Vinny Curry Excelling for Eagles in Limited Role

Sometimes, all people need is an opportunity—even a small one. Case in point, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry.

Selected in the second round of the 2012 draft, the Eagles wouldn’t even activate Curry for much of his first NFL season, a slight that would continue into the next. Since he was forced to sit out the first two games last year, though, the Marshall product has become a fixture in the rotation along the defensive line.

Fast forward to 2014, and Curry is second on the squad in sacks with nine and tied for first with four forced fumbles. Those figures also tie him for 18th and second in the league, respectively.

There’s no two ways about it, Curry has become an absolute beast. Volume statistics don’t even begin to tell the whole story.

YR	GMS	TKL	SK	FF
2014	14	18	9.0	4
2013	14	22	4.0	0
2012	6	9	0.0	0

Long gone are the days when he doesn’t suit up for games. Yet despite his recent dominance, Curry has lined up for just 33.1 percent of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps this season, according to Football Outsiders. Imagine what the 26-year-old could do if his playing time was merely doubled.

Based on Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) pass-rush productivity stat—a formula that combines sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rush attempt—Curry ranks fifth among qualifying defensive ends in 3-4 defenses.

What took so long to get him on the field?

When Curry arrived, the Eagles were still a 4-3 defense, and he found himself buried on the depth chart by Pro Bowl defensive ends in Trent Cole and Jason Babin, not to mention 2010 first-round pick Brandon Graham and a host of other situational pass-rushers.

Curry would spend the first 10 games of his NFL career on the inactive list. Babin was released with six weeks remaining in 2012, but the rookie was still way down the pecking order. He failed to record a single sack.

Michael Perez/Associated Press

When Chip Kelly was named head coach the following offseason, the switch to a 3-4 alignment came with a system Curry never played. There was a feeling he should make the transition to outside linebacker along with Cole and Graham, but the Eagles had a different idea, keeping Curry at end.

It may be the same position in name, but the role of a defensive end in a 3-4 is nothing like it is in the 4-3. There was a learning curve for Curry, and the coaching staff clearly didn’t trust him in that spot right away, as he was again inactive for the first two games of the season.

Curry wound up playing 14 games in 2013, but only 26.3 percent of the snaps, according to Football Outsiders. Despite the new system and limited chances, he racked up four sacks and finished second only to J.J. Watt in PFF’s pass-rush productivity stat.

Now up to 279 pounds, Curry is still a tad undersized for the role, but makes up for it with an explosive first step. He’s also more comfortable in his second season in Philadelphia’s two-gap scheme.

GM	SK	FF
Wk 10 vs. CAR	1.0	1
Wk 11 @ GB	1.0	1
Wk 12 vs. TEN	0.0	0
Wk 13 @ DAL	1.0	0
Wk 14 vs. SEA	1.0	0
Wk 15 vs. DAL	1.0	1

The results are plain for all to see. Curry has recorded at least one sack in eight of the Eagles’ last 11 games. He is one of only three players in the NFL with at least nine sacks and four forced fumbles, according to B/R’s Cody Swartz. And by Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com’s count, Curry has had as many as four sacks erased by penalties.

The question is where does Curry go from here? Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis explained to Mosher over the summer why, in part, Curry isn’t on the field more, citing his size—he could wear down as an everyday player going up against constant double teams.

“The two-gap part of it, he's a little undersized, but getting better and better and better at two-gapping. So when you talk about Vinny and you put him in there in a 4-i (lined up opposite the guard’s inside shoulder) and ask him to take on 500 pounds of men and double team, that's not his world."

There’s also the looming issue of Curry’s rookie contract expiring, which while still a year away is often something teams address a year early. But what is the going rate for a top-20 pass-rusher who lines up for roughly one-third of the defensive snaps? And what would another club—particularly one with a 4-3 defense—offer Curry on the free-agent market?

The Eagles best start searching for the answers now, because it would be a shame to let him get away in 2016. Curry has quietly become one of the most intimidating pass-rushers in the NFL despite a limited number of chances. Now imagine what he could do with even more opportunities.