• 

• 

Tayson Hill made his first ever NFL start at quarterback last Sunday versus the Atlanta Falcons. Hill is known as the Human Swiss Army Knife for the New Orleans Saints as he does a little of everything. Hill has played special teams since he came to the New Orleans Saints in 2017. People forget, but they have to remember he came from BYU and played quarterback throughout his collegiate career. Hill has played quarterback for the Saints and has lined up as a wide receiver and tight end. Head Coach Sean Payton brings in Tayson Hill regularly to run a few wild cats plays where he can run the ball, pass the ball, or be a decoy. Hill was an undrafted free agent coming out of BYU, originally signed by the Green Bay Packers. Hill lasted through most of the preseason with the Packers that year, but ended up on waivers where the Saints were waiting and on their turn immediately plucked him off that list. Finally after doing everything that was asked from him, Tayson Hill was rewarded with his first start behind center in the NFL. Another ex-BYU quarterback who is a Hall of Famer who has the same skill set as Tayson Hill did have an interesting road where he finally felt at home in the NFL. Could Tayson Hill be going down the same road as a Steve Young?

Steve Young came out of BYU and was met with a crossroad immediately. Young talent coming out of BYU was a higher level then a Tayson Hill. Young would immediately be thrown into game action in his first year behind center, be drafted, and would not have to learn to play other positions like a Tayson Hill has done. Steve Young chose the USFL over the NFL. Maybe it was the money, maybe a new league and becoming like a pioneer for something new was something that persuaded him to go down the USFL path. My money is on the loot he got becoming the starting quarterback for the LA Express.

Steve Young would play two seasons in the USFL until the league folded operations because Donald Trump is a complete moron, as you probably know already. Young was “forever Young” in those days and in two seasons he tossed 16 TD passes for 4,102 yards. Young however threw 22 interceptions as he was learning the pro game. Young also used his legs and rushed for 883 yards for the Express and scored 9 rushing TD’S. Throw in 3 rushing 2 point conversions the left handed passer that can run and pass with precision and you get the same proto type of player as Tayson Hill.

Tayson Hill’s first start was very impressive. Some will say Hill faced a bad Falcon defense. The Falcons have been playing much better under Interim Coach Raheem Morris and his defensive unit has done better then that disastrous start Atlanta got off to. Hill had 108.9 passing rating by completing 18-23 passes for 233 yards. Those numbers make Hill the 7th quarterback since 1950 to have completed 78% of his passes in his first ever start in the NFL. Hill was not a running quarterback like Tyrod Taylor dinking and dunkin’. Hill threw the ball downfield like missiles fired out of a cannon. That gives Hill another interesting stat as he koins Stan the Man Humpries to average 10 yards passed per attempt. Hill also rushed for 51 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. Last time someone did that on their first start was Viking Daunte Culpepper who ran for 41 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. Culpepper and now Hill are the only two quarterbacks in the Superbowl ERA to accomplish 40 or more yards rushing with two scores in their first ever start in the NFL. Hill did not throw a interception or a TD pass in his first start.

Steve Young, after the USFL, moved on to greener pastures in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their creamsicle uniforms is not quite green pastures.

In two miserable seasons in Florida, Young had a 3-16 record as the guy behind center. Young threw for 3,217 yards with 11 TD’s and again more interceptions than TD passes with 21. Young had 653 yards on the ground with six rushing TD’S in two years in Tampa Bay.

Steve Young’s career took off in San Francisco where he finally found a home as a professional football player. The same with Tayson Hill being cut by the Packers and then finding his home presently with the Saints. Young was behind legendary Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana who won 4 Superbowls with the 49ers. Hill is behind another legend and future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees who has won one Superbowl. Both Hill and Young got to learn and watch how Montana and Brees conducted themselves as a professional quarterback soaking it all in like a sponge. Both Hill and Young had two Offensive gurus as their head coaches. Steve Young had the mastermind Bill Walsh. While Tayson Hill has a mastermind in today’s game in Sean Payton. Steve Young would be Montana’s back up and getting some action here and there. With Drew Brees being hurt this is Tayson Hill’s chance to get that starters experience for now. Brees is out with broken ribs and a collapsed lung; he could be out for weeks. Eventually the older Joe Montana had to move on as he signed with the Chiefs. Young finally became the 49ers starting quarterback. Steve Young would eventually lead the 49ers to a Superbowl title. Young numbers got better as he threw for 29,907 yards in 49er uniform. Young had way more TD passes then interceptions which was 221 to 86. Young had a better O-line in San Francisco and better system for his talents than his prior spots. Young still tallied 37 rushing touchdowns for the niners. Young used his legs to gain 3,581 yards behind that talented San Francisco O-line. Eventually the former BYU product’s long road to the 49ers paid off and was elected to the Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio.

Could Taysom Hill go down the Steve Young path and guide a team to a Superbowl title? How many years does Drew Brees have left in the gas tank? Tayson Hill has the same speed as great running quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson of the Ravens and Kyler Murray of the Cardinals. New Orleans Saints system did very well for Teddy Bridgewater who went 5-0 last season with Drew Brees being sidelined with an injury. Bridgewater landed a big contract in the off season with the Panthers. Sean Payton has always said Hill will probably be Drew Brees’ replacement when he finally rides off into the sunset. The Saints signed Jameis Winston in the off season to be the back up quarterback for Brees. Most likely that was a move to keep Tayson Hill as the Human Swiss Army knife as it make the Saints a scarier offense. When Brees got hurt, Winston did come in and finished the game versus the 49ers. Payton did not name Winston as the starter the following week as he gave the nod to Tayson Hill. Maybe because Jameis Winston is a turn over machine as a starter, even though the Saints system should help reduce mistakes from his Tampa Bay days. Tayson Hill brings more to the table such as leadership and it’s a league where quarterbacks can run and pass the ball with precision. Hill may dot those I’s and cross those T’s for the Saints. The Saints may be passing the torch like Montana passed it to Young even though he may not have liked that idea at the time.