Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Solid pick IMO. Obviously some here have forgotten how an all day open Vernon Davis and numerous Seattle receivers kept us from superbowls.

Vaccaro > Harper

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

I really like this pick! He was one of the top three realistic players that I wanted. It addresses a need and he's a hell of a player. I wonder if Sean and Mickey reconsidered taking S. Floyd.....I'm still surprised he made it that far! I remember feeling the same way about Ingram a couple of years back....

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

I don't know about that Danno- and I usually am on page with your analysis. Harp is always getting torched by the TE

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

We got the best safety in the draft!!! We need help there. His predecessor at Texas did pretty well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Th...defensive_back)
Earl Thomas, DB for the Seattle Seahawks at NFL.com
We now have a taller more athletic version of him.
Our defense just got better because of him.
And there are NO question marks on his health.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Well, I am interested to see Hicks' progression, and Cam really started to turn it up last season. So I think that will be interesting to watch. Smith is a solid player. I like the addition of Butler, and I'd like to give Junior and Wilson an op to surprise. The 3-4 may suit our players better.

I thought lofton helped our run D last year... that might be misleading though since you could pass on us at will

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

I am not sure of MJ's 40 time, but watching him chase down that receiver was something to remember and that doesn't surprise me (without knowing his time). Harper, I am surprised by.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

I said that I wouldn't be upset if we picked Vaccaro, and I'm not. Very good pick and glad to have him on board.

I am a little stunned that we passed on Jarvis Jones, but I can't be angry with who we got. If we had passed on Jones AND Vaccaro to select an offensive player, I would have turned off the TV and vowed never to watch the draft again.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

we will soon find out when goes against the elite NFL TE he will play against this year. i do not buy into it. i just do not see it. he was great trade bait at 15. his addition was good enough to replace addition players trade picks would have brought. if he had batter hands and better tackling skills then sure. I think you could have improved the safety position later, its a deep draft
but .... i am done here gag rule

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

I can remember Harp doing well in week 1 of the '10 season against Shiancoe, and there may have been a few other times that don't come to mind at this time. But those aren't elite players. He's really been dominated by the better tight ends in the league. Some of that is expected (some players are just really hard for anyone to defend), but you gotta be competitive, and neither of our safeties have been that.

I'm still not sure that Vaccaro's arrival has anything to do with Harper, though. Kenny could play either position.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

We will trade down they said.
Oak you dont understand the value in the trade down they said.
We want more draft picks they said.

I said after the first round you are drafting projects, not starters.
I said we would draft a shovel ready starter in the first round.

http://www.plasticjungle.com/blog/wp...ken-dinner.jpg

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Actually I never responded to you, smart guy. The Jenkins comment was towards KySaintsFan. Go back and check before you start making crazy ass, off the wall assumptions, cool?

There is a DIFFERENCE between an elite CB and an ELITE safety.
Jenkins might could have been an elite corner, we'll never know. He, however, is NOT an elite safety. He never or hardly ever played safety in college or high school, meaning he learned a completely different position.

Oh, and if you actually believe there's hardly a difference between CB and safety because they "both cover WR's and TE's", you know absolutely nothing about secondary and coverage schemes.
Would appreciate it if you only call me out like that when spoken to first though, buddy.

The nerve.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Scouting Report

Athleticism
+Good size and bulk for the position.
+Shows good balance and change of direction skills.
+Above average quickness and acceleration.
+Fluid hips and has functional strength.
-Might be a high 4.5 speed guy.

Zone Coverage
+Fantastic instincts in zone, is always around the ball.
+Reads patterns well, plays very tight to receivers in his area
+Routinely gets a good break and closes quickly on the ball.
+Shows the ability to cover a deep half/third as well as play underneath.
-Doesn’t have great ball skills, has left a few interceptions on his plate.

Man Coverage
+Able to cover tight ends and slot receivers.
+Excels in press, able to get a solid jam and re-route receivers.
+Seems to understand leverage and will play his man into help.
-Lacks elite recovery speed on deep routes.
-Gets out of his backpedal too quickly at times, a bit impatient.

Run Support
+Solid form tackler, comfortable making a stop in space.
+Able to deliver a big hit, really lays the wood.
+Very effective blitzing off the edge, gets routine pressure.
+Will take on fullbacks, blow up blockers, all the dirty things to help his team.
+Very quick with his reads, gets to the hole quicker than blockers think he will.
-Goes for the kill-shot too often – has the fundamentals, needs to use them.
-Takes an occasional poor angle in pursuit.

Intelligence
+Shows a good understanding of the Texas “two-read” defense.
+Is asked to make adjustments based on the receivers route each play.
+Plays a variety of positions, including special teams.

Leadership
+Passionate player that has the respect of his teammates.
-Had an arrest (failure to obey) during the summer before his senior season.

Overview:
Vaccaro is exactly the kind of versatile defensive back that NFL teams are looking for. He can bully slot receivers with his strength and change of direction skills, while covering tight ends with his size and athletic ability, as well as covering a deep half or third in zone.

Vaccaro could play either free or strong safety at the next level, with the additional ability to contribute as a “star” or “money” defensive back in sub-packages. He also has excelled on special teams at Texas, which will endear him to NFL coaching staffs.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Off wall assumptions? I also made the comparison and you did not quote who you were responding to. So how is it even close to being off the wall? You know what that means right. Regardless, it doesn't make a difference who you were responding too. The content remains the same. Maybe next time you want to go back and quote who you're responding to, cool?

Okay so what? I can't compare the two because one was moved to safety and one played safety in college? Makes perfect sense.

I don't believe that. So you can throw that assumption out the window.

