The Expectations and Effects of RB/FB/TE Taysom Hill
Expectations:
A common refrain among fans is "Taysom Hill is going to be our Kyle Juszczyk". The San Francisco game gave us the first real preview of what Hill can be in this offense. And, Hill is going to be sooo much more than Kyle Juszczyk. Let's look at each players stats over the last 4 years.
Rushing:
Juszczyk had only 37att or 9 att/season with a 3.2y/a over the last 4yrs. Taysom had 334att or 84 att/season with 5.4y/a. The limited rushing for Juszczyk makes him a TE/FB. Taysom will be a HB/FB/TE. He likely won't maintain his 5.4y/a due to not running the QB power, but he is going to get plenty of rushing touches.
The very first play against SF saw Taysom at HB behind Prentice at FB for an 8yd rush:
This isn't a typical Juszczyk set.
The next drive from 6-yard line saw Taysom at FB in the I-formation with Williams at HB rushing for 4yds on first down. The second down play had Taysom solo at HB take a handoff and Olave missed his block resulitng in -1yd. The 3rd drive resulting in a TD saw Taysom at FB in the I-formation with Williams at HB rushing for 15yds on first down. Taysom took out the safety to spring Williams. Next play Taysom is the HB in the I-formation behind Prentice and picks up 11yds.
Later we see the a similer first and second down plan. Taysom at FB, Williams at HB, and a big gain of 10yds behing a Hill block. Next we see Carr in the gun with Hill solo next to him. This is the set I've want to see for years. It's a handoff to Hill for 2yds but it's the optionality of this formation that has me excited. Hill can rush, block, catch out the backfield or even take a pitch for a HB pass. It's a scheme nightmare.
Hill's last rep was the FB handoff for a TD. No suprise the squat king muscles his way in for a TD. He finished with 5att for 21yrd and 4.2y/a with a 1-yard TD. Hill was averaging 5.0y/a before the TD.
This FB/HB usage is something unique and exciting. It's not Juszczyk.
Receiving:
Juszczyk has 82rec on 107tgt with 10y/r with a 76.6catch% over the last 4 years. Hill has 54rec on 71tgt with 9.6y/r with a 76.1catch%. This looks like Juszczyk getting 33% more targets with similar productivity. The reality is QB Taysom Hill ate into his targets. Hill averaged 7rec/season between 20-22. Hill was moved to TE in 2023 and had 33rec on 40tgt with 8.8y/r and 82.5catch%. I think we will see similar pass catching numbers from both players with Taysom likley getting less looks this year with increased HB/FB usage and rushing attack focused playcalling. (I don't have All-22 access so it's tough for me to talk TE usage.) I saw Hill as the motion TE on a couple of plays. Hill is the "Move TE" and what I didn't see (again limited) was Hill at "Wide TE". I think his Wide TE sets are going to be limited. I see Foster as Inline TE and Holker as Wide TE unitl JJ returns. Both Juszczyk and Hill look to fill the "Move TE" role but there's one huge difference - Hill is explosive. Juszczyk is a typical 4.7/40yd guy who can get you some RAC. Hill likely still runs a 4.4 and is dangerous in open field. We saw at least one snap with a player still in motion. If we give Hill a running start against a LB, then it's a missmatch every time.
Effect:
Hill is going to be so much more than Juszczyk in this offense. HB Hill was on full display for the first time with him behind a FB and solo. FB Hill on first down will force 3LB sets. FB Hill switching to Move TE Hill on 2nd down is going keep DefCoor up at night. Hill as wide TE often pulled safety coverage in 2023. Hill at FB/Move TE is going to get LBs and with a running start there are going to be some really easy targets. There is going be questions like is Hill RB2or3, FB1or2, and TE2,3,or4. It might look like some mad scientist amalgamation of Kyle Juszczyk, Peyton Hillis, and Mike Alstott. But, by the end of the season Hill will have once again carve out is own unique role that's comparable to no one.
