Wexell Article on Vaccaro

[lloydroid]

If we go S in round 1 at 17 there is no excuse for that safety to start year one and us cut whoever he is replacing to free up cap room to address other weaknesses on the team. Other teams somehow start rookies in their secondaries without that rookie getting torched and picked on every game....why can't we?

Because Tricky Dicky only likes old dudes. And I for one am sick of his unevolving ways. I don't want to hear about how young he seems for his age, old people refuse to learn and grow and that's what's happening to our D. It seems they are more obsessed with a high D rating than winning.

[lloydroid]

I see no point in having a defensive system that takes years to learn so you can be ranked #1, when others in the top 5 can plug and play pieces quickly, getting more years out of their players, and knowing what they really have when their contracts are up. Give me a top 10 defense if it frees up cap to make our offense top 10 as well. Maybe they should be the side of the ball that carries the team for once instead of riding the defenses coat tails.

When you have to rely on your D giving up only 10 or less points to win, you are fighting an uphill battle.

[steelblood]

Yeah Vaccaro looks good in a uniform but when I watched him I didn't see greatness. I didn't see a lot of big plays. Now compare his on-field performance with that of Baccari Rambo. Night and day. Rambo had 3 times as many picks and 10 more PD's over the course of their college careers.

I totally agree about Vaccaro. I feel he is overrated at this point. He has nice size and does a good job covering slot receivers and TEs man-to-man, but he whiffs on too many tackles, and he rarely plays the back half as a true safety. For me, he hasn't even proven that he can really handle back half duties against elite competition. That is a huge question mark.

I feel that Elam is a better safety than Vaccaro. He is faster and hits harder. I also think he is more fluid in coverage and more athletic in general. I don't know yet if I'd take Elam at 17. Probably not. I see him as a top 25 player. But, for me, Vacarro is an early second round talent (top 40).

[Chadman]

Just like the RB's, the DB's ran (mostly) a fair bit slower than expected.

Jonathan Banks ran 4.61??? What will that do to his draft stock?

Chadman expects we'll see vastly different times at Pro Days.

[steelblood]

Just like the RB's, the DB's ran (mostly) a fair bit slower than expected.

Jonathan Banks ran 4.61??? What will that do to his draft stock?

Chadman expects we'll see vastly different times at Pro Days.

Gotta disagree Chadman. There were a few clunkers, but I thought they ran better than expected. There isn't much elite talent here, but the class is deep. There were many solid times put in and several big DBs ran very well (better than expected).

[steelblood]

Vaccaro is a safe pick, but not a spectacular pick. He isn't elite in any area but he is solid all around. He will be a productive starter, but doubt he makes many if any pro bowls. I would rather go for a guy with home run ability to rush the passer.

I don't think he is safe at all really. He is a little stiff and has very little recent tape of him actually playing the back half like a true safety. Now, he is a very good athlete and has good size. He also does pretty well covering slot receivers (which is impressive). But, for me, there are a lot of question marks.

[steelblood]

The guys on the network are raving about his coverage skills. I'm personally not sold on him at #17. I don't think the drop off is that great in 2-3.

If S is a priority...I think there is better value with Reid in the 2nd than Vacarro in the 1st @ FS. I also like Cyprien & Elam in the 2nd @ SS.

or even J. J. Wilcox in the 3rd-5th.

very good safety depth this year. unless you are sure about Vaccaro, there is no reason to reach for a safety this year. i agree with you.

[Dee Dub]

I don't think he is safe at all really. He is a little stiff and has very little recent tape of him actually playing the back half like a true safety. Now, he is a very good athlete and has good size. He also does pretty well covering slot receivers (which is impressive). But, for me, there are a lot of question marks.

I said this same thing a few months ago. Texas used him a lot up near the LOS where a lot of the time he was lined up over the slot. It is good that he can cover a slot WR but for the Steelers, who have Troy Polamalu, they need a safety who can cover the deep 3rd. Didn't see much of that from Vacarro. And it is a whole different thing coming forward or going deep sideline over the top than it is backpedaling off of a slot receiver.

[hawaiiansteel]

2013 NFL Draft: S Kenny Vaccaro met with Steelers, possible target at 17

By Neal Coolong on Mar 2 2013
USA TODAY Sports



Texas safety prospect Kenny Vaccaro met with the Steelers at the NFL Combine last week, bringing back a humorous story from training camp about a conversation between Ryan Clark and Mike Tomlin.

Steel City Insider publisher Jim Wexell brought up a story from 2012 training camp where Steelers safety Ryan Clark was jawing at Steelers coach Mike Tomlin after a failed play.

"If your quarterback is gonna hang onto the ball that long, you better draft some more offensive linemen next year!"

Tomlin responded, "I'm going safety. Free safety!"

It was all in good fun - or at least not all seriousness - with Clark providing a timely jab at the Steelers' recent draft history. But as Wexell connects the past to the present in pointing out the Steelers met with Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro at the NFL Combine this past week, it very well could end up that way.

Vaccaro met with the Steelers behind closed doors, likely being dissected by Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau (who told BTSC he would like the team to add a young safety this offseason). While Vaccaro didn't set college football on its collective head with interceptions, he showed he has the size and willingness to support the run and the ability to cover slot receivers - a critical attribute of a successful safety in today's NFL.

But safeties who get drafted that high show more playmaking ability. The question teams are going to ask themselves when they're on the clock is whether Vaccaro is more of your traditional free safety, or one who is dynamic enough to play all over the field and make things happen.

The Steelers were at least curious enough to sit down with him to see what kind of guy he is.

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2013/3/2/4056260/2013-nfl-draft-steelers-prospects-safety-kenny-vaccaro-combine[/URL]