Category: Taysom Hill

Packers coaches discuss the challenges of defending Saints weapon Taysom Hill

Packers DC Joe Barry acknowledged the challenge in defending Taysom Hill, the only player since the 1966 merger with 10 TD’s as a passer, runner, and receiver:

The Green Bay Packers know Taysom Hill well. They signed him out of BYU when he turned pro so many years ago, envisioning him as a potential understudy for Aaron Rodgers; things didn’t work out, though, and the New Orleans Saints picked him up after noticing him while studying one of his teammates at the roster cuts deadline.

And the rest is history. Literally. Hill has carved out a unique role in New Orleans, becoming the first player since the 1966 NFL-AFL merger to score double-digit touchdowns as a passer (10), receiver (11), and runner (23), including the playoffs. He’s also logged 1,101 snaps on special teams and record 15 tackles in the kicking game, blocking two punts. It’s a resume not seen in decades.

He’ll have a chance to suit up against the team that first gave him a shot on Sunday, and Packers coaches are acutely aware of the challenges he’s bringing to Green Bay. They have to prepare for his package of plays well as the more-typical system the Saints run with Derek Carr under center.

“It’s two different offenses,” Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry began. “It really is, based on who’s at quarterback. They do a really great job. In essence, he’s a tight end, but they line him up at No. 1, and he runs routes like a receiver. They line him up in the backfield like a halfback. Use him in protection, but then also use him in the passing game out of the backfield. But he truly is a weapon when he’s lined up.”

Hill has gotten off to a strong start in 2023; he’s run for more yards on his own than the Minnesota Vikings have as a team through the first two weeks. Fantasy football nerds may hate it, but he adds something new to the Saints offense that opposing coaches have to account for.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur admitted as much, saying: “He’s a weapon, that’s for sure. You spend a lot of time preparing for a guy like that because he can throw it over your head. He’s done it before. He’s started games in this league at quarterback. So he’s a guy you’ve got to have a very good plan for.”

Hill is finally returning to Lambeau Field, where his NFL career began; his last two games against the Packers were in New Orleans (in 2020) and Jacksonville (in 2021, relocated due to the impacts of Hurricane Ida). The Packers have done a great job of defending him in the past, but they were gashed for 211 rushing yards just last week, so they’ve clearly got some vulnerabilities the Saints could exploit. Hill ought to be a big part of that.

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Taysom Hill currently ranks 30th in rushing yards, ahead of at least one NFL team

Taysom Hill currently ranks 30th in rushing yards among NFL players, and 31 on his own among the league’s 32 teams:

No football player makes NFL analysts and fantasy football nerds more upset for being good at his job than Taysom Hill. The New Orleans Saints playmaker does it all — he’s taken snaps at quarterback, fullback, tight end, slot receiver, and wide receiver this season while running with the punt teams and the kick returns unit. But his best work has come as a runner. Opposing defenders don’t want to try and stop him in the open field.

Hill’s 79 rushing yards rank 30th among the 171 NFL players to log at least one carry this season, at least through the first two weeks. That’s ahead of household names like Tyjae Spears (76), Najee Harris (74), Jalen Hurts (72), Josh Jacobs (46), Deebo Samuel (46), Josh Allen (43), and Dalvin Cook (40), to name just a few.

And he’s even outpaced some teams. Well, at least one team: the Minnesota Vikings, who have gained just 69 rushing yards as a team through their first two games. Hill could keep climbing. If he plays well against the Green Bay Packers this week, he just might rank 30th or 29th among the league’s 32 teams, for at least a few hours on Sunday.

The next-worst rushing teams behind Minnesota are the Pittsburgh Steelers (96) and Las Vegas Raiders (116), who play each other on Sunday night. Hill and the Saints will kick off from Green Bay at Noon CT; if you’re curious, the Vikings will be able to work on their deficit in the same time slot while hosting the Los Angeles Chargers.

What about those matchups? Hill is going to be running against a Packers run defense which ranks third-worst in the NFL (allowing 166.5 rushing yards per game), while the Vikings will see a league-average Chargers team (who allow 105.5 yards per game on the ground, which is 18th). And the Steelers rank worst in the league (193.0) with the Raiders clocking in at sixth-worst (138.5).

The Saints could really use a stronger presence on the ground, and Hill just might be their best bet to get things going. With Jamaal Williams out with an injury and Kendre Miller returning from one, he’s a good pick to lead the team in rushing yards again this week, working against a vulnerable Packers defense.

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NFL releases statement on third QB rule that may explain Taysom Hill position switch

The NFL released a statement on its third QB rule. It doesn’t offer much more clarity, but it may explain the Taysom Hill position switch:

The New Orleans Saints drew a lot of attention on Monday by changing the position listing for Taysom Hill on their official website roster. After being listed at tight end throughout the summer, he’s now grouped with the quarterbacks.

