Rating: (0 votes - average)

PHOENIX — When Kenny Vaccaro was going through a rough patch earlier this season that led to his role being changed by the Saints, he reached out to Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas for some words of wisdom.

A fellow star from the University of Texas, Thomas has developed a relationship with Vaccaro over the years and felt his experiences could help the Saints safety get his season back on track.

“Kenny he reached out to me when he got benched,” Thomas said. “He was real down on himself and I was telling him the story of when coach (Pete) Carroll almost benched me. We played the Giants my rookie year. We got blown out and I was giving up touchdowns left and right. I was just telling him that story, and he felt better just from me being real with him.”

Thomas eventually recovered from his rough start and has emerged as one of the best safeties in the NFL. He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four seasons and was a first-team All-Pro each of the last three.

Watching from afar, he sees no reason why Vaccaro, who is possesses all the ability, can’t harness his skills and become one of the better safeties in the league with some additional seasoning.

“You see it. You see flashes,” Thomas said. “He just needs to understand the correct tempo. He’s very aggressive just like when I was when I was younger, and they’re going to use that against you.”

Vaccaro’s so-called “benching” consisted of him moving from his spot at strong safety to the slot, where he played as a rookie, for a December game against the Chicago Bears. But it wasn’t long before injuries pushed him back to his role as strong safety, where he would have started in the season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if he had not injured his quadriceps tendon.

Seahawks safety Earl Thomas says Saints safety, fellow Texas Longhorn Kenny Vaccaro can get back on track | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

halloween 65

I just don't know sometimes what to think of Vaccaro, the guy plays all out which I like, tackles well, hits like a truck but sometimes I see Jenkins in him, I never liked Jenkins. I truely believe with another real good secondary coach(Allen returning even at a different position title) that V will get back on track. This will be his 3rd season (his tell,tell so to speak) and he really needs to show the reasons he was drafted as high as he was. I like V, I liked the Saints picking him as high as he was, but he has to play ball much better than he has.

Beastmode

I really didn't see a lot of aggressive play from him this season, it looked more like he was lost out there which is understandable moving a young player around. Good mentor in Thomas on not beating yourself though. It was a steep learning curve. Shake it off, all you can do and keep improving.

lumm0x

I think Vaccaro is a case where the game hasn't slowed down for him. He looks like he's over thinking plays and has no clue what is going to happen and is reactive to everything. Great safeties can do what great QB's do, manipulate an offense and direct plays to a certain zones of the field. An elite safety can free up other DB's to assist in coverage or in QB pressures through great range and making plays on the ball. That is what Earl Thomas can do. He makes that defense great in my opinion. He frees up Chancellor to play near the line, he allows man up coverage on WR's because he has the speed and range to get anywhere and support the CB's. He predicts, or rather forces the play to particular areas of the field and anticipates where the offense is forced to go with it.

If Vaccaro can become proactive as opposed to reactive it can change a defense. Perhaps Byrd can bring that and Vaccaro can become the Chancellor to Byrd's Thomas.

ChrisXVI

I think the kid will be just fine. Let's shore up the CB position and pray that Byrd can stay healthy and Kenny will bounce back. We can't give up on the guy after his second season in which even the seasoned vets on the defense were awful.

hagan714

true SS? not last year. maybe next year.

ScottF

tampering

st thomas

heads have to roll on defense, no sense in the drop. I had dreams of vacaro becoming elite at his position, a threat for offenses to try him. the injury no doubt had lingering effects. he slowed his game down seems to heal right. hell be back hopefully. payton will challenge every swinging d#ck on our team to nutt up.

Papa Voodoo

Beware of Pierre

saintsfan1976

Sophomore slump.

It's a thing.

KV will return to form.