Draft prospect not mentioned much here

[supersteeler]

Kenny Vaccaro plays safety but can do more.


Vaccaro lines up as a free and strong safety for the Longhorns defense, but he also can play nickel cornerback in the slot if needed. Now here is a kid Carnell Lake would love to have, being able to play both safety positions AND in a pinch CB.
Thats some value there, plus he could be Troy or Clarks replacement down the road.

There is a possibility we could get him in the second round, if the Steelers think safety is a priority in the near future.

[Oviedo]

Kenny Vaccaro plays safety but can do more.


Vaccaro lines up as a free and strong safety for the Longhorns defense, but he also can play nickel cornerback in the slot if needed. Now here is a kid Carnell Lake would love to have, being able to play both safety positions AND in a pinch CB.
Thats some value there, plus he could be Troy or Clarks replacement down the road.

There is a possibility we could get him in the second round, if the Steelers think safety is a priority in the near future.

He is the highest rated Safety in the draft and won't be available when we pick in Round 2. He would be a good #1 for us since he does have the flexibility to play both SS and FS and who knows which of the two old guys back there now will be injured week to week.

What may work against Vaccaro is that this is a very deep draft at the Safety position.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

color me wary of texas players.

[feltdizz]

don't mess with Texas...

[phillyesq]

color me wary of texas players.

Casey Hampton worked out well. The rest of the Steelers Texas players - ugh - not so much. I share your skepticism.

[Oviedo]

Casey Hampton worked out well. The rest of the Steelers Texas players - ugh - not so much. I share your skepticism.

I think Earl Thomas has proeven to be a pretty good Safety in the NFL given he is one of the best Safeties in the NFL and has made the Pro Bowl. I wouldn't hesitate to take Vaccaro.

I think the caution about Texas players is more on the offensive side of the ball.

[phillyesq]

I think Earl Thomas has proeven to be a pretty good Safety in the NFL given he is one of the best Safeties in the NFL and has made the Pro Bowl. I wouldn't hesitate to take Vaccaro.

I think the caution about Texas players is more on the offensive side of the ball.

Good point. I was thinking more of Curtis Brown and Sweed.

[Slapstick]

Good point. I was thinking more of Curtis Brown and Sweed.

There is nothing wrong with Curtis Brown...yet...

[Dee Dub]

Kenny Vaccaro is a good football player. I have seen a lot of Texas over the past couple of years. My opinion is that in the NFL he would struggle at free safety. He is not what you would want cover-wise for that position or even playing over the slot. He is a natural strong safety. And I believe he will be a very good one in the NFL. What you would get out of him from that spot is what you would also get out of T.J. McDonald (who I also feels is better suited for SS).

I've said it many times over the past two years. If you want a safety who could cover (ball hawk), Baccari Rambo is the best. in my opinion.

[ikestops85]

Kenny Vaccaro is a good football player. I have seen a lot of Texas over the past couple of years. My opinion is that in the NFL he would struggle at free safety. He is not what you would want cover-wise for that position or even playing over the slot. He is a natural strong safety. And I believe he will be a very good one in the NFL. What you would get out of him from that spot is what you would also get out of T.J. McDonald (who I also feels is better suited for SS).

I've said it many times over the past two years. If you want a safety who could cover (ball hawk), Baccari Rambo is the best. in my opinion.

I think we do want a safety who is a ball hawk so I will go with your recommendation. :D

[Eddie Spaghetti]

There is nothing wrong with Curtis Brown...yet...

he hasn't shown squat to this point.

[phillyesq]

There is nothing wrong with Curtis Brown...yet...

I haven't seen anything from Brown that leads me to believe that he will be anything more than a very good special teams player. He was awful against Dallas, getting benched for Victorian.

[BigRob]

Kenny Vaccaro is a good football player. I have seen a lot of Texas over the past couple of years. My opinion is that in the NFL he would struggle at free safety. He is not what you would want cover-wise for that position or even playing over the slot. He is a natural strong safety. And I believe he will be a very good one in the NFL. What you would get out of him from that spot is what you would also get out of T.J. McDonald (who I also feels is better suited for SS).

I've said it many times over the past two years. If you want a safety who could cover (ball hawk), Baccari Rambo is the best. in my opinion.

I agree with your assessment of Vaccaro, but I think he is head and shoulders above McDonald.