When asked about the change after practice, head coach Dennis Allen said that it was “more of a clerical thing than anything else,” rather than a reaction to the NFL’s new third-quarterback rule. Still, this change could be a factor during the season. He pointed out that Hill played about half his snaps at quarterback last year. The Saints like to get him involved in a number of different roles as a runner, receiver, passer and occasional blocker.

Hours after the change was noted on the Saints website, the NFL released a series of questions and answers clarifying eligibility for the rule, specifying that only bona fide quarterbacks factor into the decision. Here’s their description of what that means:

For the purposes of the Emergency Third Quarterback rule, a bona fide quarterback is defined as a player who wears a jersey number authorized for a quarterback and (a) is an established quarterback (e.g., someone who has customarily played the position in past professional or college seasons); or (b) is a player who takes regular-season snaps only at quarterback during at least three consecutive weeks of practice, including any week the player would be listed as an Emergency Third Quarterback.

Additionally, here are the eligibility rules for the emergency third quarterback:

  1. The Emergency Third Quarterback must be on the club’s 53-player roster; the player cannot be an elevated Practice Squad player. The club’s starting quarterback (QB1) and its backup quarterback (QB2) must also be on the club’s 53-player roster.
  2. A club must have two bona fide quarterbacks on its 47/48-player gameday active list to designate an Emergency Third Quarterback. 
  3. A club cannot designate an Emergency Third Quarterback if it has three or more bona fide quarterbacks on its 47/48-player gameday active list

So this has more to do with Jake Haener than Taysom Hill; the rookie would be that emergency third passer they’re talking about. But what would it look like each week? Here are two examples:

Let’s say it’s a typical game week for the Saints. We’re in Week 1 and the top three quarterbacks are listed on the 48-man active roster: Derek Carr, Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Jake Haener is inactive, and because the Saints have three available quarterbacks, he wouldn’t be eligible to play. If Carr and Winston are both unavailable, Hill would get the nod.

Now we’re on to the next game, in a scenario where either Carr or Winston (or Hill) is not able to play. Because the Saints are down a man, they can now have Haener dress but not count against the 48-man active-roster limit. He’ll only be able to play if both quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart go down. But he will have that option.

At least that’s the idea in theory. The NFL hasn’t really painted a clearer picture than what we had earlier this offseason by overdoing this rule.

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The Saints just changed Taysom Hill’s position listing

The Saints just changed Taysom Hill’s position listing, turning what was a quirk of their roster into a formality:

Well isn’t that interesting. The New Orleans Saints changed Taysom Hill’s position listing on their official website roster Monday afternoon — after being listed as a tight end throughout the offseason, training camp, and in three preseason games, he’s now grouped with the quarterbacks. The Saints’ unofficial depth chart still lists him as a co-starter at tight end with Juwan Johnson but that doesn’t reflect what we saw over the summer. Hill himself has said he doesn’t think of himself as a tight end.

Update: The unofficial team depth chart was later edited to reflect Hill’s change in position.

The move makes what was a quirk of their roster into nothing more than a formality. Hill was practicing with the quarterbacks throughout the summer, at times leading two-minute drills himself while Derek Carr, Jameis Winston, and Jake Haener worked in other areas. But does it mean anything more?

Maybe, but probably not. The Saints could trade Winston if another team presents a tempting offer, but there’s been nothing to suggest that kind of deal is in the works. Haener didn’t help himself with a couple of interceptions in the final preseason game. There’s an argument to be made in favor of the Saints moving Winston and preparing some combination of Hill and Haener as the backup plan should Carr miss time, but there isn’t a trade offer floating around that makes that argument worth listening to.

The rookie isn’t ready to be the next man up, and Hill’s time spent at other positions means he can’t be limited to a backup quarterback role. He’s one of the team’s most effective runners and an effective passer and receiver in certain situations. He’s more valuable moving all over the formation than on the bench.

One of the first things Dennis Allen said when he became head coach was that Hill’s experiment as a full-time quarterback was over; he specifically said that he wanted Hill in the game, not next to him standing on the sidelines with a headset and clipboard. Hopefully Allen better uses his talents in the fall. Hill has converted a first down on 67% of his carries, catches, and passes on third or fourth down when the Saints needed 3 yards or fewer in his career. There aren’t many short-yardage players better than him in this league, no matter what position he’s listed at.

