He scores on a 1-yard run in the third quarter against Washington.
It’s no longer a surprise to see Drew Brees and Taysom Hill in the same huddle together. Not like it was in Week 1, when the New Orleans Saints first sprung this personnel package on the opposing defense.
By this point, it’s practically expected, especially near the goal line. The Saints broke out that player grouping many more times in the 43-19 victory Monday (Oct. 8) against the Washington Redskins, this time getting Hill to score his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run.
On this play, with Brees lined up wide to the left as a receiver, Hill took a shotgun snap and quickly ran toward the right pylon at the front of the end zone.
Austin Carr, lined up in the slot, blocked one Washington defender into the backfield and caused him to over-pursue the quarterback. At that point, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk pulled toward the right side to fend off another defender.
Taysom Hill adds another touchdown! #WASvsNO pic.twitter.com/0rs7UWcD9s
“It kind of felt like, it’s a long time coming,” Hill said of the touchdown that put the Saints ahead 40-13 in the third quarter. “We had a few opportunities (for Hill to score) early in the season. It’s a ton of fun. As a little kid you think about running to the end zone and scoring.”
What he never thought about as a kid was being there the night Brees became the career leader in passing yards, moving ahead of Peyton Manning like he did Monday.
But this has been a reality for Hill, a multi-dimensional player Sean Payton and his staff have put on the field in a variety of ways. He blocked and covered on punt and kickoff teams as a rookie in 2017. He’s now returning kickoffs and running gadget plays on offense for the Saints.
Against Washington, Hill ran a career-high five times for 23 yards and the touchdown. His number of carries has increased in each of the last three games, going from zero in the first two weeks to three in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons and four in Week 4 against the New York Giants.
Hill said these play-calls had been in the works for a longer time than most realize.
“We’ve been doing various things like this since I got here,” said Hill, who the Saints claimed when the Green Bay Packers tried to put him through waivers during the final roster cutdown before the 2017 season. “You saw in the preseason, the package wasn’t necessarily with Drew and I on the field at the same time, but the scheme and everything was the same. I wasn’t surprised in Week 1 when we started doing it.”
For as much as Hill can run, he can also throw. His completed pass against the Giants came out of a punt formation and was good for a first down.
There are sure to be other creative plays on Payton’s laminated call sheet he holds on the sideline during games that will be showcased in coming weeks.
Brees playfully hinted at another one that could have him as the recipient of a pass from Hill. But then he might also be joking.
“The Taysom Hill package continues to evolve,” Brees said. “At some point, I don’t know, I might be catching a pass. Maybe.”
Nothing at this point should be considered a surprise.
