Kenny Vaccaro is the best player on the Saints defense

The Saints were gashed from whistle to whistle Monday night against Atlanta and although the outcome and defensive performance is something the fans have grown accustomed to, it still looked different right? Giving up 45 points wasn’t all that much of a shocker and Devonta Freeman picking his spots wasn’t either but still something was just off.

I have an opinion when it comes to this Saints defense and it may not be a popular one as both Bobby Hebert and Deke Bellavia scoffed at my statement. What I went into the Monday night game thinking was all but confirmed after what I witnessed. Kenny Vaccaro is the best player on this defense. However make no mistake about it this isn’t one fan ranting about his opinion, as far as it goes here at Saints Nation I am not alone in my sentiment and we can offer more than simply pointing at a stat sheet to back up our opinions.

Let me begin by saying this, I do not believe Cam Jordan is average or over-rated. I also don’t believe Delvin Breaux was just the shiniest of turds on the field last season. I have tremendous respect for what both men bring this defense, however I whole-heartedly believe Vaccaro is the best piece on this defense or in other words, he is the most vital component to the defense being successful (whatever success in New Orleans is considered nowadays). Saints Nation’s own Brian Pavek puts it in much simpler terms saying, “Delvin Breaux is the most talented, Cameron Jordan is the most consistent and decorated, but Kenny Vaccaro is the heartbeat of the Saints defense.” even adding “Vaccaro is simply the catalyst that they can’t live without.”

My statement earlier about being able to point at more than just stats comes from Cam Jordan often being regarded as the best due to his stat line and pedigree around the league. Jordan is an almost guaranteed 10 sacks a year player, and in most cases if the defense was able to get pressure on the QB Cam Jordan had something to do with it. However, my problem is that pointing to a stat sheet is not only lazy but it in no way can accurately tell you the tale of a football game. There are a handful of plays in every game where the player with the biggest impact on the play wasn’t in fact on the stat sheet. For example, Deion Jones had a 90 yard pick six to all but assure the Falcon’s victory Monday night; however rookie safety Brian Poole makes a great hit at the time of the ball arriving with Mike Thomas in order for the ball to pop up straight in the air and allow Jones to run straight to the end zone.

Make no mistake about it Vaccaro certainly makes his impact on the stat sheet as well racking up tackles, but it goes back to the beginning of this article and how the defense just LOOKED different. Vaccaro brings something to the table that no amount of talent guarantees and no amount of preparation can produce. Saints Nation’s Andrew Juge describes it better than I by saying, “Playing defense is all about aggression, emotion, effort in pursuit and finding the ball. No one does that better than Vaccaro on the Saints. If there’s any hope for this defense improving, it’s because he’s on it.”

In wrapping up there were at least three plays from Monday’s night game where I noticed the absence of Vaccaro because Fairley and Jordan were able to push the line backwards and not allow a gaping hole in the interior, but with Roman Harper in the game Freeman was able to stop and cut back as Harper was just not athletic enough to finish off the play or simply beat Freeman to the spot. No play is a greater example than the first 4th and 1 conversion made by Atlanta. Just about picture perfect defense on the play. Everyone stuck to their assignments and Harper was right there waiting for the pitch to Tevin Coleman with plenty of space to track him down before he could cross the first down. The only problem on the play is that Roman Harper was in the game not Kenny Vaccaro. If Vaccaro was in the game I honestly believe that Coleman doesn’t even come close to the down marker and loses a yard or two on the play.

Feel free to contact me if you disagree or wish to continue the discussion. Here’s hoping to our Saints finding someway to win this week in San Diego, and most importantly hoping that Kenny Vaccaro is back in action. WHO DAT!