Aaron Curry as the consensus #1 (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

buck56's thread here reminded me that we often have a thread debating the draft values of the top linebackers. I didn't start one this year, as there seemed to be some consensus immediately after the draft. Most drafts I've seen in the past two weeks and the prevailing opinion among our IDP rankings have Curry the consensus top backer.

Here's a taste of my concerns from a post in another thread.

The consensus appears to be that Aaron Curry has the best long term potential. I'm happy to go against the grain a bit and argue in favor of the most talented players (see Jerod Mayo last season), but only if the situation isn't as bad as might be feared. In this case, with Leroy Hill back in the fold, Curry is likely to be slotted at SLB, will have plenty of competition for tackles at the point of attack and in pursuit and may have to fight for snaps in subpackages. There doesn't appear to be much likelihood of a positional shuffle given the current contract situations. It happens, but it's extremely uncommon for an every-down SLB to top 90 solos. When it happens, it's generally not repeated the following year. There's a small chance that Curry ends up on the weak side, but he's said he expects to align at SLB. To me, talent aside, that's a recipe for inconsistency rather than a Keith Bulluck like run of multiple seasons in the top ten.

Am I missing something with Curry?

 

[Zoomanji]

I'm with you on Curry but I'm no expert

He is a great talent but slotted at SLB with 2 other pretty good LBs doesn't add up to great seasons fantasy-wise IMO. Best bet is he ends up at WLB but he'll still have to fight Lofa for tackles.

I think he ends up with a Julian Peterson like career. Much better football player than fantasy football player.

 

[bcr8f]

That's an awful good LB corps. How many opportunities will he really have? Ryans and Willis were The Man as rookies. Curry could be the most talented but not get that many tackles.

I thought the same in New England last year and the most talented player came out on top, but will it happen again?

In Seattle they don't have weak and strong but will they change that this year?

Too many questions not enough answers yet.

 

[MAC_32]

I usually don't plan more than three years in advance when constructing my dyno rankings. Given Curry's short term outlook, I don't think ranking him behind Maualuga and Little Animal is at all wrong (assuming the Cincy brass removes their heads from their collective asses and put Rey in the middle where he belongs). Curry could be filthy in a few years if he ever ends up at WILL and the other two may never develop into anything more than 2 down players, but that'd be just guess work on anyone's part.

 

[Tecmo]

Could he be another Boss Bailey?

 

[stevegamer]

buck56's thread here reminded me that we often have a thread debating the draft values of the top linebackers. I didn't start one this year, as there seemed to be some consensus immediately after the draft. Most drafts I've seen in the past two weeks and the prevailing opinion among our IDP rankings have Curry the consensus top backer.

Here's a taste of my concerns from a post in another thread.

The consensus appears to be that Aaron Curry has the best long term potential. I'm happy to go against the grain a bit and argue in favor of the most talented players (see Jerod Mayo last season), but only if the situation isn't as bad as might be feared. In this case, with Leroy Hill back in the fold, Curry is likely to be slotted at SLB, will have plenty of competition for tackles at the point of attack and in pursuit and may have to fight for snaps in subpackages. There doesn't appear to be much likelihood of a positional shuffle given the current contract situations. It happens, but it's extremely uncommon for an every-down SLB to top 90 solos. When it happens, it's generally not repeated the following year. There's a small chance that Curry ends up on the weak side, but he's said he expects to align at SLB. To me, talent aside, that's a recipe for inconsistency rather than a Keith Bulluck like run of multiple seasons in the top ten.

Am I missing something with Curry?

I think you're missing a couple of things that were true - but admittedly the scheme has changed, so that may not be true any longer:1. Seattle has used a bunch of OLB_MLB_OLB in the past.

2. Seattle did also use alignments with alll 3 LB's on the field in traditional nickel situations.

I think people just see Curry as having less questions as a NFL player, particularly versus Maluaga - who comes with a few red flags. However, scheme is important, and with the Seahawks having a new scheme it's hard to pin down for certain.