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Taysom Hill isn’t sure what his position is, but ‘I don’t think of myself as a tight end’

Taysom Hill isn’t sure what his position or label is, but acknowledged ‘I don’t think of myself as a tight end’ at Saints training camp:

What is Taysom Hill’s real position? He’s listed with the tight ends on the New Orleans Saints depth chart (and on many fantasy football platforms), but he’s thrown plenty of passes through the first week of training camp practices — despite not wearing a red no-contact jersey like the team’s quarterbacks. Last year, he logged more rushing attempts (96) than snaps at his listed position of tight end (51, per Pro Football Focus charting). He’s a fixture on the punt units and sometimes returns kicks on special teams.

With his specific role in the Saints offense seeming to change from one year to the next, Hill has busied himself with just doing what’s asked of him while trying to not think too hard about his formal designation.

“I don’t know, I don’t think of myself as a tight end, you know? I don’t think I had a single rep last year as an inline tight end,” Hill reflected after a July 26 practice session. “So when I think of a tight end that’s what hits my head. I don’t know how I would label myself. Obviously my background has been quarterback, so when I think about what I’ve done throughout my career I think of that. As far as what I’m doing this year, I don’t know.”

Hill said that he’s had conversations with offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. about his role to practice areas of his skill set that have been underutilized in recent years, particularly as a receiver. After catching 19 passes for 234 yards and 6 touchdown receptions in 2019, Hill has totaled 24 catches for 231 yards and 3 scores in 2020, 2021, and 2022 combined.

The flexible role Hill has earned for himself in the Saints offense isn’t something he takes for granted. If he can help the team by catching more passes, he added, then he’s all for it: “I hope to get more of those opportunities, obviously I need to do the right thing and take advantage of them. Yeah, I hope I keep getting those.”

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Madden NFL 24 reveals New Orleans Saints QB player ratings

Madden NFL 24 reveals player ratings for each team’s quarterbacks — including New Orleans Saints starter Derek Carr:

Madden NFL 24 is continuing its rollout of player ratings for the latest version of the flagship video game, with the developers at EA Sports sharing a look at every team’s quarterbacks — including New Orleans Saints starter Derek Carr. Here’s how Carr stacks up against his backups Jameis Winston and Jake Haener, as well as do-it-all weapon Taysom Hill:

PFF makes the argument for Taysom Hill as a top-10 tight end

Taysom Hill had more rushing attempts than snaps at tight end last year, but that didn’t stop PFF from arguing he’s the Saints’ best option:

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Taysom Hill had more rushing attempts than snaps at tight end last year, but that didn’t stop Pro Football Focus from arguing he’s the New Orleans Saints’ best option at the position going into 2023. We’ll let PFF’s John Kosko explain himself:

You had to know he was coming on this list at some point. Hill is not a traditional tight end nor is he a modern-day one, as he occupies a unique role that only he can do and has provided tremendous value to the Saints, ranking ninth in PFF WAR the past two seasons. While Juwan Johnson had a breakout season in 2022 and they just signed Foster Moreau, Hill is the slotted “starter,” and his versatility gives the Saints a lot of options.

Kosko ranked Hill at No. 9 out of the NFL’s projected starters at tight end, but as we mentioned off the top (and that Kosko alluded to in mentioning Hill’s “unique role” on offense), he does much more than block and catch passes like the other players on that list.

Hill posted his best production as a rusher in 2022, setting new career highs not just in attempts (96) and rushing yards (575), but in yards per carry, too (6.0). His seven touchdown runs were one shy of his personal best. Alvin Kamara led the Saints with 40 first down conversions as a runner, but Hill  wasn’t far behind with 34 of his own. Their teammates combined for just 29.

So, yes, he has unique value to New Orleans’ offense. That doesn’t change the fact that even if the Saints label Hill at tight end, he shouldn’t be seen as one. Defenses won’t guard him like a tight end. He only lined up tight to the formation 51 times last season. The Saints may want to have Hill catch more passes in 2023, but his role isn’t going to change dramatically. Johnson’s continued ascent and Moreau’s addition mean fewer opportunities for him as a traditional tight end in their place. It’s nice to see Hill recognized for his contributions, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s one of the NFL’s best tight ends. He’s finding success doing his own thing.

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Taysom Hill still practicing at QB during Saints minicamp workout

Taysom Hill was still practicing at quarterback during Saints minicamp workouts. He’s too valuable to limit to just one position, being a tight end in name only:

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Few NFL players have baffled fantasy football analysts more than Taysom Hill. The New Orleans Saints’ do-it-all weapon is nominally listed as a tight end, and he doesn’t wear a red no-contact jersey in practice like the team’s quarterbacks, but that hasn’t kept the Saints from lining him up in the shotgun and asking him to throw.

That extended to Tuesday’s minicamp workout, when Hill went through drills with the quarterbacks and even led a drive on offense during the team session. He also practiced with the tight ends by catching passes, running routes, and throwing hands in the blocking maneuvers. Saints head coach Dennis Allen commented on the position-flexible role for Hill after practice Tuesday.

