Taysom Hill's former coach thinks he throws better than Lamar Jackson
Taysom Hill sees himself as a franchise quarterback.
He has at least one former coach in his corner who thinks he’s a better passer than Lamar Jackson.
The New Orleans Saints gimmick-play specialist said before the Super Bowl that he sees himself as more than that and that he’d leave for another team that gave him a chance to be a full-time starting quarterback.
“Ever since I was a little kid and started playing the quarterback position, the ultimate goals was to be a quarterback in the NFL,” Hill told Yahoo Sports’ Matt Harmon before the Super Bowl. “That hasn’t changed for me. The end goal is to still be a starter in the NFL.
“As I look at the situation as a whole, it’s really trying to find the best opportunity for me and my family.”
With free agency approaching, the news gained traction on Monday, as well as questions about Hill’s viability as a starter given that he’s thrown a grand total of 13 NFL pass attempts during three seasons in the league.
‘He throws better’ than Lamar Jackson
The conversation prompted Pro Football Talk to surface another old quote — this one from Mike Westhoff, who served as special teams coordinator for the Saints from 2017-18.
Westhoff compared Hill to Baltimore Ravens quarterback and NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Only he thinks Hill is a better passer.
“Take a look at Baltimore,” Westhoff told CBS Radio in January. “It’s the same kind of guy. Taysom Hill does those same things. I think he throws better. That’s the kind of football player he is.”
Westhoff went on to predict that Saints backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater would get an opportunity to start for another team and that Hill would eventually succeed Drew Brees as the starter in New Orleans.
Lessons from Bill Polian’s past
Using Jackson’s passing ability as a point of comparison can be a perilous stance. Just ask Bill Polian.
Polian, a respected former NFL general manager, famously insisted that Jackson should switch to wide receiver in the NFL after winning the Heisman Trophy as Louisville’s quarterback.
That didn’t turn out so well for Polian, especially considering Jackson’s MVP campaign.
Westhoff here isn’t necessarily questioning Jackson’s ability as a passer, but using him as a comparison point to lift up one of his former players.
Though suggesting that Hill is better than Jackson seems no less absurd.
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