 

[fridayfrenzy]

I think Curry is a close mould to Julian Peterson, and he gets put in there to perform the same duties as Julian Peterson did the past couple of years in Seattle.

In my league, Julian Peterson has ranked the following on Seattle...

2008: 30th LB

2007: 30th LB

2006 :23rd LB

 

[lyon812]

I agree that in lieu of actually seeing how the three play together, all we have to go on is that 1) Curry's talented, 2) Peterson never produced big numbers in the same spot, and 3) he's competing with other talented players for tackles. Because of that, I wouldn't take a chance on him before Rey or Laurinitis. Curry may be stuck at SAM for 3-4 years.

 

[stevegamer]

And the Rams just cut Piso Tinoasamoa (I probably butchered the name)

I think that makes Laurinatis the likely #1 LB.

 

[Donnybrook]

Zimmer had Maluaga playing the sam in rookie camp. He said that he likes Dahni in the middle with the two rookies on the outside.

 

[Weiner Dog]

IMO, Laurinaitis is the undisputed #1 rookie LB this year for FF purposes. He's obviously not as athletic as Curry, but there are absolutely no red flags with him. The Rams HC is on record saying Laurinaitis will start at MLB. With Pisa gone, Laurinaitis is guaranteed to be a 3-down LB. If you sprinkle in the FF-friendly position of MLB and Laurinaitis' pedigree (Top-35 pick), I believe the rankings are...

1. Laurinaitis

2. Curry

3. Rey-Rey

...everybody else

BTW, I see a lot of comparisons of Curry to Julian Peterson. From a athletic and size/speed standpoint, I can see the comparison. However, Curry has very little history of rushing the passer. I'm sure the Hawks will have Curry rush the passer from time to time, but Curry's lack of past pass-rushing may even limit his "Julian Peterson"-like upside for the time being.

 

[T Bell]

LB's are as much about scheme and situation as they are about individual talent, and maybe more in given years. I don't think your approach is wrong at all.

 

[DonFue]

IMO, Laurinaitis is the undisputed #1 rookie LB this year for FF purposes. He's obviously not as athletic as Curry, but there are absolutely no red flags with him. The Rams HC is on record saying Laurinaitis will start at MLB. With Pisa gone, Laurinaitis is guaranteed to be a 3-down LB. If you sprinkle in the FF-friendly position of MLB and Laurinaitis' pedigree (Top-35 pick), I believe the rankings are...1. Laurinaitis 2. Curry3. Rey-Rey...everybody elseBTW, I see a lot of comparisons of Curry to Julian Peterson. From a athletic and size/speed standpoint, I can see the comparison. However, Curry has very little history of rushing the passer. I'm sure the Hawks will have Curry rush the passer from time to time, but Curry's lack of past pass-rushing may even limit his "Julian Peterson"-like upside for the time being.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

my initial rankings have changed. with Hill back in Seattle and Tinoisamoa released in St. Louis, I gave Curry a bump down and Laurinaitis a bump up. I think these 3 are clearly the top tier though so it's probably a matter of preference (OLB vs MLB, talent vs situation, etc.) and team need (immediate production vs long-term outlook) on how someone ranks or drafts them.

 

[onionsack]

Like others, love Curry's talent, and I fully expect him to be the best NFL linebacker of this draft. But as far as being a fantasy force, he's got an uphill climb playing at SAM. It's not as unlikely as it might first appear on paper, however. I've seen a lot of comparisons to Julian Peterson, but for me, the better comparison is another Seattle LB drafted in the first round who thrived for a few years playing at the SAM spot: Anthony Simmons. Virtually the exact same impressive combination of size, speed and instincts. Injuries derailed Simmons career, but for a while he was a bigtime fantasy force as well, cranking out several 100+ solo tackle seasons, and getting the odd sack and INT here and there as well. Still, for fantasy purposes, I really can't see how anyone could rate Curry ahead of Laurinaitis, a pretty talented run-stuffer who is walking right into the starting MIKE slot of a team that should get run on all day.