Gretz-True Fans Speak:It’s Aaron Curry or Trade Down
 

Readers Speak: It’s Aaron Curry or Trade Down
February 23, 2009 - Bob Gretz |

Thanks to all of you who responded over the weekend to our first fan poll on what the Chiefs should do with the third pick of the first round in the NFL Draft two months from now.

As we noted, it’s way too early with free agency not even begun yet, but we wanted to set the bar and see what folks were thinking before we go through 60 days of paralysis of analysis on the draft.

Right now, the feelings of a majority of folks is apparent: if the Chiefs keep the choice, they should select Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry (right). But if they can, just as many of you believe the Chiefs should trade down in the first round, picking up extra picks.

After sifting through nearly 100 responses, here are the totals:

Linebacker Aaron Curry: 27
Trade Down: 26
Quarterback Matt Stafford: 6.5
Offensive Tackle Eugene Monroe: 4
Wide receiver Michael Crabtree: 3.5
Quarterback Mark Sanchez: 3.5
Nose tackle B.J. Raji: 2.5
Any offensive lineman: 2
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin: 1
Defensive end Brian Orapko: 1
Nose tackle: 1
We will revisit this subject a month from now. Until then, keep talking the draft, personnel, free agency and the Chiefs.

LMAO

proof that kc fans are reeruned...

JFC.

I'm honestly surprised that "Trade Down" wasn't higher.

I think its cute... Just like the 90's.

Now if we can get mullets back?

WOW almost 100 people voted. Chief fans are indeed reeruned. :rolleyes:

Blob is just trying to convince the Chiefs that he is relevent. Almost a 100 responces? How many were his own? At least four apparently since we have several ".5" responces.

Zubaz pants, IROC-Z, and old free agent QBs. Obviously, this fanbase is a little slow on the uptake.

How is it just like the 90's?

He's the "safe" pick a very good player, but Curry won't be a worldbeater. There's the added fact that KC fans are praying that this cat will be a Derrick Thomas clone which he's not.

I've never seen that once on chiefs planet. Well not till now.


PhilFree:arrow:

How do you know? The only people downplaying Curry at this point are the usual suspects on this board. Everyone else out there is raving about him.

And before you label me the latest nickname of the day, I still hope we draft Stafford or Sanchez. But that doesn't mean I can't recognize that Curry is a special player.

Where the **** do the .5's come from did someone send half of a response?

Does this reflect on Chiefs fans
or people who read Bob Gretz

Curry has all the tools to be a stud linebacker in the NFL.

Fast 40, ridiculous athleticism. Great coverage linebacker.

I wouldn't shed a tear.

If both QB's are gone, I wouldn't either.

I know it's poor value and all that but there just isn't anyone else worth taking that high either, so it seems you just take the best at that point.

I'll be happy with Stafford, Sanchez or Curry.

The general fan thinks that's the case for example I was talking football with some of my friends and I brought up Aaron Curry. The very next thing that they asked was "Is he like Derrick Thomas?"

Great coverage backer, but won't change games like LT or Derrick did.It's not a part of his skill set.

Every report on him says he can play inside or outside in a 4-3 or 3-4.

There's nothing about him that you can point to right now to say definitively that he can't change games by rushing the passer, but he just hasn't had the opportunity to do so because his college scheme rarely allowed him to blitz.

With his physical makeup and instincts, there's no reason to think he is incapable of doing so.

He's never been asked to do it, but I will bet he can get after the QB if he is asked to do it. He has almost the exact same size and speed as Demarcus Ware.

he'll play inside for the 3-4 and outside for the 4-3

I don't think there's anything wrong with taking a Derrick Brooks with the 3rd pick overall. Not every LB has to be a pass rushing demon to warrant a high selection.

ROFL

Wonder if we can trade LJ for multiple high draft picks, like JJ did with Herschel Walker?

If we draft Curry at #3.....mother****er better be able to play MLB.

Look back at the past 20 drafts and tell me how many non pass rushing LB'ers were taken in the top 3.

In the last 11.......there was 1.

LaVarr Arrington

When's the last time we heard about a "can't miss" "sure-fire" stud pro bowl LB projected in the Top 5 leading up to the draft?

Oh yeah, Derrick Johnson.

A.J. Hawk

Of course, how could i forget all the ships he delivered for the Redskins.

This draft isn't loaded with talent at the top.

If the Chiefs feel that Sanchez isn't all that, or if both go 1-2, then they are going to have a huge decision to make.

I think falling into the trap of saying, "this position isn't worth the 3rd pick" is a lot like going against taking the best player available motto.

I want a stud player at 3. If it's a linebacker, then so be it.

Alot of folks around here won't agree with that but I do. I'd love a franchise QB but if it don't work out a player like Curry would still be good.


PhilFree:arrow:

:spock:

I guess this is exhibit A of what MarkM was talking about.

Exactly!


PhilFree:arrow:

That's directly from Mike Mayock

What's funny about this is that many people who make this argument against Curry also say that if Sanchez or Stafford isn't the pick, they would want it to be Malcolm Jenkins.

Look back at the draft and tell me how many CB's were taken in the top 3.

Do you have a link, because that's not what he's been saying on NFLN.

Understand what you are saying.

But thats not how teams view it. Its all about value because of $$$$$

A LB who doesnt rush the QB, doesnt hold as high a value as a LT, QB, stud DE, etc....

My guess is, the Chiefs draft an OT if both QB's are gone.

Same reason people down play drafting a QB.. No one knows Eazy...

Link? Hamas said earlier today that Mayock said on air that he could play anywhere - inside or outside in a 4-3 or 3-4. Scott Wright says the exact same thing.

