John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
If you were to ask Philadelphia Eagles fans what play in football they enjoy most, many would say the quarterback sack. With Philly legends like Reggie White and Hugh Douglas only a memory, the organization has been looking for a true quarterback killer for many years. They might have found one in Vinny Curry.
Three games into the Philadelphia Eagles 2013 season, it’s abundantly clear that the Birds’ defense is at best a work in progress. Other than the first half of the team’s opener against the Washington Redskins, defensive coordinator Bill Davis’ unit has struggled mightily against the pass. With a suspect secondary, Davis has tried seemingly every blitz package imaginable without much success.
Obviously, needing to get more pressure from the defensive line, Davis and head coach Chip Kelly finally activated Curry for last night’s game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. The 2012 second-round draft pick paid immediate dividends, recording his first career NFL sack.
Curry was only on the field for 12 snaps, but recorded the sack, one pressure and was held on a play. All things considered, a fairly productive 2013 debut. The 6-foot-3, 280-pound former Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year at Marshall University has had a difficult time finding his way into the Eagles’ lineup.
After being activated for only six games as a rookie last year, Curry had a very impressive training camp and excelled in the team’s exhibition games. Hounded by the Philadelphia media after two lackluster weeks getting after the quarterback, Kelly swore that Curry was not in the coach’s doghouse and the staff was looking for the right situations to get Curry involved.
The Eagles cyber community was abuzz with excitement when the news came down that Curry would finally be dressing last night, despite what turned out to be a limited amount of snaps. The Neptune, N.J. native has done nothing but play with great energy since arriving last year, and is known for his “high motor” and relentless pursuit of the quarterback.
Rooting for the Eagles his entire life, Curry’s dream was to get a sack in front of the Philadelphia crowd. With that dream now realized, Eagles fans hope he is utilized more heavily going forward so that one of their own can grow into an NFL sack master. Wearing jersey No. 75 in remembrance of the 75 lives lost in the 1970 Marshall plane crash, Curry is the type of character guy who embodies the spirit of the city.
Rubin Jeffreys is a Philadelphia Eagles writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Rubin Jeffreys, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
