YeahSaintsWin
Pro-Bowler
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Last week, I posted a piece on the Saints QB Depth Chart and I talked about how smooth of a transition to Jameis Winston the Saints offense would see. That post was before the news was revealed that Taysom Hill had taken all the QB1 snaps during the week of practice and Hill was named the starter for the game versus the Atlanta Falcons. I was SHOCKED!! Many reporters opined on why Sean Payton named Taysom Hill the starter, but there is truly only one reason and for Payton, Loomis and the Saints organization.. to justify his contract, Taysom Hill must project to be a starting QB in the NFL.
IT'S GOTTA WORK!!!
Taysom Hill is an athletic kid with a strong arm and who was once given a chance to be the backup to Aaron Rogers. That didn't work out. Former Saints OC Mike McCarthy made Aaron Brooks a record-holding, effective starting QB but McCarthy never promoted Hill to QB2. Annually, the Packers signed free agent QBs to backup A-Rod and eventually released Taysom who was then claimed by the Saints. We know the history, so let's talk politics and performance.
Team performance... There may be other teams that carry extra QBs but carrying 3 QBs on a game-day roster is uncommon. There is only one clipboard and every active player needs to contribute. To make the active roster, Taysom was given a shot to play special teams. With his size and speed, Taysom the player made some plays but plays on special teams don't relate to playing QB. Plus, there is the chance of getting injured doing a job not related to your position. Payton couldn't answer these questions, but still insisted Hill could one day be a starting QB in the NFL. Hill is a nice guy but never gained the locker-room or player support of Bridgewater or Winston. After practice, when Brees would gather QBs and teammates to play his QB accuracy games, Hill would not participate. But somehow the QB3 was doing something in practice that impressed Payton. Still the Saints never went into a season without signing a veteran backup to position ahead of Hill and behind Brees until this past offseason.
Last season, all the stars aligned in favor for Taysom Hill. First, Payton faced a lot of questions when he transitioned from a 5-0 Teddy Bridgewater. Second, Payton faced more questions after the playoff game versus the Vikings where Hill was obviously more effective than Brees (Bridgewater could have won the game). Then Hill's management team negotiated a $20 million contract and the football world had more questions. Contract questions that could only be answered by Payton proving his assertions that Hill could be a starter in the NFL.
Team politics.. The contract to Hill was more money than the team gave Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater and, former coach's favorite, Chase Daniels. Basically, Taysom Hill was the highest paid backup QB in the NFL when no one was considering Hill as an option to replace Drew Brees. As a gadget guy who made the roster of a playoff team with no real skill at his primary position, Taysom Hill hit the mother lode. A fan favorite practice-squad, scout-team, special-team player paid more than free agents like Malcom Jenkins, Mark Ingram, Ak Hicks and others who the Saints let walk and sign with other teams. Somebody needed to prove that the Taysom Hill contract was a good idea. The Taysom Hill experiment must succeed to save face for Payton and Loomis who convinced MsBenson to pay Hill more money than Hill could have gotten anywhere.
The game tape versus the Falcons showed a Taysum Hill at QB who has more flaws than the former XFL QB who started for the Panthers. Hill had major problems with pocket pressure and showed an inability to accurately attack the back-end of defenses with his arm. Then there is the ball security issues. Sean Payton can't fix lack of skill with plays, schemes and player packages. And, given how physical THill is with the football, there is the possibility that the kid will be hurt and the team will be down two QBs and a key special teams player.
Bottom line... The Saints claimed the #1 Seed in the playoffs this past weekend. The Bye Week is important because one less game is also one less chance for defeat. Plus, three teams will be eliminated before you play and every playoff game the Saints play will be a home game. The question is, do you want Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston defending your playoff position till Brees returns? No one knows what Payton is thinking but I got a feeling I'm gonna need a Taysom Hill jersey.
GO Saints!!!
IT'S GOTTA WORK!!!
Taysom Hill is an athletic kid with a strong arm and who was once given a chance to be the backup to Aaron Rogers. That didn't work out. Former Saints OC Mike McCarthy made Aaron Brooks a record-holding, effective starting QB but McCarthy never promoted Hill to QB2. Annually, the Packers signed free agent QBs to backup A-Rod and eventually released Taysom who was then claimed by the Saints. We know the history, so let's talk politics and performance.
Team performance... There may be other teams that carry extra QBs but carrying 3 QBs on a game-day roster is uncommon. There is only one clipboard and every active player needs to contribute. To make the active roster, Taysom was given a shot to play special teams. With his size and speed, Taysom the player made some plays but plays on special teams don't relate to playing QB. Plus, there is the chance of getting injured doing a job not related to your position. Payton couldn't answer these questions, but still insisted Hill could one day be a starting QB in the NFL. Hill is a nice guy but never gained the locker-room or player support of Bridgewater or Winston. After practice, when Brees would gather QBs and teammates to play his QB accuracy games, Hill would not participate. But somehow the QB3 was doing something in practice that impressed Payton. Still the Saints never went into a season without signing a veteran backup to position ahead of Hill and behind Brees until this past offseason.
Last season, all the stars aligned in favor for Taysom Hill. First, Payton faced a lot of questions when he transitioned from a 5-0 Teddy Bridgewater. Second, Payton faced more questions after the playoff game versus the Vikings where Hill was obviously more effective than Brees (Bridgewater could have won the game). Then Hill's management team negotiated a $20 million contract and the football world had more questions. Contract questions that could only be answered by Payton proving his assertions that Hill could be a starter in the NFL.
Team politics.. The contract to Hill was more money than the team gave Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater and, former coach's favorite, Chase Daniels. Basically, Taysom Hill was the highest paid backup QB in the NFL when no one was considering Hill as an option to replace Drew Brees. As a gadget guy who made the roster of a playoff team with no real skill at his primary position, Taysom Hill hit the mother lode. A fan favorite practice-squad, scout-team, special-team player paid more than free agents like Malcom Jenkins, Mark Ingram, Ak Hicks and others who the Saints let walk and sign with other teams. Somebody needed to prove that the Taysom Hill contract was a good idea. The Taysom Hill experiment must succeed to save face for Payton and Loomis who convinced MsBenson to pay Hill more money than Hill could have gotten anywhere.
The game tape versus the Falcons showed a Taysum Hill at QB who has more flaws than the former XFL QB who started for the Panthers. Hill had major problems with pocket pressure and showed an inability to accurately attack the back-end of defenses with his arm. Then there is the ball security issues. Sean Payton can't fix lack of skill with plays, schemes and player packages. And, given how physical THill is with the football, there is the possibility that the kid will be hurt and the team will be down two QBs and a key special teams player.
Bottom line... The Saints claimed the #1 Seed in the playoffs this past weekend. The Bye Week is important because one less game is also one less chance for defeat. Plus, three teams will be eliminated before you play and every playoff game the Saints play will be a home game. The question is, do you want Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston defending your playoff position till Brees returns? No one knows what Payton is thinking but I got a feeling I'm gonna need a Taysom Hill jersey.
GO Saints!!!