Would appreciate it if you be more specific. However it really made little difference as I thought your statement was ridiculous as is.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

get his butt on the field already and lets see what we got.
come on pre season lol

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Who Dat Hook Em Horns \m/ \m/. Welcome Kenny!

http://www.musicskins.com/media/cata...-thumbnail.jpg

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Exactly, for a safety Harper has been very good against TE's. Papz posted the stats from 2 years ago (maybe 2010?) and Harper was graded 3rd best in the NFL at covering TE's. And that included all DB's, not just safeties.

I remember chat one game and a TE burned Vilma plain as day, and someone typed "Dammit Harper!!!". WTF?

And one game against Atlanta, Harper allowed 1 completion to Gonzalez for about a 4 yard gain, and a bogus PI, and all of his other 8 or 9 completions came against Greer, Robinson, Shanle, Vilma and Jenkins and after the game several were blaming Harper for it. It was amazing. Its like they watched an entirely different game. In fact, Harper took over covering Gonzo and he didn't get another completion for the rest of the 3rd and 4th quarter.

Yes, Harper struggles in deep coverage just as most SS's do, but inside 15 yards he plays very well.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Really, Oak? I'm a little disappointed that you want to take credit for something of which you have no idea the end result. Have you seen how many prospects are still available, who some had going in the first? And until we see how these players' careers work out, how do you know who's going to do what? They're ALL projects, to some degree or another.

I'm glad we got Vaccaro. But for myself, and others who were interested in the idea of trading back, it was all based upon who would still be available. This is not the deepest draft, as far as for what you would consider I guess non "projects", so it begged the question if we wouldn't be better served to get more picks instead having just one total in the first two rounds, if we didn't have first round talent available.

In closing- not so fast, my friend.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

We need to remember what Ryan said earlier this off season. We are going to use Harper this year to his strengths. So I'm going to assume here that we're going to blitz and use him closer to the line this season. That makes picking Vaccaro to make even more sense. Being that we don't know what Jenkins we're going to see, having two guys that can supposedly cover and patrol center field much more important. This will allow Ryan to consistently pressure quarterbacks with 6 or 7 guys yet gives us that safety net down field behind them. We're going to see a lot of variations and Vaccaro gives us a lot of flexibility.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

ok i did some home work

i trust my texas alumni family and friends that are die hards as all texans are.

It might not be his hands. they pointed more than once we will watch balls slip through his hands and drop to the turf. It is more a concentration issue, he seems more worried about what he is going to do after the int than making the int. his numbers should be a whole lot better.

yep been on the phone. other than that they like the pick for us. putting that texas loyalty aside. just give him a few years is the overall verdict and with coaching we could be very happy

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

At first, I wasn't too overwhelmed by the pick of Vacarro but based on what players were available and the fact that he is the best at his position in this draft, I'll take it.
With such a terrible defense, I had hoped that the Saints could have grabbed a player closer to the line. Also, I wonder what the NFL teams know about Floyd that we don't?

Healthy throughout his college career and a solid player. Welcome aboard, Kenny!

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

I was hoping for front 7 also, but we did add Butler and Coleman, and Hicks, Galette, Jordan, Bunkley and Wilson all seem better suited for a 3-4 than a 4-3.

I can see a big space eater DT available in the middle rounds, as well as some more LB/DE prospects.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

I think quite a few of us felt that way. Nonetheless, he was one of the two guys that were at the top of our draft board(per Payton). So not only was he considered BPA, he also addressed a position of need. Sure we all wanted our own guy, but the pick is definitely a winner.

I think Floyd's drop had more to do with teams going after specific needs than Floyd's ability. Just go through any draft analysis, everyone is commending what the Vikings were able to do. The first DT went in the mid first round... which is pretty atypical for the norm. 6 OL in the first 12 picks, 1 quarterback in the first round, no runningbacks.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

No RB's. wow... How times have changed. Eddie Lacey is going to be a heck of a steal in round 2!

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

How does this pick 'suck'? Most would agree he wasn't our first choice, but still a SOLID one. Give the kid a chance because he has a lot of upside and can only help a porous 2012 defense.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Well, looking at his highlight video posted here and at the Sports Science video, I don't see any problem with his hands. The only balls he didn't catch were the ones he had no business being able to touch but he did so with his athletic ability. And as far as his lack of INT's, he has more in his 4 years of college than Jenkins or Harper has in their last 4 years. I think it was a good pick and think he will play well.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

It's just like someone else said earlier. This is the same as the Malcolm Jenkins pick. They are probably going to try to convert him to nickel corner, fail, and then give him a shot at safety where he will be ultimately mediocre despite his athleticism.
I'm not convinced on Floyd, all those teams didn't pass him up for no reason, but we could have traded up with the Jets for Lotulelei, we knew that the Panthers would take him...Or traded down to get a 2nd rounder (and probably still been able to draft Vaccaro, frankly.) Or just taken Jarvis Jones...It isn't that I dislike Vaccaro necessarily, but there were so many better alternatives.

Obviously I hope I'm wrong, and that Kenny ends up an All-Pro, but I highly doubt it.

EDIT: Also, I was kind of drunk when I made that post...

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

My feelings about this pick are mixed.Last years safety play was awful. Picking the top rated safety makes sense. I feel Vaccaro is a good player and an upgrade. My problem is that we passed on the top rated NT S Floyd. I think that it is harder to find NT than Safeties. That several others passed on Floyd gives me some solace. We may have high confidence in Hicks and Bunkley. There are good NTs still on the board.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Not too excited about the pick; I just think there would've been better talent/fits available like Jones or even Floyd (glad the Vikes picked him up to line next to Kevin Williams).

That being said, Vaccaro obviously has talent and could be a nice fit in Rob Ryan's defense, but I guess only time will tell.

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

I just don't know. Trade down & get more picks

Re: New Orleans Saints select Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro with the 15th pick
 

Sean was saying the phone wasn't ringing.