Babb: Aaron Curry would be perfect fit for the Chiefs, but …
 

Aaron Curry would be perfect fit for the Chiefs, but …
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

The discussion has resumed, and they’re talking about Aaron Curry again. More praise. Always with the praise.

Whatever the former Wake Forest linebacker has done, in a previous life or in preparing for the NFL draft, it appears that he has done a few things right.

“The safest pick in the draft,” ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay says.

“An exceptional talent,” CBS analyst Randy Cross says.

“A heck of a football player,” says former Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, another ESPN analyst.

They can’t find one cross word to say about Curry, and that’s an odd thing considering that teams selecting in the top five in this weekend’s draft seem to like Curry but are in constant search for alternatives. Detroit has toyed with making him the No. 1 overall selection, but quarterback Matt Stafford is there and the Lions haven’t had a franchise quarterback in decades. And the Chiefs were one of the NFL’s most linebacker-starved teams in 2008, but they’re considering a move to the 3-4 defense, and the word is that Curry doesn’t fit that profile. That rushing the passer isn’t his strength. Besides, Kansas City’s top need might be offensive line.

Curry will be drafted somewhere in the top 10 and most likely in the top five. But the Chiefs, who are picking at No. 3 and have for months been predicted to select Curry, might have a need too pressing to select an outside linebacker, no matter how perfect he appears to be.

“It’s hard to find any glaring weaknesses,” McShay says.

Not that Curry hasn’t been put through his share of tests, and darn if he hasn’t passed them all. He weighed 254 pounds at the NFL combine, acing the size test. Then he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, leaving no doubt in the speed exam.

Then it must be character, right? That’s the killer. In the age of failed drug tests by draft prospects, questionable deals with agents and a game consumed with question marks …

“Aaron just likes to do his part,” his mother, Chris Curry, writes in a text message.

She’s referring to Aaron’s decision last week to invite a child with leukemia to follow him to New York this weekend, the boy’s expenses paid, and sit with Curry while the 23-year-old’s name is called to hold up a jersey and punch his ticket to collect upward of $35 million from an NFL team. Sure enough, Curry passed the character test.

“A leader,” McShay beams.

The Chiefs’ issue wouldn’t be with Curry but rather that Kansas City’s new direction might not have a place for him. If the Chiefs indeed start experimenting with the 3-4 defense, Curry’s specialties are more suited to the 4-3. The Chiefs also added two veteran linebackers, Mike Vrabel and Zach Thomas, in offseason acquisitions.

The Chiefs also acquired quarterback Matt Cassel, a $14 million man this season, and a passer without a suitable wall of linemen in front of him. Like Detroit, the Chiefs haven’t had a franchise quarterback in decades, and now that they might have him, they want to protect him. Kansas City might decide by Saturday that drafting an offensive tackle, assuming they can’t trade the No. 3 overall pick, is more pressing than grabbing an outside linebacker.

Cross, the CBS analyst, thinks the Chiefs would make a mistake to pass on Curry — if the Lions pass on him first. St. Louis, which possesses the No. 2 overall pick, is expected to select an offensive tackle, either Virginia’s Eugene Monroe or Baylor’s Jason Smith, to strengthen the Rams’ line after they released Orlando Pace.

Curry had only 2 1/2 sacks in his senior season at Wake Forest, and that’s hardly a number that might send goose bumps through the Chiefs’ front office. Cross admits that Curry might not emerge into the pass-rushing force, but the analyst says Curry’s other talents are elite — and would improve Kansas City’s defense, a particular weakness last year, immediately. Look at Lance Briggs, Cross says, the Chicago linebacker who has been named to four Pro Bowls despite never finishing a season with more than two sacks. Cross says Curry could be the next Briggs, and who would complain about that?

“And you know what?” Cross says, another inevitable compliment approaching. “That kind of might be limiting Aaron Curry. If you end up with Aaron Curry, three years later people will be ecstatic.”

McShay compares Curry to San Francisco’s Patrick Willis and Tennessee’s Keith Bulluck. It is hardly bad company for the youngster, even if it’s not enough to make him any team’s sure thing.

The Chiefs, of course, haven’t issued any whispers to suggest which way they might be leaning. But then again, lean in close when Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli discusses what he’s looking for in a draft prospect.

“Better be smart,” Pioli says, “and they had better be dependable.”

If Pioli is dropping hints, then his words sound familiar. Now it’s just a question of whether a player that appears to have no flaws can find a place in a crowded and needy top five.

Can someone tell Babb that he isn't allowed to do anything but report on the Chiefs. No commentary, and he can't think of his own story ideas.

:whackit:

I think I'm dumber for reading that

Well that was a waste of time

LOL, Pioli is really driving the KC media crazy.

I love it.

babbs, you forgot to mention his divine power to bring salvation to all those who seek it. you also left out how talented he must be to be a top 5 draft pick without showing anyone his ability to rush the passer. we all know he can, come on, its jesus ****ing christ, for curry's sake. there's nothing he can't do. but to elevate to this level, all the while holding back, and not showing anyone his mad crazy pass rush skils.

I am sorta confused why we don't just stick with the 4-3.
I mean, what we need for that is a premier pass rushing DE and an OLB. What we need for the 3-4 is a premier pass rushing OLB, a NT, to decide whether or not Hali can be a stand up OLB, to decide whether or not Dorsey can fit at 5 tech, another ILB... Anyone care to explain?

The 4-3 certainly didn't work for us last year.

The NFL is a copycat league. Superbowls have been dominated by 3-4 defenses as of late, so obviously that's the only way to go. Give it 7-10 years and everyone will be running it. Then one team will switch to 4-3 and it will start all over again in reverse.

McShay, Randy Cross and Herm. Babb picked 3 of the biggest idiots to quote.

In the NFL, you are always better being a step ahead of the curve than following the leader.

In all honesty, now is a perfect time to run a Tampa 2 system, or even a base 4-3, because so many people are moving to a 3-4 that the available talent for the system, which was never plentiful, is further diluted.

There are Will backers in this draft like Jonathan Casillas that you could get in round 4 that are an absolutely perfect fit for a T2 scheme, and almost all of the DT prospects, Raji, Hood, Jerry, etc, fit better in a 4-3 than a 3-4. It's a great year for zone corners, and most of the DEs are a bit light but fast off the edge and reasonably long (Orakpo, Maybin, English).

But how awful is it to be behind the curve?
I think we all saw that last season.
4-3 is dead/dying

It's basic moneyball.

You use the system that will give you the best value for your team and your draft picks.

Right now, 4-3 players are undervalued and 3-4 players are overvalued. Half of the teams in the top 10 of D last year played a 4-3. It has nothing to do with the scheme and everything to do with the players.

The reason the T2 is out of favor has nothing to do with the frailties of the scheme and everything to do with the fact that so many teams ran it that they diluted the talent pool to the point where you couldn't field a defense filled with good football players.

Look at the A's.

At one point, .OBP was undervalued. So you focus on that. Now, steals and D are undervalued and OBP is overvalued, so you focus on that area, especially when you have finite resources (as every team in a league with a hard cap does).

I don't disagree that cover 2 talent will be more readily available
aka macho harris in the 3rd
and ziggy hood in the mid second
oh also any usc linebacker

The #3 pick is going to be meatloaf. Comfort food from lean times at best, no wow factor.