Sackmaster Curry could be appealing to Chargers

The NFL Scouting Combine is about two weeks away, and with the Super Bowl now in the rearview mirror (thank goodness for that), every pro football fan’s focus is on April’s draft. As mentioned in my most recent article for this blog, the San Diego Chargers are in desperate need of a pass-rusher to complement veteran outside linebacker Shaun Phillips. One of the prospects who could carry out that role is Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry.

At 6-4, 263 pounds Curry posted 11 sacks and 22 tackles for losses in 2011. That served as a nice follow-up to his 2010 season, in which he recorded 12 sacks and 18 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. During Senior Bowl week last month, Sports Illustrated draft analyst Tony Pauline described Curry as “impossible to stop at times” and that scouts left “highly impressed with his athleticism, quickness and general feel as a pass-rusher.”

Curry was a redshirt senior last year, and he’ll be 24 in June, so he’s one of the older prospects in this draft. Some experts believe he needs to improve his overall technique when defending against the run, but there’s no denying he possesses some serious talent as a pass-rusher, as he’s shown the versatility to outmuscle, outsmart, and outwork opposing offensive linemen on his way to the quarterback. And, most importantly, it is believed he can make a smooth transition from a 4-3 defensive end in college to a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. As of right now he’s projected to be picked in the second round. The Chargers currently own the 49^th overall selection in that round.

Curry’s best effort was perhaps against West Virginia back in September 2010. It was a game in which he collected two sacks, two forced fumbles, and seven tackles—three of them occurring in the Mountaineers’ backfield. Hopefully he’s one of the prospects Chargers general manager A.J. Smith will study more over the next two months.

Vinny Curry highlights


Classic Videos

For this edition of the blog I’d like to take you back to the 1963 AFL Championship game, which the Chargers captured by trampling the Boston Patriots, 51-10.

With 329 rushing and receiving yards and two touchdowns, running back Keith Lincoln was a madman in leading San Diego to the triumph. On the ground he accumulated 206 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries; through the air he caught seven passes for 123 yards and another score. He was the game’s MVP.

Quarterback Tobin Rote started the game for the Chargers and didn’t disappoint. He completed 10 of 15 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score. Backup John Hadl also saw some action, completing seven of 11 passes for 132 yards and a score. Hadl also rushed for another touchdown.

As embarrassing as the final tally was for Boston, the Patriots were also outgained in total yardage by a humiliating margin of 610-261. The only championship in Chargers history, this dominant victory by San Diego was traumatizing to the Patriots' players who had the misfortune of suffering through the brutalization on that sunny day in California.

“I’ve tried to blank that out from my memory, put it under a heavy-duty blanket and not be reminded of it,” said Larry Eisenhauer, a defensive end on that 1963 Patriots team. “Those are some painful memories, to be sure.”

1963 AFL Championship