The New Orleans Saints’ do-it-all weapon Taysom Hill will present a unique challenge for the Green Bay Packers defense because of his ability to impact the game in so many ways on offense.
On the Saints’ official roster, Hill is listed as a quarterback, and at times, the Packers will see him in the backfield for Derek Carr. However, Hill has also been utilized like a running back as a ball carrier. The Saints will also line him up at receiver and tight end, asking him to both block and run routes.
Buy Packers Tickets“Obviously, Taysom has been doing it for a long time,” said Matt LaFleur on Thursday. “He’s a threat because you’re not quite sure where he’s going to line up. Is he going to line up at tight end? At running back? At receiver? At quarterback? He can line up anywhere. They do a really good job of just putting some conflicts, in terms of he might be at quarterback, they might have a designed run with a run alert, and he can spit the ball out if he doesn’t like the look for the run.”
Through two games, Hill has been on the field for 40 snaps. He has only one pass attempt but had 21 dropbacks during the 2022 season, so at a minimum, it’s an added element that the Packers have to account for. He’s carried the ball 12 times this season, averaging 6.6 yards per rush. When Hill is at quarterback, the Saints utilize a lot of Wildcat-esque run-option plays.
In the passing game, Hill has two targets this season, one of which came behind the line of scrimmage and the other downfield. He’s had eight snaps lined up out wide and four in line, like a tight end.
“It’s two different offenses,” said defensive coordinator Joe Barry. “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.”
Having that do-it-all presence on the football field, for one, gives the Packers a lot to prepare for and a lot to account for when Hill is on the field–even if the Saints have no intention of using him as a receiver, for example. This element can keep a defense off-balanced and guessing, of course creating opportunities for Hill but also for other members of the New Orleans’ offense through the attention he draws and mismatches that can be created playing off what Hill is doing.
Hill could really hurt this Packers defense as a ball-carrier. From a schematic standpoint, the Saints like to line up Hill in shotgun with a running back alongside him and run either a read-option or a quarterback draw up the middle.
With who the Saints have at receiver and their willingness to throw the ball downfield, lining up in shotgun will put the Packers in nickel and spread their defense out, potentially leading to four-man fronts with just two down interior defensive linemen, making them susceptible to the run, especially up the middle where Hill likes to go. The added wrinkle, however, is that if, during these plays, the Packers try to play the run more aggressively, Hill has the ability to throw it over their heads.
“He’s a weapon, that’s for sure,” added LaFleur. “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.”
Potentially slowing Hill or limiting his impact begins with playing disciplined football, and this Green Bay defense trusting their eyes and reading their keys so they react correctly to whatever the play call might be. They also are going to need all 11 defenders swarming to the football. At 6’2″ – 221 pounds, Hill is a physical runner and can be tough to bring down.
“You’re defending what he’s (Derek Carr) able to do as a passer when he’s playing quarterback,” said Barry, “but then a completely different offense when Taysom is behind center. They do a really great job.”