McDonald struggled badly this year and will probably be a good pick-up in the 4th rd.

If you want a ball hawking free safety. Your best pick would be Philip Thomas from Fresno. That guy is a perfect fit at free safety. He's probably a round 2 guy.

[ikestops85]

I haven't seen anything from Brown that leads me to believe that he will be anything more than a very good special teams player. He was awful against Dallas, getting benched for Victorian.

You might be right but going into this year I would have said the same about Lewis except he was a lousy special teams player. :D

[hawaiiansteel]

I've said it many times over the past two years. If you want a safety who could cover (ball hawk), Baccari Rambo is the best. in my opinion.

wonder if Rambo will be on the Steelers' draft board after being suspended for the first 4 games of Georgia's season this year for smoking weed?

I realize we drafted Mike Adams after he got busted for the same offense but he initially wasn't on our draft board either, he had to fly to Pittsburgh to convince the Steelers brass to draft him.

[Oviedo]

You might be right but going into this year I would have said the same about Lewis except he was a lousy special teams player. :D


Good point. Brown will be fine.

[Dee Dub]

I agree with your assessment of Vaccaro, but I think he is head and shoulders above McDonald.

McDonald struggled badly this year and will probably be a good pick-up in the 4th rd.

If you want a ball hawking free safety. Your best pick would be Philip Thomas from Fresno. That guy is a perfect fit at free safety. He's probably a round 2 guy.

Because McDonald was playing out of position. He's not so great in coverage. He needs to play at or near the box/LOS and in zone coverage.

Remember we have had this discussion about Thomas and being a ball hawk. I will not deny that he has ball skills but Rambo numbers are much better. So...that makes Rambo more of a ball hawk. ;)

[BigRob]

Because McDonald was playing out of position. He's not so great in coverage. He needs to play at or near the box/LOS and in zone coverage.

Remember we have had this discussion about Thomas and being a ball hawk. I will not deny that he has ball skills but Rambo numbers are much better. So...that makes Rambo more of a ball hawk. ;)

McDonald is not a good fit for our defense. More of a LB'er than a safety IMO.

I like Rambo, but he is going to be off of the Steelers board. Thomas is probably not physical enough for the Steelers.

Steelers will probably rate Elam, Vaccaro, and my personal favorite D.J. Swearinger higher.

[hawaiiansteel]

2013 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (Divisional Playoff Week Edition)

Jan 12th, 2013 by Dominic Di TollaSteelers

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Matt Elam SS (Florida)

As I have stated on numerous occasions, the Steelers must find a way to plan for the future at both Safety positions this offseason. One player in particular I can see them targeting with the 17th overall pick is Matt Elam of Florida. Like I pointed out in a post from a month ago, Elam has the tools and skill-set to be a nice replacement for Troy Polamalu once he hangs up his cleats.

Elam is a big-hitter who is not only speedy, but can line up in a number of different areas on the Defensive side of the ball. The Strong Safety (5’10″ 202 lbs.) improved off of his solid Sophomore season (78 Tackles, 11.0 TFL’s, 2.0 Sacks, 2 INT’s), and racked up 76 Tackles, 11.0 TFL’s, 2.0 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, and 4 Interceptions as Elam helped lead the Gators’ Defense to a Sugar Bowl berth. A year or two stint behind Polamalu and under the tutelage of Defensive Backs Coach Carnell Lake could serve Elam well, and also give him time to develop into a quality Safety.

http://nicepickcowher.com/2013/01/12/2013-nfl-mock-draft-1-0-divisional-playoff-week-edition/2/

[Crash]

More defense....yay.

[Chadman]

I agree with your assessment of Vaccaro, but I think he is head and shoulders above McDonald.

McDonald struggled badly this year and will probably be a good pick-up in the 4th rd.

If you want a ball hawking free safety. Your best pick would be Philip Thomas from Fresno. That guy is a perfect fit at free safety. He's probably a round 2 guy.

Agreed- Philip Thomas is everything the Steelers could want in a FS. That dude is a playmaker. Another guy Chadman likes, and would like some opinion of, is Syracuse's Shamarko Thomas... not quite the polished product, but what an athlete! The Steelers can never 'just replace Troy', but if this guy's head is anywhere near as ready as his physical attributes... he's an impact player along those lines.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I am also wary of Texas Longhorn players. Swede, Young.....