Sports Radio Interviews

Aaron Curry Is Motivated For A Breakout Season

The Seattle Seahawks expected a lot out of their 1st round pick, Aaron Curry, last season but he didn’t play up to their standards. After getting off to a great start the first five games of the season, he fizzled down the stretch and looked like he was lost out there on the field. With the hype and expectations upon him as being regarded as the “safest” pick in the draft, Curry was trying to do too much out on the field. He struggled when he dropped into pass protection resulting in his playing time being decreased. But with a new coach and a new defensive scheme, which allows him to resort to the defense he played in at Wake Forest, Curry is excited about the season and eager to show why he was picked 4th overall.

Aaron Curry joined KJR in Seattle to talk about how different a player he is this year compared to his rookie season last year, what Ken Norton Jr. has taught him about playing the linebacker position in the NFL, and whether this year’s defense is going to be more aggressive than last year.

How different a player he is this year compared to his rookie season last year:

“Honestly I am the same person.  As far as player-wise I am a lot more confident.  I am more confident in myself and in the system that we are running.”

What he was happy with about his rookie season and what he was disappointed in about last season:

“When I first came out I was very excited about my enthusiasm and effort just being able to run to the ball and play fast then I kind of got lost in a whirlwind towards the middle of the season and the end and just wasn’t consistent enough.”

What he meant by the onslaught of a “whirlwind” towards the mid to end of last season:

“I got caught up trying to do too many things at once vs. focusing on doing my job.”

Whether he lost his touch and backed off his game a little bit after getting fined by the NFL:

“No, the fines didn’t affect my play.  I let a lot of stuff other than the fines really affect how I did things.”

What Ken Norton Jr. has taught him about playing the linebacker position in the NFL:

“I don’t want to tell all of my secrets but he has definitely helped me a lot.  He has taught me how to defend blocks and take on blocks better and the most important thing he has taught me how to have a mindset where nothing really matters.  Nothing matters but getting the football.”

What he would say to the fans about the way the first team defense has played through the first two games of the preseason:

“Honestly I would let them know they have the right to be concerned because, we are a little concerned with the defense, but not to worry.  We just got to become more consistent as a defense and we plan on doing much better on the opening drives.”

Whether this year’s defense is going to be more aggressive than last year:

“I think this year’s defense is going to be more aggressive and just more enthusiastic and we are going to be more exciting within each other and pumping each other up to make plays and being excited for each other.  I just think we are going to play with a lot more intensity, more consistency this year.”

Aaron Curry on KJR in with Dave “Softy’ Mahler

Tags: 2009 first round NFL Draft pick, fomer 1st round pick out of Wake Forest university, former Demon Deacon, got fined by the NFL, Ken Norton Jr. is the Seahawks new linebackers coach, needs to improve after a rookie season gone down the drain twoards the end of the season, NFL fines, Pete Carroll takes over as head coach of the Seahawks, Seahawks linebaker, Seattle Seahawks former 1st round pick