Big Jim Mora…
Taysom Hill fan!@T_Hill4 #Saints pic.twitter.com/6qvQVi4LS8— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) November 6, 2023
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more-liked player in the New Orleans Saints locker room than Taysom Hill. He’s regarded highly not just by his teammates, but by his coaches — and by a lot of coaches who aren’t in the building.
That group of admirers includes former Saints head coach Jim Mora, who praised Hill’s team-first attitude and overall utility as the makings of a unique talent. Mora coached the Saints from 1986 to 1996 and was the team’s first head coach to leave his post with a winning record. Mora was recognized with the Associated Press award for NFL Coach of the Year in 1987.
“This guy is special. I’m telling you now, and what a competitor,” Mora told WDSU’s Fletcher Mackel back in November, after Hill accounted for 68 yards of offense and two touchdowns (one as a passer, another as a receiver) in a 24-17 win over the Chicago Bears. He continued, “And is the leading rusher on the team. Hey you’ve got Kamara and all these guys, what the hell is Taysom Hill being your leading rusher two weeks in a row? But you won two weeks in a row. So who gives a dang?”
That sounds a lot like the praise Sean Payton used to heap on Hill. And it makes sense. Coaches love players who can handle a variety of assignments and help the team win football games. Drew Brees has pointed to Hill’s efficiency, too, while lobbying for his former understudy to get more touches.
“This guy’s a special player. He’s a competitor, he’s a team-oriented guy, he’s a popular guy, and he’s effective. He can do a lot of things and he does it well. I love him,” Mora finished.
Hill’s usage in Klint Kubiak’s new offense is one of the more intriguing subplots of the Saints’ 2024 season. He’s taken many more snaps at fullback and been asked to do more dirty work as a blocker than before, while cutting down on his snaps as a passer, but Hill is expected to remain an asset for New Orleans. That’s going to be the case until teams figure out a way to slow him down as a runner, if Father Time doesn’t catch up to him first.
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