (DE/Marshall) has looked terrific in the early going," Pauline wrote. "He's been matched up against Ohio State tackle Mike Adams, who has been rising up draft boards, yet he's bettered the Big Ten lineman. Curry has looked quick, athletic and fluid. Adams reverted to holding Curry in an attempt slow him down."
Pauline was all over Brooks Reed as a round two 3-4 talent last season so he's earned some cred from that aspect.
Curry has been through some tough times recently. His mother died October 10 of cancer at age 50. (McGill/DailyMail.com)
He's also a character, once interrupting his coach's press conference wearing a blonde wig and feather boa in honor of his favorite wrestler. (McGill)
"(Curry) was quick, elusive, forceful and disruptive. He looked every part of a playmaker. Curry was the best of the tweeners in a Senior Bowl that is loaded with tweeners on both teams’ rosters." - Vic Ketchman
NFLDraftScout.com currently has Curry with a Round 2 grade, 58th overall, and the #6 DE in the draft. 3-4 teams looking for a pass rushing outside linebacker will be all over Curry who won't make it out of the second round. Curry may not make it out of the first round with a solid performance at the combine.
The Packers, who draft two spots after the Texans in rounds one and two, are one team that's looking for a pass rushing outside linebacker to play opposite Clay Matthews.
In other words, despite his current second round grade, Curry at #28 overall is not out of the question.
Vinny Curry, DE/OLB Marshall (projection and position rank from nfldraftscout.com)
- 6-3, 265
- DOB: June 30, 1988
- Projected draft round (2 with an 'up arrow')
- Position rank: ranked #6 out of 240 DE's
- 2011 Conference USA First Team (Coaches)
- 2011 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award finalist
- @MrGetFlee99 on Twitter
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