Tennessee Titans Kevin Byard talks building chemistry with Kenny Vaccaro
Tennessee Titans safeties Kenny Vaccaro and Kevin Byard have been working out together this offseason and are building a special bond in the process.
Building chemistry is important on any NFL team and that’s exactly what Tennessee Titans safeties Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro are doing this offseason.
The pair of Titans safeties have been working hard to get ready for the upcoming 2019 NFL season, which begins on September 8th when the Titans hit the road to take on the Cleveland Browns.
For Byard, his workouts together with Vaccaro are more than just about getting ready. He believes both he and Vaccaro are building a chemistry that is “a sign of brotherhood,” as he told Jim Wyatt of Titans online.
“Not only is it a sign of friendship, but it’s also a sign that it’s not just about what’s on the field, but it’s about building that bond and friendship off the field.”
Byard, who finished as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 safety last season, also states that this bond with Vaccaro will help make them play even harder for each other when on the field.
In the past week, Vaccaro shared a picture of he and Byard working out together.
As well as this video.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzHgp3vF6lO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
As for Vaccaro, he saw his second-highest graded campaign in the league, per PFF, with a grade of 66.4. Even better, Vaccaro ranked 21st out of 101 safeties in tackling, with a grade of 80.5.
The solid season led to the Titans re-signing Vaccaro to a four-year, $26 million deal during the offseason. If he can continue building this bond with Byard and it translates onto the field, both safeties could be in for their best years as pros yet.
Titans secondary coach Kerry Coombs agrees that the chemistry being built between Vaccaro and Byard is important.
“Chemistry with all of those guys in that room is significant,” Coombs said. “And they work really hard at it. And they’re good people—they are good men, husbands, fathers, and all those things you want.”
Tennessee ranked as the sixth-best pass defense in the NFL last season, and while Byard was his normal elite self and Vaccaro played well in 2018, there is still room for improvement in the Titans’ secondary overall.
It’s scary to think just how good this group can be if they can put it altogether, and clearly chemistry will not be a problem, at the very least not with Byard and Vaccaro.