METAIRIE, La. – The New Orleans Saints can survive without safety Kenny Vaccaro. Just like they can survive without linebacker A.J. Klein. Just like they were able to keep succeeding after defensive end Alex Okafor went on injured reserve earlier this year.
But at some point you get spread too thin, right?
We’ll certainly find out if that’s the case this week. The Saints (10-4) need to beat the Atlanta Falcons (9-5) on Sunday in the Superdome if they want to maintain control of the NFC South division. And to do that, they’ll need to stop running back Devonta Freeman, who has been a one-man wrecking crew against the Saints over the past three years.
Over their past six meetings, Freeman has a total of 809 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.
Klein and Vaccaro, both of whom were placed on injured reserve this week with groin injuries, are two of the Saints’ best defenders against a player like Freeman when healthy.
The good news in both cases is that the Saints have more veteran depth at linebacker and safety than they do at most positions on the roster. Linebackers Manti Te'o and Craig Robertson, safeties Vonn Bell and Rafael Bush and nickel/dime cornerbacks P.J. Williams and Sterling Moore are all capable of playing bigger roles.
Bush was correct when he said Thursday, “There’s been times this year where we’ve missed A.J. and there’s been times this year when we’ve missed K.V., and we’ve still been able to win games. And that’s a testament to show that we have depth on this defense. ... Guys can go down, and we’ve got guys that can come in and make plays and we don’t really miss a beat.”
“I mean it’s football, and unfortunately things like that happen,” Te’o said. “Obviously somebody’s gotta step up. And whoever steps in there in that role we’ll have full confidence in.”
But still, Klein and Vaccaro might rank among the top five or six players this year on a defense that has surged to No. 11 in the NFL in yards allowed and tied for ninth in points allowed. And both were versatile enough to play multiple roles.
Klein played strongside linebacker on base downs and middle linebacker in nickel packages, and he was perhaps most valuable as the defense’s signal-caller and vocal leader. Vaccaro, meanwhile, is valuable whether he’s blitzing, stuffing the run or covering slot receivers.
The “next man up” mentality is a routine part of the business in the NFL. But this is taking it to the next level for the Saints at the most critical time of the season.
One other thought that obviously comes to mind is whether or not Vaccaro has played his last snap in New Orleans.
The former first-round draft pick is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Obviously the Saints could re-sign him. But it’s also possible that another team could outbid them on the open market – especially since the Saints have invested second-round draft picks in Bell and starting free safety Marcus Williams over the past two years.
Vaccaro has been one of the Saints' most tantalizing defensive talents over the past decade. But his five-year tenure in New Orleans has also been a bit of a roller-coaster ride. He flashed terrific potential at times – including each of these past two seasons and his spectacular rookie year in 2013. But he has also battled a series of injuries, some inconsistent play and a 2016 suspension for Adderall.
It felt like Vaccaro was on his way to a career high point this year, when he was playing at a Pro Bowl level for much of the first half of the season (including a career-high three interceptions and his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery). But now he’ll hit another low point instead by missing out on his first potential playoff run since 2013.
