Wake Forest Pro Day

All 32 NFL teams were represented at the Wake Forest Pro Day to watch potential top 3 selection Aaron Curry and potential late first round cornerback Alphonso "Prime" Smith. Neither prospect decided to run, lift or test in any way as they were satisfied with their Scouting Combine numbers, and they should be as both players looked really good, fluid and explosive.

As for Aaron Curry, Gil Brandt reported the following; "It took Curry awhile to get going on some bag drills, but once he got warmed up, it was easy to see the athleticism that, combined with his football skills, make him a projected high pick. Some of the folks I spoke to love Curry because they say he never has a down game — that he plays at a high level week in and week out and that he is the safest bet in the draft."

However, if there is one spot that Curry does not excel in it would be his pass rush skills as he does not have the abilities of say a Brian Cushing, Clint Sintim or Clay Matthews who can play strongside linebacker and stack against the run while rushing the passer with intensity, Curry lacks that ability which makes some teams think that he would be a better fit an MLB in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. He plays sideline to sideline, he's intelligent, he diagnoses plays well, he stacks against the run well, he sheds blockers and he's a reliable tackler, everything a team looks for from their guy in the middle.

As for 'Phonso, Gil Brandt had the following to say regarding his Pro Day work out; "As for Smith, he was very solid in defensive back drills. The projected late-first, early second-rounder performed as expected but his height — he measured just under 5-foot-9 — has teams concerned. He did not do any punt/kick return drills, but he said he would have if asked. He was not asked. Smith said if being a returner helps his draft stock, he’s open to it."

Smith is an amazing man to man cover corner with all the abilities to be a great player in someone's secondary, it is unfortunate that his height is giving so many scouts fits as it is all there on the tape, he covers some of the bigger receivers in the NCAA without fail and I feel that he is a football player through and through and his height shouldn't dictate where he is drafted, unfortunately for Prime, scouts and GMs don't feel the same way I do.

Either way, both Wake Forest prospects looked good and it should be interesting to see where they get drafted come April.

UPDATE: Here are the results for the remaining Wake Forest players after the previous entry I made highlighting LB Aaron Curry and CB Alphonso Smith courtesy of NFL.com:

DB Chip Vaughn (6-1 5/8, 220) stood on all his numbers from the combine.

LB Stanley Arnoux (6-0 1/8, 232) posted a 31-inch vertical jump, a 4.37 short shuttle, 7.02 three-cone drill and 20 bench press reps. He kept his 40-yard dash and broad jump numbers from the combine.

K Sam Swank (6-0 5/8, 198) did positional workouts.

-Matty

Prospect Update: Aaron Curry pt. 3

Per Detroit FreeP.com:

"When Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry heard the news Saturday about the Lions' trade for Seattle linebacker Julian Peterson, he perked up and began discussing the prospect of playing next to the five-time Pro Bowler.

Curry, who played on the strong side in college, is scheduled to arrive in Detroit today for a visit and a workout with the Lions as the team's potential No. 1 pick in next month's NFL draft. Peterson also plays on the strong side, but Curry said he would relish the chance to play in the middle, or the so-called Mike position."

This trade still does not rule out Aaron Curry as the number one pick to the Lions as their linebackers were arguably worst among the lead and the area that needed the biggest overhaul and with Julian Peterson on the strong side, Ernie Sims on the weak side and Aaron Curry patrolling the middle, the Lions defensive front seven might be perked up just by their appearance and high intensity play. Julian Peterson is a great blitzer, much better then Curry and knows how to bring down the quarterback so it definitely rules out Brian Orakpo as #1 overall.

However, the trade of Redding does bring Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji into the discussion for the number one selection among Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford, Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith, Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe and the aforementioned Curry. Should be interesting to see and we'll probably have a better guage of what the Lions plan to do with the number one selection after Curry's work out.

-Matty

Prospect Update: Aaron Curry pt. 2

Per SeattlePI.com:

"Aaron Curry is a marked man, and the Butkus Award-winning linebacker from Wake Forest was more than happy to give a tour of his tattoos at the NFL scouting combine last month.

There's the barcode on his left shoulder for his favorite candy -- Jujubes. There are the names of his brothers -- Christopher and Brandon -- on each wrist. There's the one on his right shoulder that says "Property of Chris Curry," with an open spot that was reserved for a picture of his mother.

"She told me she'd beat me if I did," Curry said.

When the laughter subsided, he added, "I have tattoos all over that represent myself and my family because they mean the world to me."

But Curry also is marked in a less literal sense.

He is not only projected to be a top-five pick in the April draft, Curry is rated by most to be the safest selection this year.

"I believe a 'safe pick' means I can come in instantly and make an impact on anybody's defense," he said. "And my versatility as a linebacker to be able to play in a 3-4 -- inside or outside, or a 4-3 -- inside or outside.

"You just can't go wrong."

Even if that defense belongs to the Seahawks, who hold the No. 4 pick but already have invested so much in their trio of starting linebackers?

"That's a good question," coach Jim Mora said, smiling. "We're pretty set there. But he's a pretty special player. We'll see what happens."

What many are expecting to happen is that Curry will not get past the Kansas City Chiefs, who have the No. 3 selection. Some even believe it would be prudent for the Detroit Lions to draft Curry with the first pick.

But the Seahawks need to be ready for that just-in-case scenario and will be, as club president Tim Ruskell has said. They have scheduled a private workout with Curry this month."

Prospect Update: Aaron Curry

Per ProFootballTalk.com:

Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, whose Scouting Combine performance last month sparked talk that he could be the first overall pick in the draft, will visit with the Lions on Sunday, according to the Detroit Free Press.

“There’s a lot of pressure of being a No. 1 pick, and he’s definitely got the character and the ability to be able to handle that pressure,” agent Andy Ross told Carlos Monarrez of the Free Press.

The Lions have also hosted Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith, both of whom could be the first overall pick.

And if the Lions play this the right way (then again, based on their history . . . .), they’ll play those three guys — and maybe a few others — against each other in the hopes of getting the one they really want under contract before exercising the first overall pick.