Every acquisition matters. Whether it's in the draft, free agency or even in coaching. The acquisition in the case of defensive end Vinny Curry is a multi-layer one; a domino effect of sorts. Curry was introduced to the media on Monday and revealed that a big reason he ultimately chose to become a Buc was thanks to 'Coach Buck', who was recently hired by the team himself.
"When I talked to him on the phone, it seemed like he had a manual out on me," Curry said of Defensive Line Coach Brentson Buckner. "It was like, 'Okay, this guy understands Vinny Curry.'
Curry comes from a hard-nosed Eagles' defensive line, where he has played his entire career after being drafted by Philadelphia in 2012. While he may not know anything but Philadelphia's system, it seemed Coach Buckner did a good job of convincing Curry that the two had similar ideologies.
View photos of the newest Buccaneer, DE Vinny Curry. Pictures from AP Images.
"Just the way he presented the way he wants guys to rush and [how] he wants his D-line room to be, his coaching style," Curry said of his conversation with Buckner. "I thought it suited me best and gives me the opportunity to go out there and earn the right to be an every-down player and not just role here, role there. It was just a great fit.
"Whether it's key match ups, the one thing he said was, 'I can get you to the water but I can't make you drink.' It was a great opportunity for me."
Curry also touched on Tampa Bay's history with its defensive line and the lore of the Gruden-era teams, a parallel to Buckner's own introductory press conference in February.
"I'm excited to be here, especially with the history here on the defensive end, spotlighting on the defensive line," Curry said. "There's something special brewing here. I'm glad to be a part of it and I wanted to be a part of it."
Curry joins defensive tackle Beau Allen in Tampa, who Curry played with on Philadelphia's defensive line for the last four seasons and who he called 'the smartest football player' he's ever played with. The two big men will give way to Tampa Bay's 'new-look' line in 2018, which all of a sudden boasts not only a six-time Pro Bowler in defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, but now two Super Bowl Champions. With the addition of that postseason experience by both Allen and Curry, and Coach Buckner's desire to return Tampa Bay's defense to that of their own championship season, Curry may indeed be right in saying there is something special brewing for the Bucs.
"I look at it as an opportunity and a great challenge for me," Curry said. "I play hard. I'm a hard worker. At the end of the day, I'm hungry. I'm hungry to be great personally and I'm hungry for this team to have a shot at the [Lombardi] Trophy and being in the tournament this year by making the playoffs."
