Aaron Curry

As most of America, I doubt that anyone here really paid too much attention to Wake Forest Football over the course of the last few years. Fortunately, I recently graduated from Wake Forest and have seen quite a bit of Aaron Curry. His name has come up sporadically over the last seveal weeks in connection with the Rams so I figured that I would give you my impressions of Curry after watching him nearly every week for the last three years.

Above anything else, Curry is a play maker. The dude's football instincts are amazing. In the bowl game this year against Navy, Curry was all over the field. For those of you who are not aware, Navy runs a triple option wing back offense which is extremely hard to read. But, sure enough, it seemed like Curry was around the ball every play. He didn't make a ton of huge plays but his presense was felt. He was forcing the issue all game long by getting into the backfield and forcing the ball out of the QBs hands.

Curry is also very explosive. He explodes at the point of attack and hits like a Mac Truck. Aaron also runs very well for someone his size. During his junior year, he returned 4 TOs for touchdowns, one of which was an 80-90 yard return (if memory serves me rigth).

Curry is going to be one of the better linebackers in the NFL in a few years. He isn't, however, a middle linebacker. I know with his size (close to 250) makes some people might think that he has the bulk that the Rams are looking for in a MLB. Drafting Curry and playing him inside would be a huge mistake and a grave misuse of his predigious talent. Curry is at his best when he is flying around the field. His quickness and explosiveness are his best strengths. He would not do well in the middle taking on blockers at the point of attack.

That being said, I want to add a little bit more about another Wake Forest defender. Alphonso Smith is the real deal. I have never seen a player in college or in the NFL that has better pure ball skills as a CB. Smith was a three year starter at Wake and tired Dre Bly's mark for career INTs in the ACC. The kid can flat out play. The knock on Smith is that he has mind-farts from time to time and will give up the big play. He also does not have top in height for a CB... but let me tell you something... he can fly!

I know I am a little biased cuz I went to school with these two guys and saw them play in the Orange Bowl when I was there... but I really think that both Curry and Smith have a great shot to be Pro-Bowl players in the NFL. Curry is a top 5 pick and is probably not the type of player the Rams need. Smith is a border line 1st round pick... and is someone who might be on the board when the Rams draft in the second round. If he is there when the Rams are picking... I sure as hell hope they take him!