Kenny Vaccaro's versatility becoming one of Saints' best defensive weapons

jeanpierre · 10-23-2016, 08:25 AM

Kenny Vaccaro played wide receiver at a University of Texas football camp the summer before his senior year of high school.

Before the camp ended, Bobby Kennedy — the wide receivers coach at the time — told defensive backs coach Duane Akina to look at Vaccaro, who primarily played safety, running back and receiver in high school. Having coached first-round picks like Earl Thomas, Michael Huff, Michael Griffin and Aaron Ross, Akina had an eye for talent in the secondary.

By the time players competed in scrimmages at the end of camp, described by Akina as "one-hand touch," Vaccaro showed the veteran coach everything he needed to see.

"Freaking Kenny, he was playing life and death," Akina said. "I told our football (operations) guy, I said, 'Hey, with this Kenny Vaccaro kid now, we may be testing our insurance policy. He may be breaking somebody's neck out here.'"

Texas coaches were actually more curious to see Vaccaro's high school teammate, quarterback Casey Pachall, who eventually went to TCU. By the end of the camp, though, Akina realized he'd found another defensive back with the passion of the others who'd come through Texas in preceding years.

"He just played so hard, you know?" Akina said. "I was just so thankful that my son was never on the field opposite because it was like just stay low, stay low, stay out of the way. He was playing to win."

Vaccaro's passion helped him earn the nickel spot for the Longhorns, and Akina said he was one of the most versatile players he coached at a program with the label "DBU."

Now in his fourth year with the New Orleans Saints, Vaccaro is showing just how flexible he is. He's the starting strong safety, but with a depleted cornerback group, he's playing heavily at the nickel spot when the Saints go with their three-safety package. Vaccaro has also played some linebacker this season, including the Will spot in a dime package in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers.

Read Full Story | NOLA.com

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10-23-2016, 08:25 AM	#1
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Kenny Vaccaro's versatility becoming one of Saints' best defensive weapons Kenny Vaccaro played wide receiver at a University of Texas football camp the summer before his senior year of high school. Before the camp ended, Bobby Kennedy — the wide receivers coach at the time — told defensive backs coach Duane Akina to look at Vaccaro, who primarily played safety, running back and receiver in high school. Having coached first-round picks like Earl Thomas, Michael Huff, Michael Griffin and Aaron Ross, Akina had an eye for talent in the secondary. Twitter By the time players competed in scrimmages at the end of camp, described by Akina as "one-hand touch," Vaccaro showed the veteran coach everything he needed to see. "Freaking Kenny, he was playing life and death," Akina said. "I told our football (operations) guy, I said, 'Hey, with this Kenny Vaccaro kid now, we may be testing our insurance policy. He may be breaking somebody's neck out here.'" Texas coaches were actually more curious to see Vaccaro's high school teammate, quarterback Casey Pachall, who eventually went to TCU. By the end of the camp, though, Akina realized he'd found another defensive back with the passion of the others who'd come through Texas in preceding years. "He just played so hard, you know?" Akina said. "I was just so thankful that my son was never on the field opposite because it was like just stay low, stay low, stay out of the way. He was playing to win." Vaccaro's passion helped him earn the nickel spot for the Longhorns, and Akina said he was one of the most versatile players he coached at a program with the label "DBU." Now in his fourth year with the New Orleans Saints, Vaccaro is showing just how flexible he is. He's the starting strong safety, but with a depleted cornerback group, he's playing heavily at the nickel spot when the Saints go with their three-safety package. Vaccaro has also played some linebacker this season, including the Will spot in a dime package in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. Read Full Story \| NOLA.com Attached Thumbnails
	It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way... Last edited by Halo; 10-23-2016 at 11:45 AM..

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