re: The Newest Saint - Kenny Vaccaro (w/ scouting reports, stats, pics & highlights)

You realize the Saints have more picks to come right? The best 3-4 DL were off the board and he was considered the best S prospect out there. It was a value pick instead of reaching for someone else. Granted I would have been alright with Datone Jones, but Vaccaro wants to play and he's a Saint now, so I'm all in.

quote:

---

You realize the Saints have more picks to come right? The best 3-4 DL were off the board and he was considered the best S prospect out there. It was a value pick instead of reaching for someone else. Granted I would have been alright with Datone Jones, but Vaccaro wants to play and he's a Saint now, so I'm all in.

---

Datone over Jarvis?

I really liked his interview during the draft. He seems really determined to prove himself. Like the attitude.

LINK

Roman Harper

Roman Harper attended the University of Alabama, and played for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. He was a four-year letterman and a three-year starter and finished his college football career with 302 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 3.5 sacks. As a senior, he was a first team All-Southeastern Conference cat. As a junior, he was a second team All-Southeastern Conference selection. As a sophomore, he led the team with 114 tackles and also had an interception and a fumble recovery

Birth Date: December 11, 1982
Birth Place: Prattville, AL
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200 lbs.
Age 27
Position: S
Experience: 5 years
College: Alabama
Drafted 2006: 2nd Rnd, 43rd by NO
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump: 9'8"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.34
3-Cone Drill: 7.02
40 Yd Dash: 4.58


Kenny Vaccaro (SS)
HT: 6'0" WT: 214LBS.
POSITION: SS
SCHOOL: Texas
ARM LENGTH: 32 3/4"
HANDS: 10"


COMBINE STATS
40 YARD DASH: 4.63 SEC
BENCH PRESS: 15 REPS
VERTICAL JUMP: 38.0 INCH
BROAD JUMP: 121.0 INCH
3 CONE DRILL: 6.78 SEC
20 YARD SHUTTLE: 4.06 SEC

ANALYSIS
Strengths
NFL starting combo safety material with a very good blend of overall strength and athleticism. Often used as a nickel back despite a thick overall build. Very loose hips and good overall change-of-direction ability. Locks onto slot receivers at the line and has the agility and straight-game speed to stay with them on out routes and downfield. Physical with receivers trying to block him in the run game, has the strength to rip off and make a stop. Solid open-field tackler, uses great effort and his upper-body strength to drag down ball carriers. Strong off the edge as a blitzer, has bend to turn the corner and gets physical with running backs standing in his way. Flashes the hands and body control to catch passes away from his body. Good change of direction ability and shows the range to play the half-field in Cover Two. Attacks downhill against the run well, running the alley aggressively from deep-half coverage.

Weaknesses

Used extensively in man coverage and around the line, must continue improving as a reliable back-half defender against the pass and last line of defense against long runs. One-speed player who lacks burst. Is not quite agile or fast enough to stick with better NFL receivers, backpedal is high and stiff, can be out-quicked in space, and loses a step running down the seam. Can get caught freelancing and watching the backfield in zone coverage, and will bite on play action. Knee injury ended his senior season in high school after three games. Can fill downhill out of control, losing his leverage on the ball carrier and missing tackles. Doesn?t always take good angles and is prone to running himself too far upfield when he?s the ?force? defender.

2011 Split G Solo Assisted Total Total/G
All Games 13 46 25 71 5.46

2012 Split G Solo Assisted Total Total/G
All Games 13 59 37 96 7.38

They actually are similar jackass

Truffant has way more upside (speed, multiple positions etc.)

Vaccaro is the best safety in a weak class. He can't play corner much like Harper.

After watching the highlights this is what I liked:

Hard Hitter
Very good read and react
Sound wrap tackler and seems to have strong hands to trip guys up when needed.
Solid looking hands on ints
Great closing speed
Can cause fumbles with hit power or using hands
Gets hands up very quick when around the ball
Follows the ball very well in the air
Seems to be good at sticking to receivers

quote:

---

stopped here

I'm sold

---

Not even kidding, he tackles better than almost every player on our defense. Very sound technique when wrapping up. Sure could have used that last year instead of all those dive tackles.

quote:

---

An elite DL trumps almost any safety and its not even remotely close.

---

Which made the taking of OGs prior to the Saints pick more glaring when the Saints picked a S.

Let the Cowboys take a S or G. Saints need front 7 playmakers. Front 7 > back 4 given the choice.

quote:

---

I think it was the fact that everyone wanted Jones and things had to fall in place, and they did, for him to fall to us and we didn't take him.

---

Yep, it just took me way off guard. I hoped that somehow Jones would fall to us. Once he did, I thought for sure he would be a Saints. I really wanted to throw up after they announced the pick.

quote:

---

The more I read though, the more I like the pick. Kind of worried about the maturity, but he's coming to a strong locker room and just had a kid, so I hope all that's behind him.

---

Agreed.