Expectations:
A common refrain among fans is "Taysom Hill is going to be our Kyle Juszczyk". The San Francisco game gave us the first real preview of what Hill can be in this offense. And, Hill is going to be sooo much more than Kyle Juszczyk. Let's look at each players stats over the last 4 years.
Rushing:
Juszczyk had only 37att or 9 att/season with a 3.2y/a over the last 4yrs. Taysom had 334att or 84 att/season with 5.4y/a. The limited rushing for Juszczyk makes him a TE/FB. Taysom will be a HB/FB/TE. He likely won't maintain his 5.4y/a due to not running the QB power, but he is going to get plenty of rushing touches.
The very first play against SF saw Taysom at HB behind Prentice at FB for an 8yd rush:
This isn't a typical Juszczyk set.
The next drive from 6-yard line saw Taysom at FB in the I-formation with Williams at HB rushing for 4yds on first down. The second down play had Taysom solo at HB take a handoff and Olave missed his block resulitng in -1yd. The 3rd drive resulting in a TD saw Taysom at FB in the I-formation with Williams at HB rushing for 15yds on first down. Taysom took out the safety to spring Williams. Next play Taysom is the HB in the I-formation behind Prentice and picks up 11yds.
Later we see the a similer first and second down plan. Taysom at FB, Williams at HB, and a big gain of 10yds behing a Hill block. Next we see Carr in the gun with Hill solo next to him. This is the set I've want to see for years. It's a handoff to Hill for 2yds but it's the optionality of this formation that has me excited. Hill can rush, block, catch out the backfield or even take a pitch for a HB pass. It's a scheme nightmare.
Hill's last rep was the FB handoff for a TD. No suprise the squat king muscles his way in for a TD. He finished with 5att for 21yrd and 4.2y/a with a 1-yard TD. Hill was averaging 5.0y/a before the TD.
This FB/HB usage is something unique and exciting. It's not Juszczyk.
Receiving:
Juszczyk has 82rec on 107tgt with 10y/r with a 76.6catch% over the last 4 years. Hill has 54rec on 71tgt with 9.6y/r with a 76.1catch%. This looks like Juszczyk getting 33% more targets with similar productivity. The reality is QB Taysom Hill ate into his targets. Hill averaged 7rec/season between 20-22. Hill was moved to TE in 2023 and had 33rec on 40tgt with 8.8y/r and 82.5catch%. I think we will see similar pass catching numbers from both players with Taysom likley getting less looks this year with increased HB/FB usage and rushing attack focused playcalling. (I don't have All-22 access so it's tough for me to talk TE usage.) I saw Hill as the motion TE on a couple of plays. Hill is the "Move TE" and what I didn't see (again limited) was Hill at "Wide TE". I think his Wide TE sets are going to be limited. I see Foster as Inline TE and Holker as Wide TE unitl JJ returns. Both Juszczyk and Hill look to fill the "Move TE" role but there's one huge difference - Hill is explosive. Juszczyk is a typical 4.7/40yd guy who can get you some RAC. Hill likely still runs a 4.4 and is dangerous in open field. We saw at least one snap with a player still in motion. If we give Hill a running start against a LB, then it's a missmatch every time.
Effect:
Hill is going to be so much more than Juszczyk in this offense. HB Hill was on full display for the first time with him behind a FB and solo. FB Hill on first down will force 3LB sets. FB Hill switching to Move TE Hill on 2nd down is going keep DefCoor up at night. Hill as wide TE often pulled safety coverage in 2023. Hill at FB/Move TE is going to get LBs and with a running start there are going to be some really easy targets. There is going be questions like is Hill RB2or3, FB1or2, and TE2,3,or4. It might look like some mad scientist amalgamation of Kyle Juszczyk, Peyton Hillis, and Mike Alstott. But, by the end of the season Hill will have once again carve out is own unique role that's comparable to no one.