“That’s kind of been his role since he’s been here,” Allen told BR Proud’s Aileen Hnatiuk. “He’s an offensive weapon and we’re going to utilize him in a lot of different ways.”

Hill logged a career-high 96 rushing attempts in 2022 while also posting his highest rate of yards gained per carry (6.0). His 34 first down conversions were the second-most on the team behind Alvin Kamara. Hill also caught a handful of passes and occasionally moved the chains as a receiver, but he brings value as a passer, too — he completed 13 of 19 pass attempts for 240 passing yards, an impressive rate of 12.6 yards per attempt.

Just 19 passes is a small sample size, but when the Saints dialed up a throw for Hill (usually targeting Chris Olave deep downfield), he made the most of it. Olave caught 5 of his 6 passes from Hill for 96 yards, a rate of 19.2 yards per reception. He averaged 14.5 yards per catch on the season as a whole.

That’s why Hill is still so heavily involved in the Saints offense. He’s an efficient runner, a competent enough receiver to make a play when called upon, and in the right situations he can punish defenses for selling out to stop him on the ground by throwing over their heads. It’s clear by now that he shouldn’t be the focal point of the offense or a starting quarterback, but there’s very much a role for him on this team, even with new additions like Derek Carr, Jamaal Williams, and Foster Moreau in the building.

And it makes sense to keep Hill’s arm fresh in case he’s needed for a larger role. If Carr misses time, Jameis Winston will replace him — assuming he hasn’t been poached by another team in need of a quarterback. That would put either Hill or rookie fourth-round pick Jake Haener in the driver’s seat. As the Saints have learned recently, you can’t have enough quarterbacks. They’ve cycled through NINE different passers since Drew Brees retired: Winston, Hill, Andy Dalton, Trevor Siemian, and Ian Book. They can’t assume Hill’s services won’t be needed again.

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Emily and Taysom Hill announce arrival of their second child, who carries his father’s name

Emily and Taysom Hill announced the birth of their second child, who carries his father’s name. The Who Dat Nation added another member just in time for the 2023 draft:

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Congratulations are in order for Emily and Taysom Hill, who shared some big personal news this week following the birth of their second child. The New Orleans Saints standout introduced Bennett Taysom Hill to the world on social media and expressed a lot of gratitude to his wife.

Hill earned well-wishes from teammates past and present on Instagram including Jameis Winston and Ian Book, as well as the hundreds of fans who follow him closely. The couple’s first child, Beau Nixon Hill (named for his wife’s family), will be turning three years old in the fall.

It’s a timely arrival for the Who Dat Nation, just in time for the 2023 NFL draft. We’re wishing the best to the Hills as their young family continues to grow.

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Derek Carr’s Saints wish list starts with catching a Taysom Hill TD pass

Derek Carr probably has a long New Orleans Saints wish list, but it starts with joining the exclusive club to catch a Taysom Hill touchdown pass:

There are a lot of NFL defenders who can say they’ve been outrun by Taysom Hill (or run over by him) on a touchdown-scoring play, but there aren’t many guys who can say they’ve caught a touchdown pass from the do-it-all New Orleans Saints utility player. Last year, Hill became the first player since the AFL-NFL merger to score at least 10 touchdowns as a passer, runner, and receiver, including the playoffs.

Derek Carr probably has a long list of items to check off on his Saints to-do list, but he’d really like to join the exclusive group who have hit paydirt on a pass from Hill. Carr made his case now that they’re teammates during an appearance on his nephew Austin’s Harvester Sports Podcast. Carr has only caught a single pass in his NFL career, losing 9 yards on a reception back in 2018, but he’s undeterred.

“I need a catch,” Carr laughed, turning to the camera. “Taysom, bro, I’m ready. Whip that thing to me.”

Tight ends Jared Cook and Adam Trautman have each caught a pair of touchdown passes from Hill, and he’s also connected with running back Alvin Kamara and wide receivers Rashid Shaheed, Emmanuel Sanders, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Deonte Harty, as well as Tre’Quan Smith on his 10 career touchdown throws. He and Drew Brees joked about trying it for years, but they never got the look they wanted on the rare occasions when the plan was run during games.

So it would be pretty sweet if Hill and Carr could pull it off. It’s something to watch out for when they share the field in 2023. Hill proved he could be more of an asset as a runner last season, posting his highest totals in rushing yards (575) and carries (96) while matching his career-high 34 first down conversions on the ground. He wasn’t as big a part of the passing attack as a receiver, but his history of injuries in that phase of the game make dialing it back worthwhile. Let him go out and do what he does best. Maybe that can help set up a surprise touchdown pass to his new quarterback.

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