New Orleans Saints: Taysom Hill remains the not-so-secret weapon
The New Orleans Saints roster is stacked with talented guys and, though not all are heralded as they should be, Taysom Hill remains the not-so-secret weapon.
The New Orleans Saints have a plethora of talented guys on their roster. Whether it’s defense, offense or special teams, the Saints don’t lack playmakers. There are obviously a few standouts who get the glory, including Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara and Cameron Jordan. However, there are a few players who play a significant role but don’t get nearly enough credit.
With the 2019 season underway, we’ve already seen flashes from some of the guys. Looking at the roster, there are a few names that jump out as impact players. While their impact might not be as big as Brees, they serve as great secret weapons for the Saints.
They might not always be in the spotlight, but they’re every bit as important. Among these players, backup quarterback Taysom Hill is the team’s “secret” weapon. Of course, before we get to Hill, it’s worth looking at the team’s other assets in the same vein.
When the Saints drafted Chauncey Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round in 2019, it wasn’t immediately clear where he would fit. He registered a tackle in Week 1 and looks to be an early contributor.
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The only downfall was that Gardner-Johnson’s time on special teams almost cost the Saints the game in Week 1. He tackled the kicker, resulting in the Texans getting to rekick and giving them the eventual lead over the Saints. Even though the Saints rallied back won, it wasn’t a good look for the rookie. It was probably a fluke, though, so better things should be on the horizon for CGJ.
Moving away from rookies, the Saints could have a secret weapon in Tre’Quan Smith. While Smith didn’t live up to expectations in 2018, he’s made strides already. In Week 1, Smith finished the game with two receptions for 26 yards and touchdown. While his stat line isn’t anything to brag about, it’s worth noting that Smith already has a touchdown this season.
Looking back at last season, Smith finished with only five touchdowns, so getting one early in the season is a promising beginning to the year. While Michael Thomas is clearly the team’s No. 1 receiver, Smith has the chance to be their No. 2 guy. He’s only 23 years old, in comparison to Ted Ginn Jr., who is 34 and inching closer to retirement. If Smith can form a more solid connection with Brees, then he could be on his way to becoming a major offensive threat for the Saints.
While Smith and Gardner-Johnson have shown flashes, there is one player who is easily the Saints’ biggest secret weapon. That belongs to Taysom Hill, without question. Even though Hill is listed as the team’s No. 3 quarterback, he’s basically a jack-of-all-trades. He can play offense, defense and special teams all within the same back-and-forth possessions.
Hill has basically become a darling for NFL Network’s The Checkdown, who uses any and every opportunity to mention him. Deservedly so, as Hill is severely underrated. Week 1 proved as much as Hill played quarterback in one drive and then transitioned to a receiver to score a touchdown.
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There’s no player in the NFL like him and the Saints know it. Of all the players on the New Orleans Saints, Taysom Hill is easily their biggest secret weapon — even if he’s not much of a secret anymore — and we might not have even seen everything he can do.