Info from 49ers Clubhouse: Comments: Aggressiveness
is Curtis’ main positive; he is a great tackler and a mean blitzer. He
is a good run stopper, but needs major work on pass defending, but his
tackling gives him a major upside and will give prospective teams something
to work around.
Analysis by CBS Sportsline: Positives: Lean, but well-defined with tapered calves … Shows the balance and agility to close down hill … Makes quick decisions in the short area, displaying aggression while making proper reads in run support … Tackles with intensity, relishing the contact near the line … Catches and secures the ball away from the framework … Has a strong straight-line charge … Comes off the edge with explosion, showing the ability to locate and flush the quarterback out of the pocket … Stays in control, using his hands properly to redirect the tight ends … Anticipates the pass well, leaping for the ball at its highest point. Negatives: Backpedal needs refinement, as he has lost motions and takes wasted steps in his transition … Poor footwork prevents him from opening his hips properly, resulting in his inability to gain leverage, losing a feel for deep coverage … Seems to lack contact in his tackles … Rather than face up, wrap and secure, he will generally deliver arm tackles … Is a good edge blitzer, but gets bounced around when trying to redirect inside … Has a tendency to run around and jump over blockers … Plays with his pads too high, resulting in poor body protection … Arrives late on the ball when working in deep routes … Lacks the range to make crossfield tackles … Will lose his man and allow separation past the short area … Ball location is marginal working in space. CAREER NOTESThree-year starter who lined up at both free and strong safety during his career … The three-time All-Big Twelve Conference selection ranks second on the school's career-record list with 422 tackles (246 solos), topped only by Brad Hastings (480, 1983-86) … His ten interceptions rank sixth in Tech annals while his 144 yards in returns rank seventh … Added six sacks for minus 30 yards, 26 stops for losses of 87 yards and 28 pass deflections.AGILITY TESTS4.53 in the 40-yard dash … 2.62 20-yard dash … 1.6 10-yard dash … 3.88 20-yard shuttle … 6.75 three cone drill … 37.5-inch vertical jump … 10'4" broad jump … Bench presses 225 pounds 24 times … 33-inch arm length … 10-inch hands … Right-handed … 24 Wonderlic score.HIGH SCHOOLAttended Coronado (Lubbock, Tex.) High … Played quarterback primarily, completing 69 of 136 passes for 1018 yards and five touchdowns … Also rushed for 339 yards and five scores … Named District 3-5A MVP and first-team All-District … All-South Plains selection by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal … Helped the team to an 18-6 record over two seasons … As a junior, the squad went 11-2 and was regional champions … Played defense on third down situations … Also played basketball and baseball.PERSONALRestaurant and Hotel Management major … Son of Joyce and Charles Curtis … Born 7/28/80 in Frankfurt, Germany … Resides in Lubbock, Texas.
Info from Pro Football Weekly: Notes: High school quarterback who would fill in in the secondary at times on sure passing downs. Moved to safety as a freshman and wound up as a regular, with his first start coming in the big Texas game (10 tackles, one interception). Started every game the past three years. Led the team and conference in tackles in 1999 and was an All-Conference pick. Was a second-team All-Conference selection by the league's coaches in 2000, when he was playing in an altered defensive scheme. Began the '01 season at strong safety, moved to free safety and still earned All-Conference notice. Had 45 tackles, four passes broken up and one interception as a true freshman in 1998. In '99, had 153 tackles, six passes broken up and three interceptions and returned a fumble he recovered 86 yards for a score while generally playing close to the line of scrimmage. In 2000, was backed off the line and playing deep a lot more and had 121 tackles, 13 passes broken up and two interceptions. In '01, he had 99 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, four interceptions and five passes broken up. Positives: Team leader. Quarterbacked the secondary and got people in position. Productive player at both free and strong safety. Has good size and competes well. Solid hitter and good tackler who can play up in the box or backed off. Better range against the run than the pass but has adequate range against the pass. Can blitz and is learning how to time his blitz. Negatives: Is a little straight-linish and does not have great man-on-man cover ability. Will lose a step in transition. Will overrun some plays and miss some open-field tackles. Does not always play the ball well and seems to have trouble locating it at times. Is a good hitter but not a blow-you-up type in the John Lynch mold. Summary: Curtis is a big, smart safety who quarterbacked the secondary and made the calls and some adjustments. A quiet leader on the field who works hard and seems to be respected by all. Has enough ability to play on the next level but does not have special ability.
Info from CNNSI.com: Four-year starter that’s been an All-Conference selection in one form or another the past three seasons. Totaled 98/8/4/4/5 as a senior after 121/2/13 as a junior. Led the team and conference in tackles his sophomore campaign when he totaled 153/3/6. Hard-hitting run defending safety
that has been productive Four-years running. Aggressive, likes to mix it
up and intimidate opponents coming up the field to take out ballcarriers.
Strong at the point of attack, holds his ground against blocks or defeats
them altogether. Covers well in the short field and displays good hands
going for the interception. Showed better discipline in pass coverage as
a junior but saw a return to form during his senior campaign in which he
was constantly getting sucked up the field and caught out of position.
A bit too aggressive against the run at times and has difficulty with his
deep pass cover assignments, guessing wrong on occasion. Prone to biting
on the play-action pass, blows assignments in zone coverage and does not
help out his quarterback. Showed a pattern of improvement his junior year
then took a step back last year which pushed him out of the first day of
the draft. Must show he is more than a run stuffing strong safety and play
better disciplined, assignment football. Late Fourth Round.
Info from NFL.com: Had a full combine workout. Managed 24 strength reps. Had a 37½-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 4-inch long jump. Ran two 40s for times of 4.50 and 4.52 seconds. Did the short shuttle under four seconds and the cone drill in under seven seconds. Players who do this very seldom fail to make it in the NFL. Was a quarterback in high school and also played basketball and baseball. Played as a true freshman in 1998. Started the next three years. Led the Big 12 in tackles in 1999 (153). Has played both strong and free safety. Flashes of toughness, good work habits (first up in drills), good athlete. Needs work on finding the ball. Was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Very high character person — the type you can win with.
Info from FOXSports: Kevin Curtis was a three-year starter
at Texas Tech who lined up at both free and strong safety during his career.
Amassing an astonishing 373 total tackles over the past three seasons, Curtis greatest strength is providing very dependable tackling and run support. Being quick and agile close to line is what he's know for, evidenced by his 23 tackles for minus 76 yards and six sacks since 2000. What he lacks is consistency in pass coverage. Adequate in the short zone, he doesn't possess the range, speed, or technique to consistently cover deep. He will probably see time as a situational player at the next level unless he can improve his pass coverage skills.
Info from Football.com: Strength:
Weakness:
Assessment:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