That is exactly what Mayock said during the whole combine

Yes, he has. He's been saying that Curry could play all of the LB positions in the 4-3, but will be centralized as ILB in the 3-4.

Yeah that's what I thought. I'm a member of other football boards and they have said the same.

But then that OT becomes a RT and that falls into the same theory that you don't pay a linebacker that much at 3.

No, he absolutely has not said that. He said numerous times that he could play any position in any scheme.

They would probably shift Albert around. Albert was what, 15th? He wouldnt be making as much as the 3rd pick in the draft obviously.

I'm not exactly sure what that link is supposed to show. The only thing I could find from Mayock in there was from February 10:

NFL Network's Mike Mayock calls Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry the "safest pick in the draft."
Mayock expects Chiefs GM Scott Pioli to give Curry a long look. "When sitting at No. 3, you can't make a mistake - he has to be a good football player," Mayock observed. "And Curry is that kind of guy." Curry is similar to Julian Peterson in that he could probably excel in either a 3-4 or a 4-3 defense.

This scenario is far more dumb than drafting a LB 3rd overall.

Moving Brendan Albert when he was a stud is the worst scenario I can think of.

I think you posted the wrong link, because this doesn't do anything to prove your point.

If you take Curry with the 3rd pick he literally has to be in your mind one of if not the greatest OLB prospect that ever lived...and when I say that I mean in terms of playing traditional LB because the guy frankly admits he doesn't have pass rushing moves but "I can learn them"

If it was that easy everyone would be a good pass rusher.

Does anyone think that Curry can play MLB on our defense?

Again, if Curry can play like Derrick Brooks, I have no problem taking him at 3. Linebackers can do other things besides rush the passer.

And say he is that, what does that get you?

Having the best cover backer in the game is like having the nicest watch, Keith Bulluck is an outstanding player he can't make enough plays to win a game 9 out of 10 days.

I think Curry is more than a Derrick Brooks and more than just a "Cover Backer". That's a term that's being used to belittle Curry's talents. He sheds blocks like it's nobody's business.

Philfree:arrow:

Derrick Brooks is going to the HOF so do you understand how absurd what you just said sounds?

so would brooks be worth the 3rd?

You know that's a good question...he was drafted much lower than that in reality...

You could really argue that for how good he was, he wasn't good enough to win them anything other than 1 time where the league was down and Gruden finally got their offense to produce.

IMO if you could draft a sure fire HOFer at almost ANY position they would be worth a 3rd overall. why not? how many hofers come out in any given year

an OLB in a cover 2, no matter how good isn't worth a 3...but any hall of fame player, in retrospect, seems worth it....

i mean, you'd never draft a TE with #3, but if you knew it was Tony, the best TE ever, you'd be reasonable in saying yeah...

but not having hindsight, it is a bit hard to swallow the idea that all we'll get for a 2 win season is a OLB, when we still need a QB....

If it's say at guard it's not...

A top level player at a position like QB even if he's not a Hofer is more valuable than a HOF guard is.

He was a stud, an absolute stud on a defense that typically shut down the NFL for 3-4 years.

It wasn't his fault he was on a team with Trent Dilfer.

You also have to look at the draft class he was taken in. This draft class does not have a lot of beef at the top.

agreed

Was intended for me? A player could have as much talent as any player ever and not become a hall of famer. Curry could be more talented then Brooks but not have as good as career. And when I said more I was talking about skill set. So I see nothing absurd about my post.


PhilFree:arrow:

He has shorter arms than any other defensive line prospect, save for Will Davis. They are above average compared to the LBs.

He has no pass rushing moves. He's admitted it.

I'm sorry, the guy is Derrick Brooks. He'll be a great SAM.

With that being said, if you gave me the choice between the best SAM of all time, and two QBs who show plenty of promise to become franchise signal callers, I'm taking the QB, especially when you consider the awful class of QBs after these two AND next year, and how good next year's defensive class is.

An absolute stud on a defensive with one of the greatest DTs of all time, John Lynch, Ronde Barber, Booger McFarland, and Simeon Rice.

Derrick Brooks played his entire career at WILL, and I doubt anyone would waste Curry at SAM. SAM is generally considered the least valuable of LB positions.

That's the one he's been playing for 4 years...

That doesn't really mean much. I don't think a team is going to spend a 10 pick on a linebacker and have him play the strongside.

In a different way. 3 ints returned for TD's and 16 Tackles Behind the line. He also hits like a truck something we are sorely missing. Still #3 behind QB's for me, but This guy is the #1 or #2 football player in the country, AND he looked great at the combine. How often do we see one or the other?

Actually he's not the 1 or 2 football player in the country just alot of the guys ahead of him either didn't or couldn't declare.

So he was more valuable than Dan Marino? I mean, if we're going to make ridiculous leaps in logic, let's do it right.

I think Curry is the perfect MLBer in the Cover Two-damn, the irony.

****!

I don't really think pointing out how traditional LB's are one of the least valuable things to have is a leap in logic.

This is why Gretz should be gone with the Carl Peterson era, he's completely out of tune with what Chiefs fans want. Ever since Brodie Croyle went down in the first game, if not before that, our thoughts have been on QB or Oline, then when Pioli came on board we all started to realize that Trading became a legitimate and probable option. I just don't like Gretz.

How is Blob Gretz even relevant anymore?

Aaron Curry would be a much better pick at 3 than Malcolm Jenkins, who has been pimped on here

I pretty much agree with this. I'd like a QB, but if for some reason we can't/don't go that route, Curry is the best option. He may be a reach at 3, but this draft class sucks and pretty much anyone else would be a worse reach.

It will be real interesting to see who are pick is going to be. I still think it's Raji in the first.