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Eagles experiment with Vinny Curry at linebacker

Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry made the most of his playing time last season. Although he played only 32 percent of the defensive snaps, Curry was second on the team with nine sacks and tied for first with four forced fumbles.

Eagles defensive lineman Vinny Curry. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)
Eagles defensive lineman Vinny Curry. (David Maialetti/Staff Photographer)Read more

Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry made the most of his playing time last season. Although he played only 32 percent of the defensive snaps, Curry was second on the team with nine sacks and tied for first with four forced fumbles.

During the second day of minicamp Wednesday, coach Chip Kelly talked about increasing Curry's time on the field as a linebacker.

"I think he's expanded his role in terms of where we can deploy him," Kelly said.

The 6-foot-3, 279-pound Curry is in his fourth year with the Eagles. His greatest asset is his speed and quickness, but even at linebacker, don't expect him to consistently cover receivers or running backs.

"The coaches aren't stupid and won't put him out there to cover running backs and receivers," said linebacker Connor Barwin, who had a career-high 141/2 sacks in earning his first Pro Bowl selection. "They are putting him out there to rush the quarterback."

Barwin conceded that Curry could drop into coverage at times, but not frequently.

"There will be a couple [plays] he will drop to keep people honest, but he won't be doing what I am doing," said Barwin, who played 87 percent of the defensive snaps.

"I have to stay the course and keep improving each day and every day in practice," Curry said, "and, hopefully, I will be ready for everything that comes my way."

Curry has improved each season. He had no sacks in six games as a rookie, after being selected in the second round out of Marshall. In 2013, he recorded four sacks in 14 games, and his confidence began to grow, he said.

"I was over the hump and could get back to being Vinny Curry and having fun with football and getting to the quarterback and dancing and do what I do smiling," he said. "Everything finally was coming together the way I dreamed of it coming together."

It certainly came together last season. No matter what role he has with the Eagles, his main job will always be to put heat on the quarterback.

"What makes any pass rusher good and what makes him good is he is relentless," Barwin said.

This is the final season of Curry's rookie contract, so this could be his last season with the Eagles. Curry, who turns 27 on June 30, insists he isn't thinking about that.

"Whatever comes my way will come," he said, "but, at the end of the day, I will give it all I've got and do what I do."

@sjnard